Hippocrates (Physician)

Time is that wherein there is opportunity, and opportunity is that wherein there is no great time. Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. However, knowing this, one must attend to medical practice not primarily to plausible theories, but to experience combined with reason. For a theory is a composite memory of things apprehended with sense perception.

— Hippocrates time

Conclusions which are merely verbal cannot bear fruit, only those do which are based on demonstrated fact. For affirmation and talk are deceptive and treacherous. Wherefore one must hold fast to facts in generalizations also, and occupy oneself with facts persistently, if one is to acquire that ready and infallible habit which we call "the art of medicine."

— Hippocrates art

Everything in excess is opposed to nature.

— Hippocrates nature

To do nothing is sometimes a good remedy.

— Hippocrates time

Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases.

— Hippocrates sea

For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable.

— Hippocrates sea

Sleep and watchfulness, both of them, when immoderate, constitute disease.

— Hippocrates sea

Those diseases which medicines do not cure, iron cures; those which iron cannot cure, fire cures; and those which fire cannot cure, are to be reckoned wholly incurable.

— Hippocrates fire

It is time which imparts strength to all things and brings them to maturity.

— Hippocrates time

Those things which are sacred, are to be imparted only to sacred persons; and it is not lawful to import them to the profane until they have been initiated in the mysteries of the science.

— Hippocrates science

Medicine is of all the Arts the most noble; but, owing to the ignorance of those who practice it, and of those who, inconsiderately, form a judgment of them, it is at present far behind all the other arts. Their mistake appears to me to arise principally from this, that in the cities there is no punishment connected with the practice of medicine (and with it alone) except disgrace, and that does not hurt those who are familiar with it. Such persons are like the figures which are introduced in tragedies, for as they have the shape, and dress, and personal appearance of an actor, but are not actors, so also physicians are many in title but very few in reality.

— Hippocrates art

A natural talent is required; for, when Nature opposes, everything else is in vain; but when Nature leads the way to what is most excellent, instruction in the art takes place, which the student must try to appropriate to himself by reflection, becoming an early pupil in a place well adapted for instruction. He must also bring to the task a love of labor and perseverance, so that the instruction taking root may bring forth proper and abundant fruits.

— Hippocrates love

Timidity betrays want of powers, and audacity a want of skill. There are, indeed, two things, knowledge and opinion, of which the one makes its possessor really to know, the other to be ignorant.

— Hippocrates knowledge

With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.

— Hippocrates life

I swear bythe physician, and , and , and , and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation — to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others.

— Hippocrates god

I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.

— Hippocrates men

Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves.

— Hippocrates men

Whatever, in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.

— Hippocrates life

While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!

— Hippocrates life

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

— Hippocrates time

Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm.

— Hippocrates help

If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.

— Hippocrates men

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

— Hippocrates food

Whenever a doctor cannot do good, he must be kept from doing harm.

— Hippocrates good

Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.

— Hippocrates true

It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.

— Hippocrates sea

Science is the father of knowledge, but opinion breeds ignorance.

— Hippocrates knowledge

Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.

— Hippocrates love

Walking is man's best medicine.

— Hippocrates man

It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.

— Hippocrates sea

Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.

— Hippocrates time

A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.

— Hippocrates man

There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the later ignorance.

— Hippocrates knowledge

The life so short, the craft so long to learn.

— Hippocrates life

What medicines do not heal, the lance will; what the lance does not heal, fire will.

— Hippocrates fire

A physician without a knowledge of Astrology has no right to call himself a physician.

— Hippocrates knowledge

The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words.

— Hippocrates words

Life is short, the art long.

— Hippocrates art

Many admire, few know.

— Hippocrates man

Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man should himself lend a hand.

— Hippocrates god

To do nothing is also a good remedy.

— Hippocrates good

The art is long, life is short.

— Hippocrates life

Variant translation: What cannot be cured by medicaments is cured by the knife, what the knife cannot cure is cured with the searing iron, and whatever this cannot cure must be considered incurable.

— Hippocrates men

1:1, Variant translation: Art is long; life is short; opportunity is fleeting; judgement is difficult; experience is deceitful. Compare: The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Assembly of Fowles, line 1.

— Hippocrates life

For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable.1:6; Variant translations: Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases. Compare: A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy, Guy Fawkes, in admitting to the Gunpowder Plot; Diseases desperate grown / By desperate appliance are relieved, / Or not at all, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act iv, Scene 3; For a desperate disease a desperate cure, Michel de Montaigne, The Custom of the Isle of Cea, Chapter iii.

— Hippocrates anger

Hippocrates - The Physician 14, as translated by Paul Potter, Loeb Classical Library, Hippocrates Volume VIII.

— Hippocrates library

Those diseases which medicines do not cure, iron cures; those which iron cannot cure, fire cures; and those which fire cannot cure, are to be reckoned wholly incurable.7:87 Variant translation: What cannot be cured by medicaments is cured by the knife, what the knife cannot cure is cured with the searing iron, and whatever this cannot cure must be considered incurable.

— Hippocrates men

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