"I've asked Jobs why he didn't get an operation then and he said, 'I didn't want my body to be opened. I didn't want to be violated in that way.'"
- Walter Isaacson
About this Quote
In Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, the estimated text provides a peek into the deeply individual and introspective side of the Apple co-founder. This particular quote exposes Jobs's apprehension and resistance towards going through surgery after being identified with an unusual kind of pancreatic cancer. By mentioning, "I didn't want my body to be opened. I didn't wish to be broken in that way," Jobs expresses an extensive sense of vulnerability and an intrinsic desire to keep control over his own body.
This aversion to surgical treatment can be interpreted as part of Jobs's broader worldview, that included a holistic and sometimes unconventional technique to health and wellness. Jobs was understood for his interest in alternative medicine and stringent dietary practices, which he believed might play a considerable function in recovery and overall wellness. This mindset could describe why he at first withstood traditional medical interventions, such as surgical treatment, which he might have viewed as intrusive or disruptive to the body's natural state.
Moreover, the quote reflects Jobs's complex relationship with death and control. Throughout his profession, Jobs was understood for his ruthless pursuit of excellence and control in both his personal and professional life. This desire to keep control may have affected his unwillingness to go through a procedure that would position his life and body in the hands of others, thereby reducing his autonomy.
Jobs's eventual choice to delay surgery might likewise highlight a typical human battle with fear and denial in the face of life-threatening health problem. It's a profound illustration of how even somebody as innovative and forward-thinking as Jobs might grapple with the uncertainties and worries that accompany significant health choices. Eventually, this quote encapsulates the tension between Jobs's visionary state of mind and his human vulnerabilities, using a poignant insight into the individual battles of a complicated individual.
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