As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.
In plain words
A doctor's promise is to try to help every patient, and never make things worse.
Where these words come from
- 90% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- From the genuine Hippocratic Corpus, Of the Epidemics, Book I, Ch. 2 — standard English rendering (cf. Francis Adams' 1849 translation used across the corpus on Wikisource/Wikiquote). Distinct from the debunked 'Let food be thy medicine' and 'walking' misattributions.
- Of the Epidemics, Book I
- c. 400 BCE · ancient Greece (Hippocratic school, Cos/Thasos) · guidance for physicians treating patients, part of the Hippocratic Corpus
More on kindness
Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.
Chief JosephAmong individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.
Benito JuárezI have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him.
Galileo GalileiIt is hard to say whether it is more dishonourable for the receiver to disown a benefit, or for the giver to demand a return of it: for a benefit is a loan, the repayment of which depends merely upon the good feeling of the debtor.
SenecaTo misuse a benefit like a spendthrift is most shameful, because we do not need our wealth but only our intention to set us free from the obligation of it; for a benefit is repaid by being acknowledged.SenecaWe find many men ungrateful, yet we make more men so, because at one time we harshly and reproachfully demand some return for our bounty, at another we are fickle and regret what we have given, at another we are peevish and apt to find fault with trifles.Seneca
Chief JosephAmong individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.Benito JuárezI have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him.Galileo GalileiIt is hard to say whether it is more dishonourable for the receiver to disown a benefit, or for the giver to demand a return of it: for a benefit is a loan, the repayment of which depends merely upon the good feeling of the debtor.SenecaTo misuse a benefit like a spendthrift is most shameful, because we do not need our wealth but only our intention to set us free from the obligation of it; for a benefit is repaid by being acknowledged.SenecaWe find many men ungrateful, yet we make more men so, because at one time we harshly and reproachfully demand some return for our bounty, at another we are fickle and regret what we have given, at another we are peevish and apt to find fault with trifles.SenecaMore history
See allIt does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
ConfuciusNature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Lao TzuIn the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Sun TzuThe wound is the place where the light enters you.
RumiYou have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
Marcus AureliusWaste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.Marcus Aurelius
ConfuciusNature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.Lao TzuIn the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.Sun TzuThe wound is the place where the light enters you.RumiYou have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.Marcus AureliusWaste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.Marcus Aurelius