Duty Quote by John Hersey
“Do not work primarily for money; do your duty to patients first and let the money follow; our life is short, we don't live twice; the whirlwind will pick up the leaves and spin them, but then it will drop them and they will form a pile.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Medical Ethics Lecture, 1965
Prioritize patient care over profit; life is brief, so focus on duty and let rewards arise naturally.
In simple terms: Put patients first, money follows; life is short.
Key Takeaway
Serve patients, let earnings follow.
Themes
ethics
professionalism
mortality
priorities
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- hospital administration
- personal career decisions
- financial planning
Key Concepts
deontology
humanism
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance financial needs with patient care?
- What values guide your professional decisions?
A Different Perspective
Money may not always follow duty, especially in underfunded systems.
