--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In quixotically trying to conquer death…" description: "\"“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do harm instead by ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/jack-kevorkian-7173_conquer_in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death_15326.jpg" --- # In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too… ![“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do harm instead by prolonguing and even magnifying patients’ dis-ease.” quote by Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/jack-kevorkian-7173_conquer_in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death_15326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/jack-kevorkian-7173_conquer_in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death_15326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/jack-kevorkian-7173_conquer_in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death_15326.jpg) > ““In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do harm instead by prolonguing and even magnifying patients’ dis-ease.”” [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that doctors who obsessively try to defeat death may unintentionally worsen patients' conditions by extending suffering rather than providing relief. **In simple terms:** Overzealous attempts to prevent death can cause harm. Key Takeaway Medical interventions should prioritize patient well‑being over defeating mortality. Themes medical ethics mortality patient autonomy harm reduction palliative care Mood reflective somber cautious Type aphorism ethical observation When to use this quote - end‑of‑life care - terminal illness management - clinical trials for life‑extending drugs - palliative care settings Key Concepts doctor‑patient relationship clinical decision‑making life‑prolongation quality of life Practical Applications - guiding ethical guidelines for physicians - informing policy on life‑sustaining treatment Questions to Reflect On - When does extending life become more harmful than beneficial? - How should doctors balance hope with realistic outcomes? A Different Perspective Some argue that aggressive treatment can be justified when patients value any extension of life, regardless of quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Euthanasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/euthanasia/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Prolonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prolonging/) ## Related quotes > [The soul of the truly benevolent man does not seem to reside much in his own body. Its life, to a great extent, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-soul-of-the-truly-benevolent-man-does-not-seem-to-reside-much-in/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [What's the point of prolonging your life if you don't enjoy it? It's your body. Do whatever you want with it. Better to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/what-s-the-point-of-prolonging-your-life-if-you-don-t-enjoy-it-it-s/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Those who advocate euthanasia have capitalized on people's confusion, ambivalence and even fear about the use of modern life-prolonging technologies. Being able to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/those-who-advocate-euthanasia-have-capitalized-on-people-s-confusion/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“Nature scarcely seems capable of giving us any but quite short illnesses. But medicine has developed the art of prolonging them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/nature-scarcely-seems-capable-of-giving-us-any-but-quite-short/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [She wanted to exist only as a conscious flower, prolonging and preserving herself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-wanted-to-exist-only-as-a-conscious-flower-prolonging-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Supplements and a low protein diet appear to be prolonging my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/supplements-and-a-low-protein-diet-appear-to-be-prolonging-my-life/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [What's the point in prolonging a relationship which has no future?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rekha/what-s-the-point-in-prolonging-a-relationship-which-has-no-future/) [Rekha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rekha/) > [Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying life, of making it tolerable and acceptable, wisdom says:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the-means-of-prolonging/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Temporary deviations from fundamental principles are always more or less dangerous. When the first pretext fails, those who become interested in prolonging the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/temporary-deviations-from-fundamental-principles-are-always-more-or/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [In proportion as the machine is improved and performs man's work with an ever increasing rapidity and exactness, the labourer, instead of prolonging his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lafargue/in-proportion-as-the-machine-is-improved-and-performs-man-s-work-with/) [Paul Lafargue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lafargue/) > [Let echo, too, perform her part, Prolonging every note with art; And in a low expiring strain, Play all the comfort o'er again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/let-echo-too-perform-her-part-prolonging-every-note-with-art-and-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [When we started, I was delivering meals to people in Atlanta. We were a direct-care organization. And it was - people needed meals, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/when-we-started-i-was-delivering-meals-to-people-in-atlanta-we-were-a/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Stretching, which I do for five to 10 minutes before and after a match, is so important in general when it comes to prolonging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/stretching-which-i-do-for-five-to-10-minutes-before-and-after-a-match/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [We have to ask ourselves whether medicine is to remain a humanitarian and respected profession or a new but depersonalized science in the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-have-to-ask-ourselves-whether-medicine-is-to-remain-a-humanitarian/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [In the current economic situation, the temptation for the more dynamic economies is that of chasing after advantageous alliances that, nevertheless, can have harmful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/in-the-current-economic-situation-the-temptation-for-the-more-dynamic/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More by Jack Kevorkian > [I'm trying to knock the medical profession into accepting its responsibilities, and those responsibilities include assisting their patients with death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-m-trying-to-knock-the-medical-profession-into-accepting-its/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Dying is not a crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/dying-is-not-a-crime/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Maybe I won't stay out of prison. Who knows?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/maybe-i-won-t-stay-out-of-prison-who-knows/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [I'm afraid of sudden death. I'd like to know I'm going to die. That's why death row wouldn't be so bad, although it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-m-afraid-of-sudden-death-i-d-like-to-know-i-m-going-to-die-that-s/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [I think the Supreme Court does have the authority, which is not used, to declare a blanket right for all people, all adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-think-the-supreme-court-does-have-the-authority-which-is-not-used/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [I don't enjoy good food. I don't enjoy flashy cars. I don't care if I live in a dump. I don't enjoy good clothes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-don-t-enjoy-good-food-i-don-t-enjoy-flashy-cars-i-don-t-care-if-i/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Fear controls you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/fear-controls-you/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [The Jews were gassed. Armenians were killed in every conceivable way... So the Holocaust doesn't interest me, see? They've had a lot of publicity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/the-jews-were-gassed-armenians-were-killed-in-every-conceivable-way/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [The American Medical Association says the humane way is to let people starve and thirst to death. If you did that to an animal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/the-american-medical-association-says-the-humane-way-is-to-let-people/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [She made the decision that her existence had lost its meaning. And you cannot judge that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/she-made-the-decision-that-her-existence-had-lost-its-meaning-and-you/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [The patient's autonomy always, always should be respected, even if it is absolutely contrary - the decision is contrary to best medical advice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/the-patient-s-autonomy-always-always-should-be-respected-even-if-it/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [I want some colleague to be free to come help me when I say the time has come. That's what I'm fighting for, me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-want-some-colleague-to-be-free-to-come-help-me-when-i-say-the-time/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [There's no doubt I expect to die in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/there-s-no-doubt-i-expect-to-die-in-prison/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [I would not want to live with a tube in my neck and not be able to move a finger. I wouldn't - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-would-not-want-to-live-with-a-tube-in-my-neck-and-not-be-able-to/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [I don't persuade to suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/i-don-t-persuade-to-suicide/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) [Explore all 94 Jack Kevorkian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) ## More Conquer quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I'm ready to conquer anything thrown at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/i-m-ready-to-conquer-anything-thrown-at-me/) [A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/) > [“They had been dreamers. Her father always said that this was why they had been easy to conquer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/they-had-been-dreamers-her-father-always-said-that-this-was-why-they/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [The moment you conquer one fear is the minute you conquer many fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-moment-you-conquer-one-fear-is-the-minute-you-conquer-many-fears/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [At the time when this famous historical battle was fought in Kosovo, the people were looking at the stars, expecting aid from them. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slobodan-milosevi/at-the-time-when-this-famous-historical-battle-was-fought-in-kosovo/) [Slobodan Milosević](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slobodan-milosevi/) > [I can conquer the world with one hand, as long as you are holding the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-smith/i-can-conquer-the-world-with-one-hand-as-long-as-you-are-holding-the/) [Megan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-smith/) > [ To conquer \[our enemies\] we must dare, and dare again, and dare for ever; and thus will France be saved ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-danton/to-conquer-our-enemies-we-must-dare-and-dare-again-and-dare-for-ever/) [Georges Danton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-danton/) > [I consider that the Golden Rule requires that if I like a program I must share it with other people who like it. Software…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/i-consider-that-the-golden-rule-requires-that-if-i-like-a-program-i/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [Thoughts of doubt and fear are pathways to failure. When you conquer negative attitudes of doubt and fear you conquer failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/thoughts-of-doubt-and-fear-are-pathways-to-failure-when-you-conquer/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) Browse all 1,557 Conquer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do harm instead by prolonguing and even magnifying patients’ dis-ease.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Kevorkian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conquer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/jack-kevorkian-7173_conquer_in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death_15326.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/jack-kevorkian-7173_conquer_in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death_15326.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/jack-kevorkian-7173_conquer_in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death_15326.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but…” — Jack Kevorkian", "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": "Jack Kevorkian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In quixotically trying to conquer death...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/#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 } } ] } ```