--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our panaceas cure but few ails, our…" description: "\"Our panaceas cure but few ails, our general hospitals are private and exclusive. We must set up another Hygeia than is now worshiped. Do not the quacks..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/henry-david-thoreau-20_adults_our-panaceas-cure-but-few-ails-our-gener_2886541.jpg" --- # Our panaceas cure but few ails, our general hospitals are… ![“Our panaceas cure but few ails, our general hospitals are private and exclusive. We must set up another Hygeia than is now worshiped. Do not the quacks even direct small doses for children, larger for adults, and larger still for oxen and horses? Let us remember that we are to prescribe for the…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/henry-david-thoreau-20_adults_our-panaceas-cure-but-few-ails-our-gener_2886541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/henry-david-thoreau-20_adults_our-panaceas-cure-but-few-ails-our-gener_2886541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/henry-david-thoreau-20_adults_our-panaceas-cure-but-few-ails-our-gener_2886541.jpg) > “Our panaceas cure but few ails, our general hospitals are private and exclusive. We must set up another Hygeia than is now worshiped. Do not the quacks even direct small doses for children, larger for adults, and larger still for oxen and horses? Let us remember that we are to prescribe for the globe itself.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Medical practices often favor profit over universal health; we need a truly inclusive, humane system. **In simple terms:** Health care should serve everyone, not just the wealthy. Key Takeaway Promote equitable health policies. Themes healthcare equity ethics Mood critical hopeful Type analysis advocacy When to use this quote - policy reform - community clinics - global health initiatives - education campaigns Key Concepts public health philosophy of medicine Questions to Reflect On - How can we prioritize patient welfare? - What models ensure universal care? A Different Perspective Economic interests can dominate reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [General hospital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-hospital/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Hospitals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitals/) [Panacea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panacea/) [Quacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quacks/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) ## Related quotes > [Like cellulite creams or hair-loss tonics, capital punishment is one of those panaceas that isn't. Only it costs a whole lot more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-cellulite-creams-or-hair-loss-tonics-capital-punishment-is-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you’re a writer, the cure for whatever ails you is always writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora-goss/when-you-re-a-writer-the-cure-for-whatever-ails-you-is-always-writing/) [Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora-goss/) > [“When in doubt, go walk your dogs; it'll cure what ails ya”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-j-reber/when-in-doubt-go-walk-your-dogs-it-ll-cure-what-ails-ya/) Wendy J. Reber > [“Pizza. It'll cure whatever ails you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-thompson/pizza-it-ll-cure-whatever-ails-you/) [Janice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-thompson/) > [Just look at herbal remedies. It's essentially a throwback. It's saying you go to a plant and you mush it up and you stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-angell/just-look-at-herbal-remedies-it-s-essentially-a-throwback-it-s-saying/) [Marcia Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-angell/) > [Live music is the cure for what ails ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/live-music-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-ya/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The real cure for what ails our health care system today is less government and more freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/the-real-cure-for-what-ails-our-health-care-system-today-is-less/) [Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/) > ['Tis a sharp medicine, but it will cure all that ails you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/tis-a-sharp-medicine-but-it-will-cure-all-that-ails-you/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [“Mystical site thingy. You’re meant to wash an item of clothing in the well, hang it from the trees and it’ll cure whatever ails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heide-goody/mystical-site-thingy-you-re-meant-to-wash-an-item-of-clothing-in-the/) [Heide Goody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heide-goody/) > [All imperfection is easier to tolerate if served up in small doses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/all-imperfection-is-easier-to-tolerate-if-served-up-in-small-doses/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) > [As we grow up, it feels like you should either invite people into your life or not. There should be fewer and fewer instances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-we-grow-up-it-feels-like-you-should-either-invite-people-into-your/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Improvisation is not a presentational form, except in small doses, or as a game. It's a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-sahlins/improvisation-is-not-a-presentational-form-except-in-small-doses-or/) [Bernard Sahlins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-sahlins/) > [The people are to be taken in very small doses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-people-are-to-be-taken-in-very-small-doses/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“She might protest that we were just friends, but I was starting to think she liked my show of possessiveness. I’d try to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-frederick/she-might-protest-that-we-were-just-friends-but-i-was-starting-to/) [Jen Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-frederick/) > [The antidote for fear of failure is not success but small doses of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-antidote-for-fear-of-failure-is-not-success-but-small-doses-of/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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