--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We give antibiotics to people when…" description: "\"We give antibiotics to people when they're dying or when they're not well; that's acting God. I mean, acting God is using the tools of creation to try ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/robert-winston-7323_acting_we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they_1187473.jpg" --- # We give antibiotics to people when they're dying or when… ![“We give antibiotics to people when they're dying or when they're not well; that's acting God. I mean, acting God is using the tools of creation to try and improve human life, human existence. I don't think that that's a huge problem.” quote by Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/robert-winston-7323_acting_we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they_1187473.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/robert-winston-7323_acting_we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they_1187473.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/robert-winston-7323_acting_we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they_1187473.jpg) > “We give antibiotics to people when they're dying or when they're not well; that's acting God. I mean, acting God is using the tools of creation to try and improve human life, human existence. I don't think that that's a huge problem.” [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that using medical technology to save lives is akin to “acting God,” but sees no moral issue with it. **In simple terms:** Using medicine to heal is like playing God, yet acceptable. Key Takeaway Embrace medical advances responsibly. Themes science ethics medicine Mood thoughtful balanced Type ethical scientific When to use this quote - clinical trials - patient care - policy making - public health education Key Concepts biotechnology human enhancement moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How should society regulate life‑saving tech? - What limits, if any, should be set on medical intervention? A Different Perspective Potential misuse of technology raises ethical concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [As James Surowiecki noted in a New Yorker article, given a choice between developing antibiotics that people will take every day for two weeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/as-james-surowiecki-noted-in-a-new-yorker-article-given-a-choice/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [Why give chemotherapy or even antibiotics to people with end-stage Alzheimer's disease? Keep them pain free and clean, love them but don't automatically try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/why-give-chemotherapy-or-even-antibiotics-to-people-with-end-stage/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [God is using people to accomplish His work, of saving souls, but we have to remember that it is not us doing the work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/god-is-using-people-to-accomplish-his-work-of-saving-souls-but-we/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [“When we refrain from acting on what God says in His Word because we believe we can do more to help His cause, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/when-we-refrain-from-acting-on-what-god-says-in-his-word-because-we/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [“There’s an irresolvable tension that exists between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. He never forces man to act or prevents him from acting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-wiseman/there-s-an-irresolvable-tension-that-exists-between-god-s-sovereignty/) Paula Wiseman > [It is impossible for any rational creature to be happy without acting all for God. God Himself could not make him happy any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/it-is-impossible-for-any-rational-creature-to-be-happy-without-acting/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I realised that acting is not my god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/i-realised-that-acting-is-not-my-god/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) > [True theology is an actual determination and claiming of man by the acting God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/true-theology-is-an-actual-determination-and-claiming-of-man-by-the/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Medicine, which I wouldn't be without, has also been a force for... less good. For example, if you look at our mishandling of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/medicine-which-i-wouldn-t-be-without-has-also-been-a-force-for-less/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/god-is-using-all-of-your-experiences-both-good-and-bad-to-develop/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [I have to learn that the aim in life is God's, not mine. God is using me from His great personal standpoint, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/i-have-to-learn-that-the-aim-in-life-is-god-s-not-mine-god-is-using/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“The joy is not in the presence of pain, but in the knowledge that God is using our pain to refine us and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-stowell/the-joy-is-not-in-the-presence-of-pain-but-in-the-knowledge-that-god/) Joe Stowell > [“God has been using creative people throughout history to bring glory and honor to His name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/women-of-faith/god-has-been-using-creative-people-throughout-history-to-bring-glory/) Women of Faith > [I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/i-must-learn-that-the-purpose-of-my-life-belongs-to-god-not-me-god-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“God, and that in the relationship you are both being smoothed. Yes, it hurts, and the reality is we do not like it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mullek/god-and-that-in-the-relationship-you-are-both-being-smoothed-yes-it/) [Andrew Mullek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mullek/) ## More by Robert Winston > [Although religion might be useful in developing a solid moral framework - and enforcing it - we can quite easily develop moral intuitions without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/although-religion-might-be-useful-in-developing-a-solid-moral/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I don't much like being a public figure, because so often how people appear is not how they really are, and I think one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-don-t-much-like-being-a-public-figure-because-so-often-how-people/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Women of child-bearing age steadily run out of eggs by the continuous process of cell death. While reading a copy of the 'Guardian' carefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/women-of-child-bearing-age-steadily-run-out-of-eggs-by-the-continuous/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Of course it is a very simple matter to identify genes which might modify intelligence or memory and start thinking about whether you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/of-course-it-is-a-very-simple-matter-to-identify-genes-which-might/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Following 25 children for the TV series 'Child of Our Time' has been extraordinary. The BBC's original plan was to commemorate the new millennium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/following-25-children-for-the-tv-series-child-of-our-time-has-been/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I don't believe in regretting - one should try to move on. My mum was good at that. She was deeply in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-don-t-believe-in-regretting-one-should-try-to-move-on-my-mum-was/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I don't think you can impose limits on science because the very nature of homo sapiens is that he - she - is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-don-t-think-you-can-impose-limits-on-science-because-the-very/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [When I look in the mirror, I am slightly reminded of self-portraits by Durer and by Rembrandt, because they both show a degree of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/when-i-look-in-the-mirror-i-am-slightly-reminded-of-self-portraits-by/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Surgeons always underestimate the pain and disability involved in what they do to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/surgeons-always-underestimate-the-pain-and-disability-involved-in/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Carbon dioxide is unusual because it doesn't go through the usual three phases of matter, from solid to liquid to gas, but it goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/carbon-dioxide-is-unusual-because-it-doesn-t-go-through-the-usual/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [However you define God, and whether you believe in God or not, the world we live in has been shaped by the universal human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/however-you-define-god-and-whether-you-believe-in-god-or-not-the/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I remember eating in school in the years after the Second World War. Most of my friends had miserable portions of Spam with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-remember-eating-in-school-in-the-years-after-the-second-world-war/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [As parents, can we counter the effect of television violence? One worrying feature in Britain is that so many TV sets are in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/as-parents-can-we-counter-the-effect-of-television-violence-one/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I'm a traditional Jew with an orthodox background, and it informs much of my approach to science. Of course I think it's very important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-m-a-traditional-jew-with-an-orthodox-background-and-it-informs-much/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Robots may cut down on infection and mean a consultant can see more patients, but wouldn't you rather meet the doctor than a machine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/robots-may-cut-down-on-infection-and-mean-a-consultant-can-see-more/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) [Explore all 92 Robert Winston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We give antibiotics to people when they're dying or when they're not well; that's acting God. I mean, acting God is using the tools of creation to try and improve human life, human existence. I don't think that that's a huge problem.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Winston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they-re-dying-or-when-they-re-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they-re-dying-or-when-they-re-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/robert-winston-7323_acting_we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they_1187473.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/robert-winston-7323_acting_we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they_1187473.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/robert-winston-7323_acting_we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they_1187473.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We give antibiotics to people when they're dying or when they're not well; that's acting God. I mean, acting…” — Robert Winston", "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": "Robert Winston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We give antibiotics to people when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they-re-dying-or-when-they-re-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/we-give-antibiotics-to-people-when-they-re-dying-or-when-they-re-not/#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 } } ] } ```