A Mind Unraveled Quotes

“I finally understood—I possessed more control than I had believed. Healthy people didn’t always understand the scope of how much could be overcome. I certainly never had before I got sick.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“Giving somebody false hope is worse than not giving them any hope at all, I think. You want to be honest with people even in small things because if you’re not, then how will they believe you in anything that you say? The whole idea is the trust that you develop with your patient is something that’s the responsibility of the doctor. It’s as important as the medicine that you give somebody, if that’s necessary.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“It’s all a question of people reading each other correctly and treating each other correctly. I think that that’s true in every marriage and I think what happens in marriages that fall apart is people don’t try to understand each other and don’t try to figure out how the other one works. It is also very, very possible that the fact that he had epilepsy and the fact that I have my own baggage made us pay more attention to each other and recognize that we each need each other very, very much.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“The lead of the first major Times article written by copy boy KURT EICHENWALD, 1986 LINDEN—Fuzzy peach navel is the recommended drink at the Old Tavern Inn here, one of the latest and most unlikely ripple effects of the American auto industry’s march toward high technology.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“I stood, ready to walk out on this point. “No matter what happens in the future, no matter what I become, I will never return here. I will, however, contribute ten dollars a year by deducting it from what Swarthmore owes me. Which means I’ll be long dead before the school gets a dime.” “I’m sorry you feel that way,” Stott said. “And I’m sorry this happened to you.” I choked up. Stott, uninvolved in my dismissal, was the only person at Swarthmore to have ever apologized.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“I don’t understand,” she said. “What?” “Why do you need a letter?” “Well, to explain—” “Kurt,” she interrupted, “don’t you know? You’re graduating with academic distinction.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“Okay,” he said. “You’re right. You weren’t invited. Now I’m inviting you. Will you come?” I smiled and sat up. “Absolutely.” And that was it. There was no further discussion about our troubled year, no recriminations. Apparently, my decision to move out had been effective. From that moment on, my friendship with Carl and Franz was restored. We remain close to this day.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“Never lie, assess character, appeal to principles, answer every question, and determine what impediments might keep them from speaking. Reporters need persistence, not the name of some major publication behind them, to crack a story.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“with growing horror. People at the school had lied to them directly, pretending I was making up stories. The tape ended. No one spoke. “Well?” I asked. “I’m calling your lawyer,” my mother finally said. “And,” my father added, “let’s call your friend at Health and Human Services.” He shook his head, a fury on his face unlike any I had ever seen. “We’re going to destroy this school,” he muttered coldly.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“Whitman approached Friend. “Dorie?” she said. “Can we speak?” Whitman waited until everyone else left the room to say more. “I want to tell you, if Kurt sues the school, he will win,” she said. “And not only that—I’ll testify on his behalf.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“That’s illegal,” the counselor sputtered. If Swarthmore received federal money—and it almost certainly did—they were violating Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. I was free to leave school if I chose, but they couldn’t force me out.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“You have to stop depending on your roommates. I want you to speak to the Swarthmore administration, the health center, and school security. If they know what’s going on and how to deal with it, you can go anywhere by yourself. So promise me you’ll speak to those people.” The thought terrified me, but I agreed. “You also need a doctor at the health center, and I want you to see a school psychologist, to help you handle the emotional challenges that come along with epilepsy.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“As I sat in the deli, I had no idea I was watching my mother transform; she was resolving to no longer stand helplessly on the sidelines and instead to fight to end the chaos. She had allowed my father to seize the role of overseer of my medical care, then hadn’t fought back when I insisted on finding my own doctor in Pennsylvania—all with disastrous results. If she hadn’t forced me into Northwestern, I would have been dead. Only her decisions had been correct; my father’s and mine had consistently been terrible. She knew taking control would mean fighting us both. She had never been an aggressive person and often allowed my father to dictate her life choices. No more.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“For the first time, I noticed the work being performed by the rest of the team. No conversation, every face serious. A woman removed wrapping from a tray. At some point, I noticed a sealed bag with a needle in it. By my guess, it was six inches long. Then I saw another device that looked like a giant corkscrew, only straight. “Mom?” I said. She was nearby, behind all the staff dashing about. I assumed she had been asking plenty of questions herself that I hadn’t heard. “Yes, Kurt.” “I want you to leave before they do this.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled

“I had been assigned to a four-person suite in Wharton Hall, among the most popular and storied dormitories on campus. Built in 1903, it exuded quaint collegiate charm. Gargoyles depicting every season and the signs of the zodiac decorated eaves of the building. Wrapping around three sides of an expansive patio, Wharton featured some of Swarthmore’s largest dorm rooms; ours included two bedrooms and a living area that easily accommodated four work desks, bookcases, the glider chair, stereo tables, and an ancient, disheveled couch.”
― Kurt Eichenwald, A Mind Unraveled