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

What this quote means

Physicians should prioritize educating people about health over simply prescribing medication.

William Osler emphasizes the importance of preventive care and health education, suggesting that a physician's role should involve teaching the public about health and wellness rather than solely providing medical treatments. By fostering a knowledgeable society, physicians can empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding their health and reduce dependency on medication.

Themes

EducationHealthMedicinePreventionAwareness

In practice

Example use cases

In a health seminar, a speaker might use this quote to emphasize the need for preventative education.

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Observe, record, tabulate, communicate. Use your five senses. Learn to see, learn to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell, and know that by practice alone you can become expert.
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There is no more difficult art to acquire than the art of observation, and for some men it is quite as difficult to record an observation in brief and plain language.
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No bubble is so iridescent or floats longer than that blown by the successful teacher.
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The young physician starts life with 20 drugs for each disease, and the old physician ends life with one drug for 20 diseases.
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Let each hour of the day have its allotted duty, and cultivate that power of concentration which grows with its exercise.
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Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.
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