--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned a lot about medicine in those…" description: "\"“I learned a lot about medicine in those years, but I learned more about human nature. I learned about bravery and resilience, about the many forms of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/elizabeth-berg-853_courage_i-learned-a-lot-about-medicine-in-those_357291.jpg" --- # I learned a lot about medicine in those years, but I… ![“I learned a lot about medicine in those years, but I learned more about human nature. I learned about bravery and resilience, about the many forms of grief, and especially about the importance of the little things in one’s life. I’ve said many times that nursing taught me the value of the “little”…” quote by Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/elizabeth-berg-853_courage_i-learned-a-lot-about-medicine-in-those_357291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/elizabeth-berg-853_courage_i-learned-a-lot-about-medicine-in-those_357291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/elizabeth-berg-853_courage_i-learned-a-lot-about-medicine-in-those_357291.jpg) > ““I learned a lot about medicine in those years, but I learned more about human nature. I learned about bravery and resilience, about the many forms of grief, and especially about the importance of the little things in one’s life. I’ve said many times that nursing taught me the value of the “little” things that individuate and define our lives—the things that ultimately make it worth living.”” [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Medical training reveals technical skills, but nursing exposes deep human emotions and the significance of small daily moments. **In simple terms:** Nursing teaches that tiny details shape our lives. Key Takeaway Pay attention to everyday moments. Themes humanity compassion gratitude Mood reflective appreciative Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - patient care - personal relationships - self‑reflection Key Concepts empathy resilience grief Questions to Reflect On - How do small acts influence long‑term wellbeing? - What “little things” do you cherish? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize nursing, overlooking systemic challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Nursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) [Worth living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth-living/) ## Related quotes > [“That is what nursing has taught me above all: compassion is the greatest wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-shalof/that-is-what-nursing-has-taught-me-above-all-compassion-is-the/) [Tilda Shalof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-shalof/) > [It takes approximately forty years for innovative thought to be incorporated into mainstream thought. I expect and hope that orthomolecular medicine, within the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abram-hoffer/it-takes-approximately-forty-years-for-innovative-thought-to-be/) [Abram Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abram-hoffer/) > [I was a writer first, and knew I'd be a storyteller at age seven. But since my parents are very practical, they urged me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-was-a-writer-first-and-knew-i-d-be-a-storyteller-at-age-seven-but/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“I’d learned that human beings grew through things, not out of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-clarke/i-d-learned-that-human-beings-grew-through-things-not-out-of-them/) [Alexandria Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-clarke/) > [“The computers of the Hundred Worlds were hands and feet, eyes and ears to her. She spoke every language that had ever been committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-computers-of-the-hundred-worlds-were-hands-and-feet-eyes-and-ears/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I've learned it's a human responsibility to create fun, not just wait for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-saunier/i-ve-learned-it-s-a-human-responsibility-to-create-fun-not-just-wait/) [Greg Saunier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-saunier/) > [“I have learned that human beings are all about incentives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-have-learned-that-human-beings-are-all-about-incentives/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“You need not regret lost years if you have learned great things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cady/you-need-not-regret-lost-years-if-you-have-learned-great-things/) Jack Cady > [In the past thirty years we have learned more about the workings of the human brain than in all of previous history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/in-the-past-thirty-years-we-have-learned-more-about-the-workings-of/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Over the years I learned that you can have it all - just not at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-fields/over-the-years-i-learned-that-you-can-have-it-all-just-not-at-the/) [Jan Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-fields/) > [“Striving to convey to this beloved audience of one what was going on around me during those five years, I learned the power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-russell-sanders/striving-to-convey-to-this-beloved-audience-of-one-what-was-going-on/) [Scott Russell Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-russell-sanders/) > [In the last few years we have learned to distinguish the means of Socialism from the ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-gaitskell/in-the-last-few-years-we-have-learned-to-distinguish-the-means-of/) [Hugh Gaitskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-gaitskell/) > [What I learned from people like Carlos Santana is that you cannot get too happy after working for five years in the industry. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/what-i-learned-from-people-like-carlos-santana-is-that-you-cannot-get/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [Playing one year under Coach K feels like you've played for three years. I learned so much from him; gained a lot of wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/playing-one-year-under-coach-k-feels-like-you-ve-played-for-three/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [I have learned a lot over the years. I have learned how best to use my attributes. That comes with a bit of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/i-have-learned-a-lot-over-the-years-i-have-learned-how-best-to-use-my/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) ## More by Elizabeth Berg > [Never be afraid of doing the thing you know in your heart is right, even if others don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-be-afraid-of-doing-the-thing-you-know-in-your-heart-is-right/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [If there were a category in the Olympics for laundry, my mother would have been a gold-medal winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-there-were-a-category-in-the-olympics-for-laundry-my-mother-would/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“If you say something over and over again, it begins to lose it's meaning... Say anything enough times and it becomes gibberish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-you-say-something-over-and-over-again-it-begins-to-lose-it-s/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper are when you need to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-sometimes-it-s-tissue-paper-and-i/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“It's not that he doesn't smile; it's that if his smile were something you drew, you'd erase it, thinking, Wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/it-s-not-that-he-doesn-t-smile-it-s-that-if-his-smile-were-something/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [People say you should give until it hurts. I say you should give until it stops hurting. Know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/people-say-you-should-give-until-it-hurts-i-say-you-should-give-until/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“I should have said “powder room.” That would evoke the image of me sitting before a beautiful gold mirror, a vase of fresh flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-should-have-said-powder-room-that-would-evoke-the-image-of-me/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Sometimes the best reading comes just by accident. Someone talks about a book, or you're just wandering the stacks in the library, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/sometimes-the-best-reading-comes-just-by-accident-someone-talks-about/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“I don’t think Martha’s so bad. I think I want her for a friend instead of you. When I look at her magazine, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-don-t-think-martha-s-so-bad-i-think-i-want-her-for-a-friend-instead/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [\*We give so little when it's in us always to give so much more. It's bothering to listen with an open heart to someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-give-so-little-when-it-s-in-us-always-to-give-so-much-more-it-s/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [We're not just writers; we're readers probably more than anything else. That's how you learn how to write and how you learn to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-re-not-just-writers-we-re-readers-probably-more-than-anything-else/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I thought of the priest who'd told me that many religions hold that it is easier to be closely connected to people we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-thought-of-the-priest-who-d-told-me-that-many-religions-hold-that/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“How is it that we dare to honk at others in traffic, when we know nothing about where they have just come from or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/how-is-it-that-we-dare-to-honk-at-others-in-traffic-when-we-know/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [The truth is, we usually only show our unhappiness to another woman. I suppose this is one of our problems. And yet it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/the-truth-is-we-usually-only-show-our-unhappiness-to-another-woman-i/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) [Explore all 350 Elizabeth Berg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) ## More Cancer quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. 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Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) [Browse all 3,177 Cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I learned a lot about medicine in those years, but I learned more about human nature. I learned about bravery and resilience, about the many forms of grief, and especially about the importance of the little things in one’s life. 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