--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A sick man, surrounded by those who love…" description: "\"A sick man, surrounded by those who love him, nursed by those who wish earnestly that he should live, will recover (all other things being equal), when..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/honor-de-balzac-197_ardent_a-sick-man-surrounded-by-those-who-love_169329.jpg" --- # A sick man, surrounded by those who love him, nursed by… ![“A sick man, surrounded by those who love him, nursed by those who wish earnestly that he should live, will recover (all other things being equal), when another patient tended by hirelings will die. Doctors decline to see unconscious magnestism in this phenomenon; for them it is the result of…” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/honor-de-balzac-197_ardent_a-sick-man-surrounded-by-those-who-love_169329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/honor-de-balzac-197_ardent_a-sick-man-surrounded-by-those-who-love_169329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/honor-de-balzac-197_ardent_a-sick-man-surrounded-by-those-who-love_169329.jpg) > “A sick man, surrounded by those who love him, nursed by those who wish earnestly that he should live, will recover (all other things being equal), when another patient tended by hirelings will die. Doctors decline to see unconscious magnestism in this phenomenon; for them it is the result of intelligent nursing, of exact obedience to their orders; but many a mother knows the virtue of such ardent projections of strong, unceasing prayer.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage suggests that a devoted, loving environment can help a sick person recover, while another's death may be seen as a catalyst for that recovery, highlighting the power of compassionate care and prayer. **In simple terms:** Compassionate care and prayer can aid recovery, even as others die. Key Takeaway Value caring, prayer, and community support for healing. Themes health faith compassion mortality community Mood hopeful reflective empathetic Type philosophical ethical inspirational When to use this quote - hospitals - home care - palliative settings - family gatherings Key Concepts healing prayer social support ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - How does community support influence recovery? - What ethical limits exist in viewing others' suffering as beneficial? A Different Perspective Relying on others' deaths as a catalyst raises moral concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ardent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ardent/) [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Nursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenon/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Projection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projection/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [For a sick man the world begins at his pillow and ends at the foot of his bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/for-a-sick-man-the-world-begins-at-his-pillow-and-ends-at-the-foot-of/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All else being equal, the guy with the best genetics will have the best physique. But rarely are all things equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/all-else-being-equal-the-guy-with-the-best-genetics-will-have-the/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I've been practicing modalities of Eastern philosophy since about 1972. What I've learned through my meditation is a sense of equanimity, a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-been-practicing-modalities-of-eastern-philosophy-since-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Speciesism: A failure, in attitude or practice, to accord any nonhuman being equal consideration and respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-dunayer/speciesism-a-failure-in-attitude-or-practice-to-accord-any-nonhuman/) Joan Dunayer > [ \[T\]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-burge/t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor-of-taking-natural-discourse/) Tyler Burge > [“If the tradition which claims that war may be justified does not also admit that it could be unjustified, the affirmation is not morally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-tradition-which-claims-that-war-may-be-justified-does-not-also/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t ever underestimate the importance of money. I know it’s often been said that money won’t make you happy and this is undeniably true,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/don-t-ever-underestimate-the-importance-of-money-i-know-it-s-often/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [If the land was divided among all the inhabitants of a country, so that each of them possessed precisely the quantity necessary for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robert-jacques-turgot-baron-de-laune/if-the-land-was-divided-among-all-the-inhabitants-of-a-country-so/) [Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robert-jacques-turgot-baron-de-laune/) > [Miss Jenkyns wore a cravat, and a little bonnet like a jockey-cap, and altogether had the appearance of a strong-minded woman; although she would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/miss-jenkyns-wore-a-cravat-and-a-little-bonnet-like-a-jockey-cap-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do not Bodies act upon Light at a distance, and by their action bend its Rays; and is not this action (caeteris paribus) \[all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/do-not-bodies-act-upon-light-at-a-distance-and-by-their-action-bend/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Other things being equal, ill will is worse than moral indifference (as in causing suffering for money vs causing suffering to cause suffering), though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/other-things-being-equal-ill-will-is-worse-than-moral-indifference-as/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If we can't have comedy books written about aspects of womanhood without going into a panic attack about it, then we haven't got very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/if-we-can-t-have-comedy-books-written-about-aspects-of-womanhood/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [If a man had begun to hate an object of his love, so that love is thoroughly destroyed, he will, causes being equal, regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/if-a-man-had-begun-to-hate-an-object-of-his-love-so-that-love-is/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Other things being equal, it is the person who can lift his work up to the plane of the intuitional and inspiration who achieves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanwood-cobb/other-things-being-equal-it-is-the-person-who-can-lift-his-work-up-to/) Stanwood Cobb ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Ardent quotes > [There are courageous and honest men enough in both sections to fight. There is no question of courage involved. The people of both sections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/there-are-courageous-and-honest-men-enough-in-both-sections-to-fight/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [I am a Zionist, an ardent supporter of Israel, its defender when I deem Israel to be right and its critic when I deem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-bikel/i-am-a-zionist-an-ardent-supporter-of-israel-its-defender-when-i-deem/) [Theodore Bikel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-bikel/) > [Ardent desire for knowledge, in fact, is the one motive attracting and supporting investigators in their efforts; and just this knowledge, really grasped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/ardent-desire-for-knowledge-in-fact-is-the-one-motive-attracting-and/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [I am an ardent supporter of Israel in all situations and in all circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mulcair/i-am-an-ardent-supporter-of-israel-in-all-situations-and-in-all/) [Thomas Mulcair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mulcair/) > [Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans, but I have some friends who are NASCAR team owners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/not-as-closely-as-some-of-the-most-ardent-fans-but-i-have-some/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The person who inspired me the most was a friend of mine, Anita Roddick. I know that Anita wasn't known to be an ardent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/the-person-who-inspired-me-the-most-was-a-friend-of-mine-anita/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I rejoice that liberty . . . now finds an asylum in the bosom of a regularly organized government; a government, which, being formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-rejoice-that-liberty-now-finds-an-asylum-in-the-bosom-of-a/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If a man has a very decided character, has a strongly accentuated career, it is normally the case of course that he makes ardent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-a-man-has-a-very-decided-character-has-a-strongly-accentuated/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The idea of restraining the legislative authority, in the means of providing for the national defense, is one of those refinements which owe their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-idea-of-restraining-the-legislative-authority-in-the-means-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Love is not a mere emotion or sentiment. It is the lucid and ardent responses of the whole person to a value that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-is-not-a-mere-emotion-or-sentiment-it-is-the-lucid-and-ardent/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The Battle for the Philippines was the greatest naval battle in history, judged in terms of the number of ships taking part, the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hough/the-battle-for-the-philippines-was-the-greatest-naval-battle-in/) Richard Hough > [From the day I started to think politically and to develop my own moral values, from my earliest youth, I have been an ardent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/from-the-day-i-started-to-think-politically-and-to-develop-my-own/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [The saddest thing in the world was that human beings, for all their ardent striving and desire, could never achieve physical, emotional, or intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/the-saddest-thing-in-the-world-was-that-human-beings-for-all-their/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“He was young and ardent in a hundred happy ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/he-was-young-and-ardent-in-a-hundred-happy-ways/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [Learn to foster an ardent imagination; so shall you descry beauty which others passed unheeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/learn-to-foster-an-ardent-imagination-so-shall-you-descry-beauty/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) [Browse all 183 Ardent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ardent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A sick man, surrounded by those who love him, nursed by those who wish earnestly that he should live, will recover (all other things being equal), when another patient tended by hirelings will die. 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