--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can…" description: "\"Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good (fishing) guide can't is write prescriptions.\" — John Gierach" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/john-gierach-18811_fishing_really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can_2496489.jpg" --- # Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good… ![“Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good (fishing) guide can't is write prescriptions.” quote by John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/john-gierach-18811_fishing_really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can_2496489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/john-gierach-18811_fishing_really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can_2496489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/john-gierach-18811_fishing_really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can_2496489.jpg) > “Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good (fishing) guide can't is write prescriptions.” [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Psychiatrists prescribe medication, whereas a skilled fishing guide offers experiential knowledge; both serve distinct roles. **In simple terms:** Psychiatrists prescribe, guides teach. Key Takeaway Recognize different expertise. Themes expertise guidance healthcare Mood pragmatic humorous Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - medical appointments - outdoor trips - mental health support Key Concepts clinical practice recreational skill Questions to Reflect On - When is professional help essential? - How does experiential learning complement therapy? A Different Perspective May oversimplify mental health care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishing/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Psychiatrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychiatrist/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [For a psychiatrist to be any good, he has to be willing to corner you, close off the easy exits, even when it hurts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ablow/for-a-psychiatrist-to-be-any-good-he-has-to-be-willing-to-corner-you/) [Keith Ablow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ablow/) > [To write prescriptions is easy, but to come to an understanding with people is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/to-write-prescriptions-is-easy-but-to-come-to-an-understanding-with/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Speak up when you're supposed to, as opposed to trying to write prescriptions for the way people should live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cheadle/speak-up-when-you-re-supposed-to-as-opposed-to-trying-to-write/) [Don Cheadle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cheadle/) > [“Incidentally, it’s easy to write prescriptions, but difficult to come to an understanding with people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/incidentally-it-s-easy-to-write-prescriptions-but-difficult-to-come/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Therefore, we read the Bible selectively. We pick a text here and there to fit our felt needs. This is like a doctor who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/therefore-we-read-the-bible-selectively-we-pick-a-text-here-and-there/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [It's an odd fact of life that whichever side of the stream you're on, two-thirds of the best water is out of reach on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/it-s-an-odd-fact-of-life-that-whichever-side-of-the-stream-you-re-on/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [I don't really know how to tie a fly until I've tied a hundred dozen of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-don-t-really-know-how-to-tie-a-fly-until-i-ve-tied-a-hundred-dozen/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [If we carry purism to it's logical conclusion, to do it right {fishing} you'd have to live naked in a cave, hit your trout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/if-we-carry-purism-to-it-s-logical-conclusion-to-do-it-right-fishing/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [We do have to think seriously about conservation now, although it is chilling to realize there are catch-and-release fishermen alive today who don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/we-do-have-to-think-seriously-about-conservation-now-although-it-is/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [Fishing in rainy conditions may make fisherman seem crazy to the great mass of unimaginative people, but then few fishermen care what they think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/fishing-in-rainy-conditions-may-make-fisherman-seem-crazy-to-the/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [If people don't occasionally walk away from you shaking their heads, you're doing something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/if-people-don-t-occasionally-walk-away-from-you-shaking-their-heads/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-think-i-fish-in-part-because-it-s-an-anti-social-bohemian-business/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [Something to think about: If you fish the wrong fly long and hard enough, it will sooner or later become the right fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/something-to-think-about-if-you-fish-the-wrong-fly-long-and-hard/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I like fishing because it's the one thing I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-used-to-like-fishing-because-i-thought-it-had-some-larger/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [Fish sense, applied in the field, is what the old Zen masters would call enlightenment: simply the ability to see what's right there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/fish-sense-applied-in-the-field-is-what-the-old-zen-masters-would/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) ## More by John Gierach > [Fish sense, applied in the field, is what the old Zen masters would call enlightenment: simply the ability to see what's right there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/fish-sense-applied-in-the-field-is-what-the-old-zen-masters-would/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I like fishing because it's the one thing I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-used-to-like-fishing-because-i-thought-it-had-some-larger/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [Something to think about: If you fish the wrong fly long and hard enough, it will sooner or later become the right fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/something-to-think-about-if-you-fish-the-wrong-fly-long-and-hard/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [I still enjoy the company of most dogs more than that of most people, because dogs are capable of uncomplicated enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-still-enjoy-the-company-of-most-dogs-more-than-that-of-most-people/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-think-i-fish-in-part-because-it-s-an-anti-social-bohemian-business/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [If people don't occasionally walk away from you shaking their heads, you're doing something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/if-people-don-t-occasionally-walk-away-from-you-shaking-their-heads/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [Fishing in rainy conditions may make fisherman seem crazy to the great mass of unimaginative people, but then few fishermen care what they think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/fishing-in-rainy-conditions-may-make-fisherman-seem-crazy-to-the/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [We do have to think seriously about conservation now, although it is chilling to realize there are catch-and-release fishermen alive today who don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/we-do-have-to-think-seriously-about-conservation-now-although-it-is/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [If we carry purism to it's logical conclusion, to do it right {fishing} you'd have to live naked in a cave, hit your trout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/if-we-carry-purism-to-it-s-logical-conclusion-to-do-it-right-fishing/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [I don't really know how to tie a fly until I've tied a hundred dozen of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-don-t-really-know-how-to-tie-a-fly-until-i-ve-tied-a-hundred-dozen/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [It's an odd fact of life that whichever side of the stream you're on, two-thirds of the best water is out of reach on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/it-s-an-odd-fact-of-life-that-whichever-side-of-the-stream-you-re-on/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [They say you forget your troubles on a trout stream, but that's not quite it. What happens is that you begin to see where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/they-say-you-forget-your-troubles-on-a-trout-stream-but-that-s-not/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [Lawyers are like nuclear weapons. By all rights they shouldn't exist, but if some people have them, then you'd better have one, too, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/lawyers-are-like-nuclear-weapons-by-all-rights-they-shouldn-t-exist/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [The best fisherman I know try not to make the same mistakes over and over again; instead they strive to make new and interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/the-best-fisherman-i-know-try-not-to-make-the-same-mistakes-over-and/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) > [Okay, I'm in the tampon aisle, but I don't see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/okay-i-m-in-the-tampon-aisle-but-i-don-t-see-it/) [John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) [Explore all 34 John Gierach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/) ## More Fishing quotes > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Fly-fishing for wild trout on quiet waters must be one of the toughest and craziest ways to catch fish ever invented by man, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-voelker/fly-fishing-for-wild-trout-on-quiet-waters-must-be-one-of-the/) [John D. Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [We still have 10 percent of the sharks. We still have half of the coral reefs. However, if we wait another 50 years, opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-still-have-10-percent-of-the-sharks-we-still-have-half-of-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Some friends and I, we went right up there behind the studio and we got on a train, we could tell it was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/some-friends-and-i-we-went-right-up-there-behind-the-studio-and-we/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [Fishing is a constant reminder of the democracy of life, of humility, and of human frailty. The forces of nature discriminate for no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-constant-reminder-of-the-democracy-of-life-of-humility/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The trouble is, you can't properly present something you don't believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcguane/the-trouble-is-you-can-t-properly-present-something-you-don-t-believe/) [Thomas McGuane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcguane/) > [I love 'Fishing With John' so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-love-fishing-with-john-so-much/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [I was 35 years old and in a position to take a shot at whatever I wanted to try. The Air Force said I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-doyle/i-was-35-years-old-and-in-a-position-to-take-a-shot-at-whatever-i/) [Jerry Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-doyle/) > [When I fish, there are a lot of images that come to my mind of when I was a child. I did not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/when-i-fish-there-are-a-lot-of-images-that-come-to-my-mind-of-when-i/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) > [Most of the world is covered by water. A fisherman's job is simple: Pick out the best parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-waterman/most-of-the-world-is-covered-by-water-a-fisherman-s-job-is-simple/) Charles W. Waterman > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) [Browse all 1,238 Fishing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good (fishing) guide can't is write prescriptions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Gierach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can-do-that-a-good-fishing-guide/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fishing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can-do-that-a-good-fishing-guide/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/john-gierach-18811_fishing_really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can_2496489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/john-gierach-18811_fishing_really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can_2496489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/john-gierach-18811_fishing_really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can_2496489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good (fishing) guide can't is write prescriptions.” — John Gierach", "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": "John Gierach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Really, the only thing a psychiatrist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can-do-that-a-good-fishing-guide/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/really-the-only-thing-a-psychiatrist-can-do-that-a-good-fishing-guide/#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 } } ] } ```