The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.
ParacelsusRead
All drugs are poisons the benefit depends on the dosage.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The harmfulness of substances depends on how much is consumed; moderation is key.
Paracelsus highlights a fundamental principle of toxicology: substances that can be beneficial in small amounts can be harmful or lethal in larger doses. This underscores the importance of dosage and moderation in the use of medicines and other substances, indicating that the line between healing and harm is often very thin.
Themes
ToxicityDosagePoisonModerationHealth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the safe use of medications.
More from Paracelsus
All quotes →Know that the philosopher has power over the stars, and not the stars over him.
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The human body is vapor materialized by sunshine mixed with the life of the stars.
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All things are poisons, for there is nothing without poisonous qualities. It is only the dose which makes a thing poison.
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It should be forbidden and severely punished to remove cancer by cutting, burning, cautery, and other fiendish tortures. It is from nature that the disease comes, and from nature comes the cure, not from physicians.
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Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule. Nevertheless one had better know the rules, for they sometimes guide in doubtful cases, though not often.
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