Anvils Quote by Alice Tisdale Hobart
“Every theory in medicine, if medicine is to remain healthy, must be beaten out on the anvil of skepticism. So do we weed out charlatanism.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Medical conference, 1915
Medical ideas must survive rigorous questioning to stay valid, eliminating false claims.
In simple terms: Only tested theories survive; falsehoods are removed.
Apply critical scrutiny to health claims.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- clinical research
- public health policy
- patient education
- medical journalism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance doubt with openness to new treatments?
- When should skepticism be tempered?
Skepticism can delay adoption of beneficial innovations.