David Agus Quotes

Powerful David Agus for Daily Growth

About David Agus

David Agus is a renowned physician, researcher, and professor whose work spans the fields of molecular pharmacology, cancer, aging, and personalized medicine. Born on October 15, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish immigrants from Romania, Agus's early life was marked by the loss of his mother at a young age. This tragedy, combined with his father's strong emphasis on education, instilled in him a deep sense of determination and resilience that would later influence his career choices. Agus attended Cornell University for his undergraduate studies, where he majored in physics. He then went on to medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After completing his residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, Agus joined the faculty at the University of Chicago before moving to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1992, where he currently serves as a professor of Medicine and Biological Sciences, and as the director of the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC-Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Agus is best known for his groundbreaking research on cancer and aging, particularly his work on telomerase and its role in cellular immortality. He has authored several influential books, including "The End of Illness" (2012), which offers a personalized approach to preventing disease based on individual genetics; "A Short Guide to a Long Life: The Hacking Guide to Living Forever (or Practical Wisdom for Those Dying to Live Longer)" (2014); and "The Lucky Genes: How the Science of Twin Studies Can Help Us All Live Healthier, Happier and Longer" (2019). Agus's work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award. His commitment to translating scientific discoveries into practical applications for improving human health makes him a leading figure in personalized medicine and the fight against cancer.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The secret of life, though, is to act in the present, live in the present, and wait anxiously for the future; but not to worry about the future."

This quote by David Agus emphasizes living fully in the moment while maintaining a sense of anticipation for the future, without undue concern or anxiety about it. Essentially, it's about striking a balance between enjoying the present and having aspirations for the future, while avoiding unnecessary worries that may hinder our ability to live and act effectively in the here and now.


"You are never too old to change your fate."

This quote by David Agus emphasizes that age should not limit one's ability to make positive changes in their life. It suggests that no matter how old an individual may be, they retain the capacity for personal growth, self-improvement, and transforming their circumstances for the better. In other words, it is never too late to pursue new opportunities, learn new skills, or strive towards achieving one's goals. The message encourages resilience, determination, and a sense of hope in the face of challenges.


"Cancer is a problem of our time because we're living long enough to get it."

David Agus' quote suggests that as life expectancy increases due to advancements in medicine, healthcare, and lifestyle, so does the likelihood of developing cancer – a disease typically associated with aging. In other words, while our society is making strides in extending human lifespan, we must also prioritize research and treatments for age-related diseases like cancer.


"The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In life and medicine, you have to take risks to find the truth."

This quote emphasizes that inaction or avoiding risk can lead to stagnation, as it prevents us from discovering new possibilities and truths. Whether in life or medicine, taking calculated risks is essential for growth, learning, and uncovering truths about ourselves and the world around us. However, it's important to note that this doesn't mean recklessly taking unnecessary risks, but rather embracing opportunities to learn, innovate, and challenge our existing knowledge.


"We are what we eat, but more importantly, we are what we don’t eat."

This quote emphasizes that our diet significantly impacts our health and wellbeing, but it also highlights the potential harmful effects of certain foods or nutrients we choose to avoid in our diets. In essence, it suggests that maintaining a balanced and healthy diet goes beyond just consuming beneficial nutrients; it equally involves avoiding potentially detrimental substances like processed foods, excessive sugars, and unhealthy fats. The goal is to optimize overall health by both nourishing the body with essential nutrients and minimizing harmful elements.


I'm a big believer in what's called personalized medicine, which refers to customizing your health care to your specific needs based on your physiology, genetics, value system and unique conditions.

- David Agus

Big, Your, Value System, Personalized

In health care today, we spend most of the dollars - in terms of treating disease - in the last two years of a person's life.

- David Agus

Health, Disease, Last, Treating

Take charge of hidden, sneaky sources of chronic inflammation that can trigger illness and disease by wearing comfortable shoes daily, getting an annual flu vaccine, and asking your doctor why you're not on a statin and baby aspirin if you're over the age of forty.

- David Agus

Asking, Hidden, Sources, Vaccine

There's no question that the mind-body connection is real, even if we can't quantify it. Hope is one of the greatest weapons we have to fight disease.

- David Agus

Real, Disease, No Question, Weapons

Much in the way Olympic athletes optimize their game by paying an enormous - borderline maniacal - amount of attention to things like diet, exercise, sleep, and of course the essential R&R, we all would do well to pay more attention to those key aspects of our lives that comprise our overall health equation.

- David Agus

Game, Olympic, Aspects, Borderline

We may never understand illnesses such as cancer. In fact, we may never cure it. But an ounce of prevention is worth more than a million pounds of cure.

- David Agus

Fact, May, Illnesses, Ounce

Keep a strict, predictable schedule 365 days a year that has you eating, sleeping, and exercising at about the same times day in and day out.

- David Agus

Year, About, 365 Days, Strict

We are finally entering an exciting time in medicine where we have the technology to custom-tailor treatment and preventive protocols just as we'd custom-tailor a suit or designer gown to one's individual body. But it all begins with you. You have to know yourself in a manner that you've probably never done before.

- David Agus

Exciting Time, Treatment, Gown

Of all the things a body loves, predictability is one of them.

- David Agus

Loves, Things, Them, Predictability

If your DNA profile puts you at a higher risk of developing obesity, that doesn't mean it's your fate. You can take control of the environmental side of the equation and reduce your overall lifetime risk by a lot.

- David Agus

Fate, Side, Reduce, Obesity

We have forgotten that curing cancer starts with preventing cancer in the first place.

- David Agus

First Place, Preventing, Curing

We talk about cancer as a noun, as if it's a one time event: 'I've got cancer.'

- David Agus

Talk, About, Noun, One Time

We all need to figure out what's right for us because nothing about life is one size fits all. Even for an Olympian, that's for sure. And such discovery starts with you paying attention - to yourself.

- David Agus

Life, Out, About, Olympian

I believe we can prevent or delay most disease until the 9th or 10th decade. The goal is to prevent anything that can affect your quality of life prior to those years! By the time many of us get to the 9th or 10th decade, who knows where the new medical and science will take us? I am an optimist!

- David Agus

Medical, Decade, By The Time, Prior

When's the last time you really thought about what you eat, how much you move throughout the day, whether or not you feel fantastic when you get up in the morning, and which shoes keep your feet comfortable?

- David Agus

Feet, Thought, About, Fantastic

Cancer is the ultimate nemesis that hangs in the balance for one in three women and one in two men in their lifetime.

- David Agus

Balance, Men, Ultimate, Cancer

I want doctors to treat toward health and not treat toward disease.

- David Agus

Treat, Disease, Toward, Doctors

I have developed a unique way of looking at the relationship of the human body to health and disease.

- David Agus

Unique, Human Body, Disease, Developed

Keep the soil healthy and the bad seed won't grow.

- David Agus

Seed, Grow, Bad, Soil

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