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She gathered some brown seaweed and made a flat damp…

“She gathered some brown seaweed and made a flat damp poultice of it, and this she applied to the baby's swollen shoulder, which was as good a remedy as any and probably better than the doctor could have done. But the remedy lacked his authority because it was simple and didn't cost anything.” quote by John Steinbeck
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““She gathered some brown seaweed and made a flat damp poultice of it, and this she applied to the baby's swollen shoulder, which was as good a remedy as any and probably better than the doctor could have done. But the remedy lacked his authority because it was simple and didn't cost anything.””

John Steinbeck

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A simple seaweed poultice healed a baby’s shoulder better than a doctor’s remedy, but lacked authority because it was cheap.

In simple terms: Simple remedy worked better than professional one.

Key Takeaway

Value simple, effective solutions.

Themes

medicine folk remedy authority

Mood

practical reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • home remedies
  • parental care
  • community health
  • cost‑saving healthcare

Key Concepts

healing cost‑effectiveness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you evaluate a remedy’s credibility?
  • When should you trust simple solutions?
A Different Perspective

Authority can bias perception of efficacy.

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