Compassionate Quote by Patrick O'Brian
““But I will tell you another misery that is not to be denied. In the common, natural course of events physicians, surgeons and apothecaries are faced with enormous demands for sympathy: they may come into immediate contact with half a dozen deeply distressing cases in a single day. Those who are not saints are in danger of running out of funds and becoming bankrupt; a state which deprives them of a great deal of their humanity. If the man is in private practice he is obliged to utter more or less appropriate words to preserve his connexion, his living;and the mere adoption of a compassionate face as you have no doubt observed goes some little way towards producing at least the ghost of pity. But our patients cannot leave us. They have no alternative. We are not required to put on a conciliating expression, for our inhumanity in no way affects our livelihood. We have a monopoly; and I believe that many of us pay a very ugly price for it in the long run. You must already have met a number of callous idle self-important self-indulgent hardhearted pragmatic brutes wherever the patients have no free choice.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Commodore, 1974
Physicians face relentless demand for empathy, risking financial ruin and loss of humanity when patients have no alternatives.
In simple terms: Doctors must balance compassion with survival under pressure.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits and seek systemic support.
Themes
ethics
medicine
compassion
economics
humanity
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- hospital administration
- private practice
- policy reform
Key Concepts
Professional burnout
patient autonomy
financial strain
Questions to Reflect On
- How can healthcare systems protect both doctors and patients?
- What structures reduce financial pressure on physicians?
A Different Perspective
Compassion alone cannot solve systemic inequities.
![“[Chinese] are a huge empire now, you'll soon be - in a few years two billion people in the world. So, you should be more compassionate, more understanding. And above all, you don't need all their trouble.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/751/elie-wiesel-341_billions_chinese-are-a-huge-empire-now-you-ll-soo_28398.jpg)
