The Little Book of Medical Quotes

Inspiring Thoughts in Medicine

McMahon, Daniel

• Publisher: tfm Publishing Ltd
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781910079843
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medical Theory, Practice & Reference

This rich collection of quotations, spanning multiple millennia from the ancient epochs to the contemporary era, is comprised of over five hundred inspirational thoughts and universal ideals enduringly coupled to the art, science, and philosophy of medical practice. These selected quotations encompass a wide breadth of keen observations and aphorisms directly linked to the history, grounding principles, and fundamental theories of medicine and surgery. The quotations in this volume have been drawn from past generations of legendary physicians and intrepid explorers of medical science as well as distinguished anatomists, physiologists, philosophers, writers, artists, and statesmen. The reader will ponder logical precepts, universal truths, and cogent words of guidance from ancient physicians and philosophers such as Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Socrates as well as be offered sage counsel from giants of medical history including Armand Trousseau, Sir William Osler, and Michael DeBakey, among many others. Additionally, the reader will hear the poignant words of world-renowned medical scientists such as Claude Bernard, Jonas Salk, and Marie Curie. There are also enlightening tenets from celebrated Renaissance men, scientists, and innovators including Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein. This unique collection of motivational quotes substantively addresses the pursuit of success in medical practice. Consider these quotations a daily dose of inspiration regardless of the particular discipline or specialty of medicine you have chosen to pursue. These quotations have the capacity to bring into clear focus the fundamentals and principles that are illustrative of sound medical practice, empathetic patient care, and humble professionalism. These thoughts are cognitively stimulating to ponder and at times are refreshingly witty and even humorous. In a medical world that has become overwhelmingly inundated with convoluted electronic health records and complex diagnostic services, these time-tested precepts will convey a modicum of simplicity and brightness upon the complex world in which we practice medicine.

Part I

THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICK

Whatever State of the Human Body doth disorder the Vital, the Natural, or even the Animal Functions of the same is called a Disease. And that part of the Science or Art of Physick, which teacheth how to find out the Disease actually afflicting the Patient, and how to cure the same, is called The Practice of Physick. A Cure is the Changing of a Disease into Health.
Herman Boerhaave
(1668-1738; Dutch botanist,
chemist, & physician)

Chapter 1

A noble & altruistic calling

No greater opportunity, responsibility, or obligation can fall to the lot of a human being than to become a physician. In the care of the suffering he needs technical skill, scientific knowledge, and human understanding. He who uses these with courage, with humility, and with wisdom will provide a unique service for his fellow man, and will build an enduring edifice of character within himself. The physician should ask of his destiny no more than this; he should be content with no less.
Tinsley R. Harrison
(1900-1978; American physician)

• As a physician you provide a noble and altruistic service to the fellow citizens of your communities, metropolitans, and perhaps even farther abroad on a global level. Take great pride in this service you provide. Although we all get lost in the minutiae of our day-to-day professional and personal lives, take a moment to reflect upon the privilege we have been granted as physicians to impart a healing influence upon the patients we are entrusted to care for. Endeavor to maintain an unwavering appreciation for the art and science of medicine and surgery as well as an unrelenting drive to continue carrying out the responsibilities and obligations of our timeless profession with empathy, passion, and dedication that each and every one of our patients are deserving of.

DM

First, it must be a pleasure to study the human body the most miraculous masterpiece of nature and to learn about the smallest vessel and the smallest fiber. But second and most important, the medical profession gives the opportunity to alleviate the troubles of the body, to ease the pain, to console a person who is in distress, and to lighten the hour of death of many a sufferer.
Rudolph Virchow
(1821-1902; German physician)

✦ There are some arts which to those that possess them are painful, but to those that use them are helpful, a common good to laymen, but to those that practise them grievous. Of such arts there is one which the Greeks call medicine. For the medical man sees terrible sights, touches unpleasant things, and the misfortunes of others bring a harvest of sorrows that are peculiarly his; but the sick by means of the art rid themselves of the worst of evils, disease, suffering, pain and death.

Hippocrates
(460 BC-370 BC; Greek physician)

✦ The practice of medicine will be very much as you make it — to one a worry, a care, a perpetual annoyance; to another, a daily job and a life of as much happiness and usefulness as can well fall to the lot of man, because it is a life of self-sacrifice and of countless opportunities to comfort and help the weak-hearted, and to raise up those that fall.

Sir William Osler
(1849-1919; Canadian physician)

✦ If we had nothing but pecuniary rewards and worldly honours to look to, our profession would not be one to be desired. But in its practice you will find it to be attended with peculiar privileges, second to none in intense interest and pure pleasures. It is our proud office to tend the fleshly tabernacle of the immortal spirit, and our path, rightly followed, will be guided by unfettered truth and love unfeigned. In the pursuit of this noble and holy calling I wish you all God-speed.

Joseph Lister
(1827-1912; British surgeon)

✦ An inquiring, analytical mind; an unquenchable thirst for new knowledge; and a heartfelt compassion for the ailing — these are prominent traits among the committed clinicians who have preserved the passion for medicine.

Michael E. DeBakey
(1908-2008; American cardiovascular surgeon)

✦ But nothing is more estimable than a physician who, having studied nature from his youth, knows the properties of the human body, the diseases which assail it, the remedies which will benefit it, exercises his art with caution, and pays equal attention to the rich and the poor.

Francois-Marie Arouet, known
by his nom de plume, Voltaire
(1694-1778; French writer & philosopher)

✦ In our daily patients we witness human nature in the raw — fear, despair, courage, understanding, hope, resignation, heroism. If alert, we can detect new problems to solve, new paths to investigate.

Joseph Murray
(1919-2012; American surgeon)

✦ Only those who regard healing as the ultimate goal of their efforts can, therefore, be designated as physicians.

Rudolph Virchow
(1821-1902; German physician)

✦ All knowledge attains its ethical value and its human significance only by the human sense with which it is employed. Only a good man can be a great physician.

Hermann Nothnagel
(1841-1905; German physician)

✦ The true physician has a Shakespearean breadth of interest in the wise and the foolish, the proud and the humble, the stoic hero and the whining rouge. He cares for people.

Tinsley R. Harrison
(1900-1978; American physician)

✦ The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head. Often the best part of your work will have nothing to do with potions and powders, but with the exercise of an influence of the strong upon the weak, of the righteous upon the wicked, of the wise upon the foolish.

Sir William Osler
(1849-1919; Canadian physician...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• About the author
• Dedication
• PART I THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICK
• PART II PILLARS OF TIMELESS WISDOM FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
• PART III PHILOSOPHIC INSPIRATION & WORDS TO LIVE BY
• PART IV THE ROAD AHEAD
• AFTERWORD
• Back Cover