Dennis Prager recalls a caller who said he'd rather die than be quadriplegic. Years later, Prager became quadriplegic himself and discovered his mind and ability to communicate are what matter. He credits his 26-year-old book on happiness for preparing him philosophically for this shift.
You know, I talk about everything with callers to my radio show. I don't remember how the subject came up, but about 15 or 20 years ago, some guy calls in and says he'd rather be dead than a quadriplegic. And I I— a rare moment for me— I sort of yelled at a caller and I said, you got to be kidding. You have your mind and you can speak and you'd rather be dead because you can't move your limbs? And irony of ironies, my theory was tested. That's exactly my condition, and I'm thrilled to be alive. I am— we are all our mind and our ability to communicate. Would I wish I could move my limbs? I dream about moving my limbs almost every night. Of course I would love it, but I'm alive and I have my loved ones and I have the public and I think I could still make a difference. Would I rather be dead? It's inconceivable. Just, I love life and I love so many people. And of course I love my wife and my kids and my grandkids. I mean, you know, now I'll tell you one other interesting thing. I have a book on happiness. It's 26 years ago it was published by HarperCollins. Happiness is a serious problem. I would not change a word. That is how philosophically prepared I was for this terrible thing that I have.
Life, Legacy, and a Dangerous Mission in the Soviet Union | Sunday Fireside Chat
