Hippocrates Quotes
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The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words.
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Sometimes give your services for nothing.
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The human body contains blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. These are the things that make up its constitution and cause its pain and health. Health is primarily that state in which these constituent substances are in the correct proportion to each other, both in strength and quantity, and are well mixed.
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When in sickness, look to the spine first.
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Idleness and lack of occupation tend - nay are dragged - towards evil.
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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.
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But medicine has long had all its means to hand, and has discovered both a principle and a method, through which the discoveries made during a long period are many and excellent, while full discovery will be made, if the inquirer be competent, conduct his researches with knowledge of the discoveries already made, and make them his starting-point. But anyone who, casting aside and rejecting all these means, attempts to conduct research in any other way or after another fashion, and asserts that he has found out anything, is and has been victim of deception.
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In all abundance there is lack.
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Some patients, though conscious that their condition is perilous, recover their health simply through their contentment with the goodness of the physician.
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When doing everything according to indications, although things may not turn out agreeably to indication, we should not change to another while the original appearances remain.
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Keep a watch also on the faults of the patients, which often make them lie about the taking of things prescribed. (XIV, Translated by W. H. S. Jones. LCL 148, Pages 296-297)
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Each of the substances of a man's diet acts upon his body and changes it in some way and upon these changes his whole life depends.
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I have clearly recorded this: for one can learn good lessons also from what has been tried but clearly has not succeeded, when it is clear why it has not succeeded.
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And if incision of the temple is made on the left, spasm seizes the parts on the right, while if the incision is on the right, spasm seizes the parts on the left.
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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.
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Life is short, the art long.
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Sport is a preserver of health.
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An insolent reply from a polite person is a bad sign.
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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!
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That which is used - develops. That which is not used wastes away.