I would like to see the day when somebody would be appointed surgeon somewhere who had no hands, for the operative part is the least part of the work.
Interpretation
The essence of a surgeon's role extends beyond technical skills; it involves understanding, empathy, and decision-making.
Harvey Cushing's quote highlights that the role of a surgeon is not solely defined by their ability to perform surgery with their hands but rather encompasses a broader range of qualities, including critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the capacity to lead a medical team. This suggests that a physician's effectiveness is determined more by their overall approach to patient care rather than just their technical abilities.
In practice
In a medical conference discussing the qualities of a good surgeon.
In these days when science is clearly in the saddle and when our knowledge of disease is advancing at a breathless pace, we are apt to forget that not all can ride and that he also serves who waits and who applies what the horseman discovers.
A physician is obligated to consider more than a diseased organ, more even than the whole man - he must view the man in his world.
From my example learn to be just, and not to despise the gods.
A search always starts with Beginner's Luck and ends with the Test of the Conqueror.
Healing is a different type of pain. It’s the pain of becoming aware of the power of one’s strength and weakness, of one’s capacity to love or do damage to oneself and to others, and of how the most challenging person to control in life is ultimately yourself.
I believe the reason we sleep is not just to allow our body to rest but that it is to allow this inner wisdom to speak to us through symbols. This includes the body or somatic problems as well as psychological ones. Dreams and drawings are useful in diagnosing physical conditions.
Inflict not on an enemy every injury in your power, for he may afterwards become your friend.
Keep the circus going inside you, keep it going, don't take anything too seriously, it'll all work out in the end.
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