--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anesthesia was discovered. Do you know…" description: "\"“Anesthesia was discovered. Do you know what it means to relieve man of his pain and suffering? Anesthesia is the most humane of all of man's accomplis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/joseph-lewis-20519_accomplishment_anesthesia-was-discovered-do-you-know-wh_2327182.jpg" --- # Anesthesia was discovered. Do you know what it means to… ![“Anesthesia was discovered. Do you know what it means to relieve man of his pain and suffering? Anesthesia is the most humane of all of man's accomplishments, and what a merciful accomplishment it was. For this great discovery we are indebted to Dr. W. T. G. Morton. Do you know that the…” quote by Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/joseph-lewis-20519_accomplishment_anesthesia-was-discovered-do-you-know-wh_2327182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/joseph-lewis-20519_accomplishment_anesthesia-was-discovered-do-you-know-wh_2327182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/joseph-lewis-20519_accomplishment_anesthesia-was-discovered-do-you-know-wh_2327182.jpg) > ““Anesthesia was discovered. Do you know what it means to relieve man of his pain and suffering? Anesthesia is the most humane of all of man's accomplishments, and what a merciful accomplishment it was. For this great discovery we are indebted to Dr. W. T. G. Morton. Do you know that the religionists opposed the use of anesthesia on the ground that God sent pain as a punishment for sin, and it was considered the greatest of sacrileges to use it—just think of it, a sin to relieve man of his misery! What a monstrous perversion! This one instance alone should convince you of the difference in believing in God or not. No believer in God would have spent his energies to discover anesthesia. He would have been in mortal fear of the wrath of his God for interfering with his 'divine plan,' of making man suffer for having eaten of the fruit of the 'Tree of Knowledge.' The very crux of the matter is in this one instance. Man seeks to relieve his fellow man from the suffering of disease and the pangs of mental agony. The believers in God are content that man's suffering is ordained, and therefore he accepts life and its trials and tribulations as a penance for living. The fear of the wrath of God has been a stumbling block to progress.”” [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that religious opposition to anesthesia shows how faith can hinder scientific progress and alleviate suffering **In simple terms:** Religion can block medical advances that ease pain Key Takeaway Question how belief systems impact innovation Themes science religion ethics Mood thoughtful critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - hospital policy debates - academic courses on ethics - public health initiatives Key Concepts medical history philosophy of science Questions to Reflect On - What are examples of faith supporting scientific breakthroughs? - How can dialogue bridge belief and progress? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook religious nuance and diversity of views ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Believing In God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-in-god/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Pain and suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-and-suffering/) [Penance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penance/) [Religionists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religionists/) [Stumbling block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling-block/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Tree of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree-of-knowledge/) [Trials and tribulations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials-and-tribulations/) [Wrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrath/) [Wrath of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrath-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [“When Dr. James Young Simpson sought to apply anesthesia to a woman in childbirth, the clergymen of his day foamed at the mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/when-dr-james-young-simpson-sought-to-apply-anesthesia-to-a-woman-in/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [There may be a conflict between softminded religionists and toughminded scientists, but not between science and religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-may-be-a-conflict-between-softminded-religionists-and/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [In all places, and in all times, those religionists who have believed too much have been more inclined to violence and persecution than those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/in-all-places-and-in-all-times-those-religionists-who-have-believed/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“Religionists want religion's placement on the pedestal of respect preserved by any means. 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Do you know that the religionists opposed the use of anesthesia on the ground that God sent pain as a punishment for sin, and it was considered the greatest of sacrileges to use it—just think of it, a sin to relieve man of his misery! What a monstrous perversion! This one instance alone should convince you of the difference in believing in God or not. No believer in God would have spent his energies to discover anesthesia. He would have been in mortal fear of the wrath of his God for interfering with his 'divine plan,' of making man suffer for having eaten of the fruit of the 'Tree of Knowledge.' The very crux of the matter is in this one instance. Man seeks to relieve his fellow man from the suffering of disease and the pangs of mental agony. The believers in God are content that man's suffering is ordained, and therefore he accepts life and its trials and tribulations as a penance for living. 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