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Human spirit Quote by Sherwin B. Nuland

“-when the human spirit departs, it takes with it the vital stuffing of life. Then, only the inanimate corpus remains, which is the least of all the things that make us human.” quote by Sherwin B. Nuland
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““-when the human spirit departs, it takes with it the vital stuffing of life. Then, only the inanimate corpus remains, which is the least of all the things that make us human.””

Sherwin B. Nuland

About This Quote

Source Book: The Soul of Medicine by Sherwin B. Nuland, 2000

When the spirit leaves, only the empty body remains, stripping away what truly defines humanity.

In simple terms: Spirit defines humanity; body alone is empty.

Key Takeaway

Nurture the spirit, not just the body.

Themes

mortality spirituality humanity

Mood

somber contemplative

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

  • end‑of‑life care
  • mental health
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What practices keep your spirit alive?
  • How do you honor the non‑physical aspects of self?
A Different Perspective

Physical health alone cannot capture human essence.

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