--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s how you know it’s real medicine,”…" description: "\"“That’s how you know it’s real medicine,” I said. “If it tasted good it would be candy.”\" — Patrick Rothfuss" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/patrick-rothfuss-145_tasted-good_that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i_564166.jpg" --- # That’s how you know it’s real medicine,” I said. “If it… ![“That’s how you know it’s real medicine,” I said. “If it tasted good it would be candy.” quote by Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/patrick-rothfuss-145_tasted-good_that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i_564166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/patrick-rothfuss-145_tasted-good_that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i_564166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/patrick-rothfuss-145_tasted-good_that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i_564166.jpg) > ““That’s how you know it’s real medicine,” I said. “If it tasted good it would be candy.”” [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True medicine must be effective, not merely pleasant; efficacy outweighs flavor. **In simple terms:** Effective medicine matters more than taste. Key Takeaway Prioritize function over form. Themes health ethics perception Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - medical practice - drug development - patient counseling Key Concepts pharmacology placebo effect patient expectations Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate a treatment’s true value? - Can pleasure distract from safety? A Different Perspective Taste can mask harmful substances, leading to misuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“...“Bitter.” “That’s how you know it’s real medicine,” I said. “If it tasted good it would be candy.” “Isn’t that the way of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/bitter-that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i-said-if-it-tasted/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [He had, they said, tasted in succession all the apples of the tree of knowledge, and, whether from hunger or disgust, had ended by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-had-they-said-tasted-in-succession-all-the-apples-of-the-tree-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [My latest blood test said my cholesterol was very high and my doctor recommended some medicine for it. I said "no" to his recommendation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/my-latest-blood-test-said-my-cholesterol-was-very-high-and-my-doctor/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [I remember once Prince dropped by to see me when I was in Minneapolis and I was sick, with a bag of cough drops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-remember-once-prince-dropped-by-to-see-me-when-i-was-in-minneapolis/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [“Acknowledgment--being seen and heard and witnessed inside the truth about one's own life--is the only real medicine of grief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-devine/acknowledgment-being-seen-and-heard-and-witnessed-inside-the-truth/) [Megan Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-devine/) > [A real medicine can only exist when it penetrates into a knowledge which embraces the human being in respect to body, soul and spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/a-real-medicine-can-only-exist-when-it-penetrates-into-a-knowledge/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [“I have to laugh when people ask me if I do alternative, herbal, acupuncture or holistic medicine. 'No,' I reply. 'We do state-of-the-art medicine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-a-rogers/i-have-to-laugh-when-people-ask-me-if-i-do-alternative-herbal/) Sherry A. Rogers > [Religion often gets credit for curing rascals when old age is the real medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/religion-often-gets-credit-for-curing-rascals-when-old-age-is-the/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [“She tasted good. Like salt and vinegar chips and Bailey’s Irish cream. Who knew that was such a fucking turn on?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-andrews/she-tasted-good-like-salt-and-vinegar-chips-and-bailey-s-irish-cream/) [Amy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-andrews/) > [“Suddenly the blood tasted good, salty, the stuff of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/suddenly-the-blood-tasted-good-salty-the-stuff-of-life/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [Once a week, I used to treat myself to three parottas with the pocket money I saved. It tasted so good, and I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-antony/once-a-week-i-used-to-treat-myself-to-three-parottas-with-the-pocket/) [Vijay Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-antony/) > [Now the only thing I miss about sex is the cigarette afterward. Next to the first one in the morning, it's the best one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/now-the-only-thing-i-miss-about-sex-is-the-cigarette-afterward-next/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [“So, you don’t drink much,” he said. “What about food?” “No, I don’t eat food. I tried it once a long time ago when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-abshire/so-you-don-t-drink-much-he-said-what-about-food-no-i-don-t-eat-food-i/) [Mary Abshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-abshire/) > [“My motto was always ‘if it tasted good, you eat it’,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-foor/my-motto-was-always-if-it-tasted-good-you-eat-it/) [Jennifer Foor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-foor/) > [“His tongue felt good, it tasted good, it was all just good. Not just good. It was better than good. I missed this. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/his-tongue-felt-good-it-tasted-good-it-was-all-just-good-not-just/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) ## More by Patrick Rothfuss > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Prefiero tocar canciones que divierten a mis amigos que complacer a quienes me juzgan basándose solo en habladurías" - Kvothe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/prefiero-tocar-canciones-que-divierten-a-mis-amigos-que-complacer-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Wilem snorted."That doesn't sound suspicious at all," he said. "And you wonder why people talk about you." "I don't wonder why they talk," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/wilem-snorted-that-doesn-t-sound-suspicious-at-all-he-said-and-you/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“The point isn't to win the game. The point is to play a beautiful game. (paraphrased)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/the-point-isn-t-to-win-the-game-the-point-is-to-play-a-beautiful-game/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I was nervous about writing Slow Regard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-was-nervous-about-writing-slow-regard/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I am no poet. I do not love words for the sake of words. I love words for what they can accomplish. Similarly, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-am-no-poet-i-do-not-love-words-for-the-sake-of-words-i-love-words/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“There is something deeply satisfying in shaping something with your hands. Proper artificing is like a song made solid. It is an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/there-is-something-deeply-satisfying-in-shaping-something-with-your/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [He had a bright, reckless tenor that was always wandering off, looking for notes in the wrong places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/he-had-a-bright-reckless-tenor-that-was-always-wandering-off-looking/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I smiled,"Deoch, my heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she'll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-smiled-deoch-my-heart-is-made-of-stronger-stuff-than-glass-when-she/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I have a blog where I keep in touch with my fans. I write about things that are important to me. Sometimes on there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-have-a-blog-where-i-keep-in-touch-with-my-fans-i-write-about-things/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Soft fantasy worlds have a much looser cause-and-effect relationship. Alchemists can turn lead into gold and nobody wonders about how it will impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/soft-fantasy-worlds-have-a-much-looser-cause-and-effect-relationship/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [But how awful would that be? How terrible to live surrounded by the stark, sharp, hollowness of things that simply were enough?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/but-how-awful-would-that-be-how-terrible-to-live-surrounded-by-the/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [ Here's the thing: Authors live or die by recommendations. \[That's one of the reason I review so many books on Goodreads.\] Giving books you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/here-s-the-thing-authors-live-or-die-by-recommendations-that-s-one-of/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I was pretty poor for a long time. Not \*poor\* poor. But college student poor. I lived for most of my adult life living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-was-pretty-poor-for-a-long-time-not-poor-poor-but-college-student/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) [Explore all 895 Patrick Rothfuss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) ## More Tasted Good quotes > [“Suddenly the blood tasted good, salty, the stuff of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/suddenly-the-blood-tasted-good-salty-the-stuff-of-life/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“My motto was always ‘if it tasted good, you eat it’,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-foor/my-motto-was-always-if-it-tasted-good-you-eat-it/) [Jennifer Foor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-foor/) > [“So, you don’t drink much,” he said. “What about food?” “No, I don’t eat food. I tried it once a long time ago when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-abshire/so-you-don-t-drink-much-he-said-what-about-food-no-i-don-t-eat-food-i/) [Mary Abshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-abshire/) > [Now the only thing I miss about sex is the cigarette afterward. Next to the first one in the morning, it's the best one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/now-the-only-thing-i-miss-about-sex-is-the-cigarette-afterward-next/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Once a week, I used to treat myself to three parottas with the pocket money I saved. It tasted so good, and I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-antony/once-a-week-i-used-to-treat-myself-to-three-parottas-with-the-pocket/) [Vijay Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-antony/) > [“She tasted good. Like salt and vinegar chips and Bailey’s Irish cream. Who knew that was such a fucking turn on?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-andrews/she-tasted-good-like-salt-and-vinegar-chips-and-bailey-s-irish-cream/) [Amy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-andrews/) > [“His tongue felt good, it tasted good, it was all just good. Not just good. It was better than good. I missed this. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/his-tongue-felt-good-it-tasted-good-it-was-all-just-good-not-just/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Her tongue was in his mouth, and oh, Jesus, God, she tasted good. Like coffee and brandy and woman. Any thought of resistance fled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-wilson/her-tongue-was-in-his-mouth-and-oh-jesus-god-she-tasted-good-like/) [Norah Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-wilson/) > [“Do you," he murmured, "do you have any - Smarties? You brought some once, I remember, in a tube with a lid on. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hemingway/do-you-he-murmured-do-you-have-any-smarties-you-brought-some-once-i/) Amanda Hemingway Browse all 10 Tasted Good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That’s how you know it’s real medicine,” I said. “If it tasted good it would be candy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Rothfuss" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i-said-if-it-tasted-good-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Tasted Good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i-said-if-it-tasted-good-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/patrick-rothfuss-145_tasted-good_that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i_564166.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/patrick-rothfuss-145_tasted-good_that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i_564166.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/patrick-rothfuss-145_tasted-good_that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i_564166.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That’s how you know it’s real medicine,” I said. “If it tasted good it would be candy.” — Patrick Rothfuss", "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": "Patrick Rothfuss", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That’s how you know it’s real...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i-said-if-it-tasted-good-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/that-s-how-you-know-it-s-real-medicine-i-said-if-it-tasted-good-it/#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 } } ] } ```