The art is long, life is short
HippocratesRead
It is more important to know the person who has the condition than it is to know the condition the person has.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding the individual is more crucial than understanding their illness.
This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity of a person over merely identifying their medical condition. It suggests that personal connections and empathy are vital in healthcare and relationships, encouraging caregivers and loved ones to focus on the person as a whole, rather than reducing them to just their diagnosis or circumstances.
Themes
UnderstandingEmpathyPersonConditionHealthcare
In practice
Example use cases
A doctor speaking at a health conference about patient care.
More from Hippocrates
All quotes →The body of man has in itself blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile; these make up the nature of this body, and through these he feels pain or enjoys health. Now he enjoys the most perfect health when these elements are duly proportioned to one another in respect of compounding, power and bulk, and when they are perfectly mingled.
HippocratesRead
That which is used - develops. That which is not used wastes away.
HippocratesRead
Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.
HippocratesRead
Wine is an appropriate article for mankind, both for the healthy body and for the ailing man.
HippocratesRead
Walking is man's best medicine.
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