In psychology it is very important that the doctor should…
““In psychology it is very important that the doctor should not strive to heal at all costs. One has to be exceedingly careful not to impose one's own will and conviction on the patient. You have to give him a certain amount of freedom. You can't wrest people away from their fate, just as in medicine you cannot cure a patient if nature means him to die. Sometimes it is really a question whether you are allowed to rescue a man from the fate he must undergo for the sake of his further development.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He warns doctors not to impose their will, respecting patient freedom and natural fate, questioning rescue versus development.
In simple terms: Doctors should respect patient autonomy and natural limits.
Respect patient autonomy.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- therapy sessions
- end‑of‑life care
- patient consent
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it ethical to intervene?
- How to balance autonomy with beneficence?
Sometimes intervention is necessary for relief.