--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A surgeon is surrounded by people who are…" description: "\"A surgeon is surrounded by people who are sick, discouraged, afraid, embittered, dying - but also courageous, loving, wise, compassionate and alive.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/bernie-siegel-2465_alive_a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-ar_726421.jpg" --- # A surgeon is surrounded by people who are sick… ![“A surgeon is surrounded by people who are sick, discouraged, afraid, embittered, dying - but also courageous, loving, wise, compassionate and alive.” quote by Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/bernie-siegel-2465_alive_a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-ar_726421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/bernie-siegel-2465_alive_a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-ar_726421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/bernie-siegel-2465_alive_a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-ar_726421.jpg) > “A surgeon is surrounded by people who are sick, discouraged, afraid, embittered, dying - but also courageous, loving, wise, compassionate and alive.” [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surgeons witness suffering and resilience, highlighting humanity's duality of pain and hope. **In simple terms:** Doctors see both illness and courage. Key Takeaway Recognize patients' strengths alongside their struggles. Themes compassion humanity healing resilience Mood reflective empathetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - hospital rounds - palliative care - patient counseling - team debriefings Key Concepts medical ethics patient-centered care empathy Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance empathy with clinical objectivity? - What practices sustain your own emotional health? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic issues affecting health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Compassionate Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate-alive-5698299/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Dying Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying-courageous-5698300/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Surgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeon/) [Surgeon Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeon-surrounded-5698298/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-compassionate-1773021/) ## Related quotes > [Julie Orringer is the real thing, a breathtaking chronicler of the secrets and cruelties underneath the surface of middle-class American life. These are terrific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/julie-orringer-is-the-real-thing-a-breathtaking-chronicler-of-the/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [Wise, compassionate and accessible, David Benner's The Gift of Being Yourself is truly a gift to the dedicated seeker. The author draws on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-guenther/wise-compassionate-and-accessible-david-benner-s-the-gift-of-being/) [Margaret Guenther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-guenther/) > [“There is enough mystery in human nature to keep the world stuck in a perpetual state of righteous speculation. Only the wise and compassionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/there-is-enough-mystery-in-human-nature-to-keep-the-world-stuck-in-a/) [Shannon L. 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Bloomfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-h-bloomfield/) > [“This self-knowledge is the foundation for becoming the wise, compassionate, and peaceful person you have the capacity to become. So how do we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-wigglesworth/this-self-knowledge-is-the-foundation-for-becoming-the-wise/) [Cindy Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-wigglesworth/) > [... I know for sure, that the universe is wise and compassionate. The question then becomes: How can there be such brutality and pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/i-know-for-sure-that-the-universe-is-wise-and-compassionate-the/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I decided to become a surgeon named Bernie who writes books and gives seminars to teach people what he has learned and is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-decided-to-become-a-surgeon-named-bernie-who-writes-books-and-gives/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [“The reader, knowing nothing about the ‘dark continent,’ filled in the blanks. Pictured Stone in a tent, kerosene lamp held up by a Hottentot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/the-reader-knowing-nothing-about-the-dark-continent-filled-in-the/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“I could see that the almost mystical aura of this legendary surgeon -- the single-mindedness, the dedication, the skill -- was mere surface. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-could-see-that-the-almost-mystical-aura-of-this-legendary-surgeon/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [“A trained surgeon is also a potential killer, and an important bit of the training lies in accepting the fact. Your intent is entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/a-trained-surgeon-is-also-a-potential-killer-and-an-important-bit-of/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More by Bernie Siegel > [It is astounding how much the immune system is strengthened by reducing daily mental stress levels with either visualization or meditation. The other great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/it-is-astounding-how-much-the-immune-system-is-strengthened-by/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [No matter what the statistics say there is always a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/no-matter-what-the-statistics-say-there-is-always-a-way/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Live by your experience and do not let limited beliefs alter your life experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/live-by-your-experience-and-do-not-let-limited-beliefs-alter-your/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [For me, consciousness is non-local, not limited to the body, and can exist independent of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/for-me-consciousness-is-non-local-not-limited-to-the-body-and-can/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [There is no such thing as an incurable disease, only incurable people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-incurable-disease-only-incurable-people/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [The Secret Language of Your Body truly is the essential guide to restore your body to its healthiest state and assist you to heal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/the-secret-language-of-your-body-truly-is-the-essential-guide-to/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I think some people do want to die, and they will get a disease. There are people who know their lives are so troubled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-think-some-people-do-want-to-die-and-they-will-get-a-disease-there/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Feel your feelings. What you bring forth will save you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/feel-your-feelings-what-you-bring-forth-will-save-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I know patients who bring a dozen roses to the doctor's office. And, boy, the next visit, nobody forgets that. You come in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-know-patients-who-bring-a-dozen-roses-to-the-doctor-s-office-and/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I had patients who didn't die because they had too many pets to try to find homes for. It's why women live longer than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-had-patients-who-didn-t-die-because-they-had-too-many-pets-to-try/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [One of the best ways to change is to act as if you are the person you want to become. When you behave as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/one-of-the-best-ways-to-change-is-to-act-as-if-you-are-the-person-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [You can find examples of how little we value ourselves everywhere you look. The signs on the front of the convenience stores where Stephen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-find-examples-of-how-little-we-value-ourselves-everywhere-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Thoughts are chemical. They can either kill us or cure us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/thoughts-are-chemical-they-can-either-kill-us-or-cure-us/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [I believe consciousness is non-local and a big part of what we experience with near death and past lives. It's the consciousness that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/i-believe-consciousness-is-non-local-and-a-big-part-of-what-we/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [When my body gets to the point where I can no longer function or feel gratitude, then I'll leave it and become grateful again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/when-my-body-gets-to-the-point-where-i-can-no-longer-function-or-feel/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) [Explore all 165 Bernie Siegel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A surgeon is surrounded by people who are sick, discouraged, afraid, embittered, dying - but also courageous, loving, wise, compassionate and alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernie Siegel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-are-sick-discouraged-afraid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-are-sick-discouraged-afraid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/bernie-siegel-2465_alive_a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-ar_726421.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/bernie-siegel-2465_alive_a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-ar_726421.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/bernie-siegel-2465_alive_a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-ar_726421.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A surgeon is surrounded by people who are sick, discouraged, afraid, embittered, dying - but also…” — Bernie Siegel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bernie Siegel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A surgeon is surrounded by people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-are-sick-discouraged-afraid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/a-surgeon-is-surrounded-by-people-who-are-sick-discouraged-afraid/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```