Skip to content

It's known that stress gives rise to disease. It's also…

“It's known that stress gives rise to disease. It's also known that many diseases, especially stress-related diseases, can be cured by placebos - pills that have no medicinal effect, but people think they do, and so they do.” quote by Richard Dawkins
Download Open image
“It's known that stress gives rise to disease. It's also known that many diseases, especially stress-related diseases, can be cured by placebos - pills that have no medicinal effect, but people think they do, and so they do.”

Richard Dawkins

About This Quote

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

Stress can trigger illness, yet the belief in a treatment’s effectiveness can trigger healing even without active ingredients.

In simple terms: Mindset influences health outcomes.

Key Takeaway

Leverage positive expectations for health.

Themes

health psychology placebo effect

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • clinical trials
  • pain management
  • mental health counseling
  • patient care

Key Concepts

mind‑body connection expectancy theory self‑fulfilling prophecy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What role does belief play in recovery?
  • Can expectations be ethically used in therapy?
A Different Perspective

Placebo effects vary and may not replace real treatments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Richard Dawkins

Explore all 1,239 Richard Dawkins quotes

More Disease quotes

Browse all 3,549 Disease quotes