There are more old drunkards than old physicians.
—Francois Rabelais (1494–1553) French Humanist, Satirist
The disease and its medicine are like two factions in a besieged town; they tear one another to pieces, but both unite against their common enemy, Nature.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (1773–1850) Scottish Judge, Literary Critic
Is it not also true that no physician, in so far as he is a physician, considers or enjoins what is for the physician’s interest, but that all seek the good of their patients? For we have agreed that a physician strictly so called, is a ruler of bodies, and not a maker of money, have we not?
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
The best doctor is the one you run to and can’t find.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
Before undergoing a surgical operation, arrange your temporal affairs. You may live.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
All interest in disease and death is only another expression of interest in life.
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955) German Novelist, Short Story Writer, Social Critic, Philanthropist, Essayist
There is no medicine like hope, no incentives so great, and no tonics so powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Medicines are only fit for old people.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Advances in medicine and agriculture have saved vastly more lives than have been lost in all the wars in history.
—Carl Sagan (1934–96) American Astronomer
A good night’s sleep, or a ten-minute brawl, or a pint of chocolate ice cream, or all three together, is good medicine.
—Ray Bradbury (b.1920) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
—Common Proverb
Laughter is the best medicine.
—Common Proverb
The universal medicine for the Soul is the Supreme Reason and Absolute Justice; for the mind, mathematical and practical Truth; for the body, the Quintessence, a combination of light and gold.
—Albert Pike (1809–91) American Masonic Scholar, Orator, Jurist
Men who are occupied in the restoration of health to other men, by the joint exertion of skill and humanity, are above all the great of the earth. They even partake of divinity, since to preserve and renew is almost as noble as to create.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The doctor should be opaque to his patients and, like a mirror, should show them nothing but what is shown to him.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
You can’t treat a car like a patient. A car needs love.
—Gerhard Kocher (b.1939) Swiss Publicist, Aphorist
The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.
—Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) English Nurse
It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.
—Paul Dudley White (1886–1973) American Cardiologist
What can’t be cured, must be endured.
—Common Proverb
Prevention is better than cure.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar