Hippocrates quotes

Hippocrates was an ancient Greek physician, often called the "Father of Medicine." His teachings laid the foundation for modern medical ethics and clinical practice. He is remembered for the Hippocratic Oath, a code of conduct still influential in medicine today. Here are 77 of his quotes:

Everything in excess is opposed to nature.

Hippocrates

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

Hippocrates

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.

Hippocrates

Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.

Hippocrates

The human soul develops up to death.

Hippocrates

Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm.

Hippocrates

Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future.

Hippocrates

There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the later ignorance.

Hippocrates

A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.

Hippocrates

If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.

Hippocrates

Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man should himself lend a hand.

Hippocrates

Sleep and watchfulness, both of them, when immoderate, constitute disease.

Hippocrates

Those diseases which medicines do not cure, iron cures; those which iron cannot cure, fire cures; and those which fire cannot cure, are to be reckoned wholly incurable.

Hippocrates

A natural talent is required; for, when Nature opposes, everything else is in vain; but when Nature leads the way to what is most excellent, instruction in the art takes place, which the student must try to appropriate to himself by reflection, becoming an early pupil in a place well adapted for instruction. He must also bring to the task a love of labor and perseverance, so that the instruction taking root may bring forth proper and abundant fruits.

Hippocrates

Many admire, few know.

Hippocrates

Time is that wherein there is opportunity, and opportunity is that wherein there is no great time.

Hippocrates

For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable.

Hippocrates

Those things which are sacred, are to be imparted only to sacred persons; and it is not lawful to import them to the profane until they have been initiated in the mysteries of the science.

Hippocrates

Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.

Hippocrates

A physician without a knowledge of Astrology has no right to call himself a physician.

Hippocrates

Things that are holy are revealed only to men who are holy.

Hippocrates

Life is short, and the Art long; the occasion fleeting; experience fallacious, and judgment difficult. The physician must not only be prepared to do what is right himself, but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals cooperate.

Hippocrates