127 Quotes by Marlee Matlin

For people who are afraid to talk about cancer, for people who are afraid to communicate with their loved ones about it, and for the people who want to pretend cancer doesn't exist, either delaying diagnosis or not getting regular checkups, the consequences can be fatal. Doing nothing about cancer will kill you.

I know what it's like to be growing up, called 'deaf and mute' and 'deaf and dumb.' They're words that are very degrading and demeaning to people who are deaf and hard of hearing. It's almost... it's almost libelous, if you want to say that.

The handicap of deafness is not in the ear; it is in the mind.

I'm different, and my manner invites questions. I'm never afraid to answer.

At some point we have to stop and say, There's Marlee, not, There's the deaf actress.

I want roles without anger and feistiness. I want to show weakness and sadness, some love, some happiness.

I hope that through my example, such as my role on 'The West Wing,' I can help change attitudes on deafness and prove we can really do everything... except hear.

I live my life like everyone else; everyone has their own obstacles. Mine is deafness.

How many deaf people do you know in real life? Unless they live in a cave, or are 14, which seems to be true for most people in this business, what could I possibly tell them that they don't already know?