Health Quote by Susan Armstrong-Reid
““For many nurses, especially those raised and educated in the Quaker faith, serving in the China Convoy epitomized the ideal nursing practice “tied to the causes of humanity and the needs of the collective which were larger than the individual nurse: social causes, peace, and health promotion.” Quoting the old Quaker saying, Margaret recalled that they sought to “live in such a way that you can do away with a cause of war.”4””
About This Quote
Source Book: Quaker Nursing in China, Margaret Armstrong, 2020
The quote describes how Quaker nurses saw their work as serving larger humanitarian goals—peace, health, and social welfare—beyond personal ambition.
In simple terms: Nurses linked their duties to broader social causes.
Key Takeaway
Align nursing practice with collective well‑being.
Themes
service
humanitarianism
peace
collective welfare
professional identity
Mood
inspirational
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
motivational
ethical
When to use this quote
- disaster relief
- public health campaigns
- community health clinics
- global health missions
Key Concepts
Quaker ethics
social responsibility
health promotion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can nurses balance personal care with collective missions?
- What structures support sustainable humanitarian nursing?
A Different Perspective
May overlook individual needs or burnout risk.
