William Osler Quotes

1849–1919 Canada

Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet (July 12, 1849 – December 29, 1919) was a Canadian physician. He has been called one of the greatest icons of modern medicine.

Canada
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Physicians

Also known as: Osler, William

Random William Osler quote

47 quotes

Common sense in matters medical is rare, and is usually in inverse ratio to the degree of education.

To have striven, to have made the effort, to have been true to certain ideals — this alone is worth the struggle.

Sir William Osler : Aphorisms (1950)

No human being is constituted to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; and even the best of men must be content with fragments, with partial glimpses, never the full fruition.

The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest, and not inferior to either in her mission.

Address at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1897)

The desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals.

The Life of Sir William Osler (1925)

Acquire the art of detachment, the virtue of method, and the quality of thoroughness, but above all the grace of humility.

Sir William Osler : Aphorisms (1950)

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

Sir William Osler : Aphorisms (1950)

Humanity has but three great enemies: fever, famine, and war; of these by far the greatest, by far the most terrible, is fever.

The Life of Sir William Osler (1925)

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

Sir William Osler : Aphorisms (1950)

Soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants.

Sir William Osler : Aphorisms (1950)

A physician who treats himself has a fool for a patient.

Sir William Osler : Aphorisms (1950)

The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism.

Chauvinism in Medicine (1902)

When schemes are laid in advance, it is surprising how often the circumstances fit in with them.

There are three classes of human beings: men, women and women physicians.

Women in Medicine (1968)

We are here to add what we can to, not to get what we can from, Life.

The Life of Sir William Osler (1925)

Study until twenty-five, investigation until forty, profession until sixty, at which age I would have him retired on a double allowance.

One special advantage of the skeptical attitude of mind is that a man is never vexed to find that after all he has been in the wrong.

Shakespeare gets to the root of the alcohol question in his well-known statement—'Good wine is a good, familiar creature if it be well used.'

Alcohol in St. Elizabeth Parish Magazine (1905)

I have had three personal ideals: One to do the day's work well and not to bother about tomorrow.

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

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: William Osler (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.