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William Shakespeare on Medicine

1564–1616 England

← All quotes by William Shakespeare

13 quotes

No cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death.

By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death
Will seize the doctor too.

Cymbeline (1611)

* In this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient's death.

Henry VIII (1613)

'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases
Are grown so catching.

Henry VIII (1613)

Trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
More than you rob.

Take physic, pomp;
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel.

King Lear (1608)

You rub the sore,
When you should bring the plaster.

How does your patient, doctor?
Not so sick, my lord,
As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies.

Macbeth (1605)

In such a night
Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs
That did renew old Æson.

When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills.

Therein the patient
Must minister to himself.
Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.

Macbeth (1605)

In poison there is physic; and these news,
Having been well, that would have made me sick;
Being sick, have in some measure made me well.

If thou couldst, doctor, cast
The water of my land, find her disease,
And purge it to a sound and pristine health,
I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again.

Macbeth (1605)

Attribution

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