---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A chiropractor is a doctor who performs…"
description: "\"“A chiropractor is a doctor who performs adjustments on the spine,\" Rickey told the class before bending Gary backward and \"adjusting\" him, ripping off..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/poppy-z-brite-10238_first-time_a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs_3001018.jpg"
---

#  A chiropractor is a doctor who performs adjustments on the…

![“A chiropractor is a doctor who performs adjustments on the spine,&quot; Rickey told the class before bending Gary backward and &quot;adjusting&quot; him, ripping off the false arm and spraying red hair dye all over the classroom. Gary howled in &quot;pain&quot; and collapsed dramatically on the threadbare school carpet…” quote by Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/poppy-z-brite-10238_first-time_a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs_3001018.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/poppy-z-brite-10238_first-time_a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs_3001018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/poppy-z-brite-10238_first-time_a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs_3001018.jpg)

> ““A chiropractor is a doctor who performs adjustments on the spine," Rickey told the class before bending Gary backward and "adjusting" him, ripping off the false arm and spraying red hair dye all over the classroom. Gary howled in "pain" and collapsed dramatically on the threadbare school carpet, his legs flailing a bit before hitting the floor with a terrible, final-sounding thunk . That was the first time they were sent to the principal's office together. They had to apologize to their teacher and explain to their classmates that doctor visits were unlikely to result in surprise dismemberments.””

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A darkly comic tale showing how a doctor’s authority can be misused, leading to chaos.

**In simple terms:** Authority can be abused, causing harm.

Key Takeaway

Question and verify expertise before trusting.

Themes

authority abuse humor trust

Mood

cautious skeptical

Type

satirical cautionary

When to use this quote

- medical appointments
- classroom demonstrations
- online health advice

Key Concepts

power dynamics ethical boundaries

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you challenge a professional’s claim?
- How do you balance trust and critical thinking?

A Different Perspective

Not all professionals act responsibly; skepticism is healthy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chiropractor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiropractor-292906/) [Chiropractor Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiropractor-doctor-4764506/) [Classmates Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classmates-doctor-4764507/) [Doctor Performs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor-performs-4764509/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Hair dye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair-dye/) [Massage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massage/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Red hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-hair/) [Spine Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spine-rickey-4764508/)

## Related quotes

> [“An incompetent doctor practices, but a competent doctor performs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-incompetent-doctor-practices-but-a-competent-doctor-performs/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [I have a coach and I have a chiropractor, who works to keep me healthy. I pay their salaries. I pay for their flights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-have-a-coach-and-i-have-a-chiropractor-who-works-to-keep-me-healthy/)

[John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/)

> [There was a chiropractor I had to stop going to because he would take away my pain and he was the most gorgeous man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-walsh/there-was-a-chiropractor-i-had-to-stop-going-to-because-he-would-take/)

[Kate Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-walsh/)

> [A chiropractor accomplished in three weeks what the army doctors haven't been able to do in two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kennedy/a-chiropractor-accomplished-in-three-weeks-what-the-army-doctors/)

[George Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kennedy/)

> [Bodybuilders and fitness people have been using chiropractic very extensively in order to stay healthy and fit. I found it was better to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/bodybuilders-and-fitness-people-have-been-using-chiropractic-very/)

[Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/)

> [The fact is, if you have a solid healthcare plan, you still don't have dental. If you have dental, you might not have vision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-lif/the-fact-is-if-you-have-a-solid-healthcare-plan-you-still-don-t-have/)

[Mr. Lif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-lif/)

> [“Find top surgeons or chiropractor in Redondo Beach if you want to get an effective and affordable chiropractic treatment back pain with complete care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redondo-chiropractic/find-top-surgeons-or-chiropractor-in-redondo-beach-if-you-want-to-get/)

[Redondo chiropractic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redondo-chiropractic/)

> [I've been going to chiropractor for as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-ve-been-going-to-chiropractor-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-it-s-as/)

[Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/)

> [Wanna play a joke on your chiropractor? The next time he starts working on you, go limp and soil yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wilmot/wanna-play-a-joke-on-your-chiropractor-the-next-time-he-starts/)

[Mike Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wilmot/)

> [Healing is a process afforded you by your Creator and is above and beyond the control of man. Your Chiropractor does everything possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/healing-is-a-process-afforded-you-by-your-creator-and-is-above-and/)

[B. J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-palmer/)

> [On learning: if you really want alignment, go to a chiropractor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/on-learning-if-you-really-want-alignment-go-to-a-chiropractor/)

[Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/)

> [“Asking Do Chiropractors Pray? in a book by that title, B. J. Palmer answered definitively that “no Chiropractor would pray on his knees in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-gunther-brown/asking-do-chiropractors-pray-in-a-book-by-that-title-b-j-palmer/)

[Candy Gunther Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-gunther-brown/)

> [When I was in Japan with my girlfriend Jessica, she would have had acupuncture every day if she could. I can just about stomach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/when-i-was-in-japan-with-my-girlfriend-jessica-she-would-have-had/)

[Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/)

> [I have to have an adjustment before I go into the ring. I do believe in chiropractic. I found that going to a chiropractor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-have-to-have-an-adjustment-before-i-go-into-the-ring-i-do-believe/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [You know youre fifty when your chiropractor sends you birthday cards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-youre-fifty-when-your-chiropractor-sends-you-birthday-cards/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Poppy Z. Brite

> [My childhood may have been more demented than most, because I learned to read very early and was allowed to read whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/my-childhood-may-have-been-more-demented-than-most-because-i-learned/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [If you’re ever lucky enough to belong somewhere, if a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don't desert it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/if-you-re-ever-lucky-enough-to-belong-somewhere-if-a-place-takes-you/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [Young writers shouldn't be afraid of striving to emulate their favorites. It's a good way to learn, as long as you move on from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/young-writers-shouldn-t-be-afraid-of-striving-to-emulate-their/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [Mostly I enjoy the restaurants (my husband is a chef), though I wish we had a wider diversity of ethnic food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/mostly-i-enjoy-the-restaurants-my-husband-is-a-chef-though-i-wish-we/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [Celebrities, even insignificant ones like me, are created to be abused by the Great Unwashed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/celebrities-even-insignificant-ones-like-me-are-created-to-be-abused/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [“Let the night come. We are not afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/let-the-night-come-we-are-not-afraid/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [Horror is the badge of humanity, worn proudly, self-righteously, and often falsely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/horror-is-the-badge-of-humanity-worn-proudly-self-righteously-and/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [“+ He wasn’t much for erasing anyway. Sometimes your mistakes showed you the really interesting connections between your brain, your hand, and your heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/he-wasn-t-much-for-erasing-anyway-sometimes-your-mistakes-showed-you/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [You can only maintain an immensely gothic attitude for so long before either killing yourself or beginning to feel like a poser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/you-can-only-maintain-an-immensely-gothic-attitude-for-so-long-before/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [New Orleans cuisine is Creole rather than Cajun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/new-orleans-cuisine-is-creole-rather-than-cajun/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [I've certainly learned a great deal from my husband, though, and could never have written a book like Liquor without him and the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/i-ve-certainly-learned-a-great-deal-from-my-husband-though-and-could/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [“They were kissing again, carefully at first, learning the shape and texture of each other's lips, testing the sharpness of the teeth behind them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/they-were-kissing-again-carefully-at-first-learning-the-shape-and/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [And I can't think of a reason I'd ever use a pseudonym, as I wouldn't want to publish something that I didn't like enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/and-i-can-t-think-of-a-reason-i-d-ever-use-a-pseudonym-as-i-wouldn-t/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [Why bother? I was right all along: the second you make yourself vulnerable to someone, they start drawing blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/why-bother-i-was-right-all-along-the-second-you-make-yourself/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

> [I don't like to talk about work in progress, but the novel I'm working on now is definitely not horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-work-in-progress-but-the-novel-i-m-working/)

[Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

[Explore all 67 Poppy Z. Brite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/)

## More First time quotes

> [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. And here we have Zelah Green, the fourteen-year-old champion of rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-curtis/i-m-so-stressed-that-a-weird-olympic-style-commentary-starts-up-in-my/)

[Vanessa Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-curtis/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“I’m waiting for you,” he murmured, smiling a slow, familiar grin that seemed to hint at a secret between them. And for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-m-waiting-for-you-he-murmured-smiling-a-slow-familiar-grin-that/)

[Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/)

> [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/)

[Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/)

> [Life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-like-a-parachute-jump-you-have-to-get-it-right-the-first-time/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/)

[Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/)

> [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/)

[Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/)

> [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/)

[Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/)

> [I don't know why, but everybody thinks that I'm short. When they see me for the first time, women are always surprised to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-don-t-know-why-but-everybody-thinks-that-i-m-short-when-they-see-me/)

[Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/)

> [“I met Suffering on a quiet road, just as the sun was setting behind me. Its presence was heavy, like an old coat I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/i-met-suffering-on-a-quiet-road-just-as-the-sun-was-setting-behind-me/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/)

[Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/)

[Browse all 9,309 First time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“A chiropractor is a doctor who performs adjustments on the spine,\" Rickey told the class before bending Gary backward and \"adjusting\" him, ripping off the false arm and spraying red hair dye all over the classroom. Gary howled in \"pain\" and collapsed dramatically on the threadbare school carpet, his legs flailing a bit before hitting the floor with a terrible, final-sounding thunk . That was the first time they were sent to the principal's office together. They had to apologize to their teacher and explain to their classmates that doctor visits were unlikely to result in surprise dismemberments.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Poppy Z. Brite"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs-adjustments-on-the-spine/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "First time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs-adjustments-on-the-spine/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/poppy-z-brite-10238_first-time_a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs_3001018.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/poppy-z-brite-10238_first-time_a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs_3001018.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/poppy-z-brite-10238_first-time_a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs_3001018.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A chiropractor is a doctor who performs adjustments on the spine,\" Rickey told the class before bending Gary…” — Poppy Z. Brite",
                "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": "Poppy Z. Brite",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“A chiropractor is a doctor who...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs-adjustments-on-the-spine/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/a-chiropractor-is-a-doctor-who-performs-adjustments-on-the-spine/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
