--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may seem a strange principle to…" description: "\"It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a Hospital that it should do the sick no harm. It is quite necessary neve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/florence-nightingale-2561_doctor_it-may-seem-a-strange-principle-to-enunc_370378.png" --- # It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very… ![“It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a Hospital that it should do the sick no harm. It is quite necessary nevertheless to lay down such a principle.” quote by Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/florence-nightingale-2561_doctor_it-may-seem-a-strange-principle-to-enunc_370378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/florence-nightingale-2561_doctor_it-may-seem-a-strange-principle-to-enunc_370378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/florence-nightingale-2561_doctor_it-may-seem-a-strange-principle-to-enunc_370378.png) > “It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a Hospital that it should do the sick no harm. It is quite necessary nevertheless to lay down such a principle.” [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The foundational rule for healthcare is to avoid causing additional injury to patients, even if it seems counterintuitive. **In simple terms:** Do no harm to patients. Key Takeaway Prioritize patient safety above all. Themes ethics patient care medical practice Mood reflective serious Type ethical professional When to use this quote - clinical decision making - policy drafting - patient consent - risk assessment Key Concepts non‑maleficence principle of beneficence Questions to Reflect On - How can clinicians ensure they truly do no harm? - What safeguards prevent unintended injury? A Different Perspective Balancing harm avoidance with necessary interventions can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Hospitals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitals/) [Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurse/) [Nursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital that it should do the sick no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/it-may-seem-a-strange-principle-to-enunciate-as-the-very-first/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/the-very-first-requirement-in-a-hospital-is-that-it-should-do-the/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [We know nothing of the principle of health, the positive of which pathology is the negative, except from observation and experience. 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There are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/the-specific-disease-doctrine-is-the-grand-refuge-of-weak-uncultured/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital that it should do the sick no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/it-may-seem-a-strange-principle-to-enunciate-as-the-very-first/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/nursing-is-a-progressive-art-such-that-to-stand-still-is-to-go/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“It is often thought that medicine is the curative process. 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All my admirers are married; most of my friends are dead; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/i-have-learned-to-know-god-i-have-recast-my-social-belief-all-my/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [For it may safely be said, not that the habit of ready and correct observation will by itself make us useful nurses, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/for-it-may-safely-be-said-not-that-the-habit-of-ready-and-correct/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [I cannot remember the time when I have not longed for death. ... for years and years I used to watch for death as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/i-cannot-remember-the-time-when-i-have-not-longed-for-death-for-years/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [A dark house is always an unhealthy house, always an ill-aired house, always a dirty house. 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