--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's far more important to know what…" description: "\"It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.\" — Hippocrates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/hippocrates-2237_disease_it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-per_588493.jpg" --- # It's far more important to know what person the disease… ![“It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.” quote by Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/hippocrates-2237_disease_it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-per_588493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/hippocrates-2237_disease_it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-per_588493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/hippocrates-2237_disease_it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-per_588493.jpg) > “It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.” [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a patient's identity is more crucial than labeling the disease. **In simple terms:** Know the person, not just the illness. Key Takeaway Treat patients as whole individuals. Themes patient-centered care holistic medicine identity Mood compassionate inquisitive Type clinical philosophical When to use this quote - clinical diagnosis - mental health counseling - public health outreach Key Concepts personhood clinical empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does personal history affect health? - What balance between disease and person is needed? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on identity may overlook biological factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Disease Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease-disease-1206188/) [Disease Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease-person-2526749/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-know/) [Person Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-disease-2739312/) ## Related quotes > [It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/it-is-more-important-to-know-what-sort-of-person-has-a-disease-than/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [“Ask not what disease the person has, but rather what person the disease has”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/ask-not-what-disease-the-person-has-but-rather-what-person-the/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Violence is a disease, a disease that corrupts all who use it regardless of the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/violence-is-a-disease-a-disease-that-corrupts-all-who-use-it/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Donald Trump is a symptom, not a disease. The disease is the death of real political conservatism: a cool, intelligent reluctance to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/donald-trump-is-a-symptom-not-a-disease-the-disease-is-the-death-of/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [Illness is something out of balance, rather than something within balance. It's been something that is created and it's been created for a purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/illness-is-something-out-of-balance-rather-than-something-within/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) > [“There is the disease and the person, and though I am living with both, one has robbed me of the other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-radziwill/there-is-the-disease-and-the-person-and-though-i-am-living-with-both/) [Carole Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-radziwill/) > [“There is a certain point—she has known this since her father-in-law’s long battle with heart disease—when a person begins to die in earnest. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellyn-bache/there-is-a-certain-point-she-has-known-this-since-her-father-in-law-s/) [Ellyn Bache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellyn-bache/) > [You go into the disease as one person and come out of it as a different person. It has changed my perspective on everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/you-go-into-the-disease-as-one-person-and-come-out-of-it-as-a/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [“I’d tattooed the permanent reminder on my wrist that I was my disease first and a person second. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/i-d-tattooed-the-permanent-reminder-on-my-wrist-that-i-was-my-disease/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [Sleep and watchfulness, both of them, when immoderate, constitute disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/sleep-and-watchfulness-both-of-them-when-immoderate-constitute-disease/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [All diseases begin in the gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/all-diseases-begin-in-the-gut/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/natural-forces-within-us-are-the-true-healers-of-disease/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/medicine-in-its-present-state-is-it-seems-to-me-by-now-completely/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Just as food causes chronic disease, it can be the most powerful cure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/just-as-food-causes-chronic-disease-it-can-be-the-most-powerful-cure/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [But medicine has long had all its means to hand, and has discovered both a principle and a method, through which the discoveries made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/but-medicine-has-long-had-all-its-means-to-hand-and-has-discovered/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) ## More by Hippocrates > [Men ought to know that from nothing else but the brain come joys, delights, laughter and sports, and sorrows, griefs, despondency, and lamentations. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/men-ought-to-know-that-from-nothing-else-but-the-brain-come-joys/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [But medicine has long had all its means to hand, and has discovered both a principle and a method, through which the discoveries made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/but-medicine-has-long-had-all-its-means-to-hand-and-has-discovered/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [The dignity of a physician requires that he should look healthy, and as plump as nature intended him to be; for the common crowd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/the-dignity-of-a-physician-requires-that-he-should-look-healthy-and/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/i-will-follow-that-system-of-regimen-which-according-to-my-ability/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [There are in fact two things, science and opinion. The former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/there-are-in-fact-two-things-science-and-opinion-the-former-begets/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/the-soul-is-the-same-in-all-living-creatures-although-the-body-of/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/everyone-has-a-doctor-in-him-or-her-we-just-have-to-help-it-in-its/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Sleep and watchfulness, both of them, when immoderate, constitute disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/sleep-and-watchfulness-both-of-them-when-immoderate-constitute-disease/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [War is the only proper school of the surgeon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/war-is-the-only-proper-school-of-the-surgeon/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [All diseases begin in the gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/all-diseases-begin-in-the-gut/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Each of the substances of a man's diet acts upon his body and changes it in some way and upon these changes his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/each-of-the-substances-of-a-man-s-diet-acts-upon-his-body-and-changes/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/medicine-in-its-present-state-is-it-seems-to-me-by-now-completely/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Things that are holy are revealed only to men who are holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/things-that-are-holy-are-revealed-only-to-men-who-are-holy/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [A sensible man ought to think about that well being is the best of human blessings, and find out how by his personal thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/a-sensible-man-ought-to-think-about-that-well-being-is-the-best-of/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Whoever wishes to investigate medicine should proceed thus: In the first place, consider the seasons of the year and what effect each of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/whoever-wishes-to-investigate-medicine-should-proceed-thus-in-the/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) [Explore all 177 Hippocrates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) ## More Disease 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/) > [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“As a special branch of general philosophy, pathogenesis had never been explored. In my opinion it had never been approached in a strictly scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/as-a-special-branch-of-general-philosophy-pathogenesis-had-never-been/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/ring-out-false-pride-in-place-and-blood-the-civic-slander-and-the/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Religion is a disease. It is born of fear; it compensates through hate in the guise of authority, revelation. Religion, enthroned in a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-amos-dorsey/religion-is-a-disease-it-is-born-of-fear-it-compensates-through-hate/) [George Amos Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-amos-dorsey/) > [To some degree Satanism is purely a kind of disease of Christianity. You've got to really be Christian to believe in Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/to-some-degree-satanism-is-purely-a-kind-of-disease-of-christianity/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [People do not realize that Alzheimer's is not old age. It is a progressive and fatal disease, and staggering amounts of people develop Alzheimer's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-kanakaredes/people-do-not-realize-that-alzheimer-s-is-not-old-age-it-is-a/) [Melina Kanakaredes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-kanakaredes/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,549 Disease quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hippocrates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-person-the-disease-has-than-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disease" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-person-the-disease-has-than-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/hippocrates-2237_disease_it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-per_588493.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/hippocrates-2237_disease_it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-per_588493.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/hippocrates-2237_disease_it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-per_588493.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.” — Hippocrates", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hippocrates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's far more important to know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-person-the-disease-has-than-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/it-s-far-more-important-to-know-what-person-the-disease-has-than-what/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```