Able Quote by Hippocrates
“Medicine in its present state is, it seems to me, by now completely discovered, insofar as it teaches in each instance the particular details and the correct measures. For anyone who has an understanding of medicine in this way depends very little upon good luck, but is able to do good with or without luck. For the whole of medicine has been established, and the excellent principles discovered in it clearly have very little need of good luck.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: On the Nature of Medicine, Hippocratic Corpus, c. 400 BC
Medicine is portrayed as a fully known discipline where knowledge of specific details and proper methods outweighs chance in achieving good outcomes.
In simple terms: Medicine is mostly known; skill matters more than luck.
Key Takeaway
Rely on knowledge, not luck.
Themes
knowledge
skill
medicine
determinism
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- medical education
- patient care
- health policy
Key Concepts
empiricism
clinical reasoning
principles
Questions to Reflect On
- How can practitioners prepare for unforeseen complications?
- When does luck still play a role?
A Different Perspective
Even with extensive knowledge, unpredictable variables can affect outcomes.
![“[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only time will tell. For example...] The Talmud relates a story about two people who wanted to travel by boat. One broke his foot and was unable to make the trip, while his friend got on…” quote by Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68d/zelig-pliskin-22951_anticipation_it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and_34545.jpg)
