--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What these older physicians exhibited is…" description: "\"“What these older physicians exhibited is termed clinical curiosity. They stroke to understand their patients in order to elucidate the underlying medi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/danielle-ofri-26196_curiosity_what-these-older-physicians-exhibited-is_2178204.jpg" --- # What these older physicians exhibited is termed clinical… ![“What these older physicians exhibited is termed clinical curiosity. They stroke to understand their patients in order to elucidate the underlying medical conditions. This thoroughness, patience, and dogged curiosity may have been ingrained in them because they trained at a time when they were no…” quote by Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/danielle-ofri-26196_curiosity_what-these-older-physicians-exhibited-is_2178204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/danielle-ofri-26196_curiosity_what-these-older-physicians-exhibited-is_2178204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/danielle-ofri-26196_curiosity_what-these-older-physicians-exhibited-is_2178204.jpg) > ““What these older physicians exhibited is termed clinical curiosity. They stroke to understand their patients in order to elucidate the underlying medical conditions. This thoroughness, patience, and dogged curiosity may have been ingrained in them because they trained at a time when they were no rapid CTs or MRIs. But even now, when these diagnostic tools are at their fingertips, these physicians maintain this approach to patients, one that serves to appreciate the dignity and uniqueness of each patient and his or her illness.”” [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes “clinical curiosity” as a thorough, patient‑centered approach that predates modern imaging, emphasizing dignity and uniqueness. **In simple terms:** Doctors should stay curious about patients. Key Takeaway Cultivate deep, patient‑focused inquiry. Themes clinical curiosity patient dignity medical history Mood thoughtful respectful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - clinical practice - medical education - patient interviews Key Concepts holistic care diagnostic humility professionalism Questions to Reflect On - How can curiosity and technology complement each other? - What habits sustain patient‑centered care? A Different Perspective Relying solely on curiosity may delay needed technology use. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patient care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient-care/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to show people that doctors are humans, too. 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That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-holt/the-nurse-read-them-again-this-time-i-wrote-them-down-then-i-spent-a/) Terrence Holt > [When people affected by epilepsy are reluctant to expose their condition, the public remains in the dark about it - a tragic irony that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-resnick/when-people-affected-by-epilepsy-are-reluctant-to-expose-their/) [Lynda Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-resnick/) > [I still find the best way to understand a hospitalized patient whose care I am taking over is not by staring at the computer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-still-find-the-best-way-to-understand-a-hospitalized-patient-whose/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Nurses have new and expanding roles. They are case managers, helping patients navigate the maze of health care choices and develop plans of care.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-evans/nurses-have-new-and-expanding-roles-they-are-case-managers-helping/) Judi Evans ## More by Danielle Ofri > [“In general, empathy is easier the more we can identify with someone. When we can genuinely envision ourselves in a situation, it's possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/in-general-empathy-is-easier-the-more-we-can-identify-with-someone/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“How the sadness is handled by the physician has a powerful impact on the medical care received by the patients. If the grief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/how-the-sadness-is-handled-by-the-physician-has-a-powerful-impact-on/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Burnout also leads to a large swath of physicians who aren't as empathetic toward their patients as they could be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/burnout-also-leads-to-a-large-swath-of-physicians-who-aren-t-as/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Grief ate at these doctors, distracting them from both their families and their patients. Many reported withdrawing from emotional involvement with their patients and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/grief-ate-at-these-doctors-distracting-them-from-both-their-families/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Empathy requires being attuned to the patient's perspective and understanding how the illness is woven into this particular persons' life. 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It could be sexual dysfunction, an eating disorder, depression, domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient-may-be-uncomfortable-about/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Empathy--the ability to identify with someone else's suffering--is certainly a prerequisite for a genuine apology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/empathy-the-ability-to-identify-with-someone-else-s-suffering-is/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio describes emotions as the "continuous musical line of our minds, the unstoppable humming." 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Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/doctors-are-taught-in-medical-school-that-people-ususally-underreport/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Suddenly, I was plunged back into an avid learning environment, starting at the bottom and working my way painstakingly up the mountain. The thrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/suddenly-i-was-plunged-back-into-an-avid-learning-environment/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) [Explore all 22 Danielle Ofri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) ## More Curiosity quotes > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Curiosity Can Kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anison/curiosity-can-kill/) [Anison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anison/) > [“So curious you must be. Like little calves poking their heads through the fence with big eyes and a headful of curiosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/so-curious-you-must-be-like-little-calves-poking-their-heads-through/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [ “\[T\]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. \[...\] The point is, perhaps, that I am not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no-meaning-even-though-it-seems/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Be curious not judge mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/be-curious-not-judge-mental/) Unknow > [There is nothing so carking as the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/there-is-nothing-so-carking-as-the-pangs-of-unsatisfied-curiosity/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes curiosity is a poison, not only for those who drink it but for everyone around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/sometimes-curiosity-is-a-poison-not-only-for-those-who-drink-it-but/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure has earned a lot of people graduate degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-irving/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-sure-has-earned-a-lot-of/) Robyn Irving [Browse all 2,721 Curiosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What these older physicians exhibited is termed clinical curiosity. They stroke to understand their patients in order to elucidate the underlying medical conditions. 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