William Osler

greater ignorance dogmatism

“The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

physician educate people medicine

“One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

preparation tomorrow today work superbably well

“The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work superbly well.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

study medicine book uncharted sea patient

“He who studies medicine without books sails an uncharted sea, but he who studies medicine without patients does not go to sea at all”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

ask disease person

“Ask not what disease the person has, but rather what person the disease has”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

person medicine recover twice disease

“the person who takes medicine must recover twice,once from the disease ,and once from the medicine.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

look wise say grunt speech conceal thought

“Look wise, say nothing, and grunt. Speech was given to conceal thought.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

philosophy age absurdity foolishness yesterday wisdom tomorrow

“The philosophies of one age have become the absurdities of the next, and the foolishness of yesterday has become the wisdom of tomorrow.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

physician doctor good great treat disease patient

“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

science credit convince world idea first

“In science, the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea first occurs.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

medicine science uncertainty art probability

“Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

varicose veins result improper selection grandparents

“Varicose veins are the result of an improper selection of grandparents.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

important sort patient disease doctor medicine

"It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has."

― William Osler (1849-1919)

confession half thaught error

"Gentlemen, I have a confession to make. Half of what we have taught you is in error, and furthermore we cannot tell you which half it is"

― William Osler (1849-1919)

practice medicine art trade calling business heart head

"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."

― William Osler (1849-1919)

first step success occupation interest

"The very first step towards success in any occupation is to become interested in it."

― William Osler (1849-1919)

teacher height pumping knowledge pressure receptacles

"The successful teacher is no longer on a height, pumping knowledge at high pressure into passive receptacles..."

― William Osler (1849-1919)

physician doctor young old drug disease 20 one

"The young physician starts life with 20 drugs for each disease, and the old physician ends life with one drug for 20 diseases."

― William Osler (1849-1919)

alcohol elderly milk young old age

“Alcohol is for the elderly what milk is for the young.”

― William Osler (1849-1919)

patient rest food fresh air exercise quadrangle health

"Patients should have rest, food, fresh air, and exercise - the quadrangle of health."

― William Osler (1849-1919)