--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Macbeth: How does your patient, doctor?…" description: "\"Macbeth: How does your patient, doctor? Doctor: Not so sick, my lord, as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies that keep her from rest. Macbeth: Cu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_antidote_macbeth-how-does-your-patient-doctor-doc_1033190.jpg" --- # Macbeth: How does your patient, doctor? Doctor: Not so… ![“Macbeth: How does your patient, doctor? Doctor: Not so sick, my lord, as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies that keep her from rest. Macbeth: Cure her of that! Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and…” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_antidote_macbeth-how-does-your-patient-doctor-doc_1033190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_antidote_macbeth-how-does-your-patient-doctor-doc_1033190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/william-shakespeare-4_antidote_macbeth-how-does-your-patient-doctor-doc_1033190.jpg) > “Macbeth: How does your patient, doctor? Doctor: Not so sick, my lord, as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies that keep her from rest. Macbeth: Cure her of that! Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon her heart. Doctor: Therein the patient must minister to himself.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A ruler seeks a quick fix for deep emotional pain, but true healing requires personal effort. **In simple terms:** Healing needs personal work, not just a cure. Key Takeaway Encourage self‑reflection. Themes power health leadership psychology Mood somber thoughtful Type dramatic philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - mental health - personal development Key Concepts Responsibility emotional health Questions to Reflect On - Can you help others heal without them doing the work? - What role does responsibility play in recovery? A Different Perspective Self‑help alone cannot resolve inner turmoil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) ## Related quotes > [“Canst thou not minister to a mind diseas'd, Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Raze out the written troubles of the brain, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/canst-thou-not-minister-to-a-mind-diseas-d-pluck-from-the-memory-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Macbeth does murder sleep - the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care, The death of each day's life, sore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/macbeth-does-murder-sleep-the-innocent-sleep-sleep-that-knits-up-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The patient must minister to himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-patient-must-minister-to-himself/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/methought-i-heard-a-voice-cry-sleep-no-more-macbeth-does-murder-sleep/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't want anybody between a doctor and a patient - not an insurance company bureaucrat or a Washington bureaucrat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrasso/i-don-t-want-anybody-between-a-doctor-and-a-patient-not-an-insurance/) [John Barrasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrasso/) > [I think if the doctor is a good doctor and has a patient's best interest in mind then he's not going to allow anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-teo/i-think-if-the-doctor-is-a-good-doctor-and-has-a-patient-s-best/) [Charles Teo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-teo/) > [The ideal doctor is patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-haven-schauffler/the-ideal-doctor-is-patient/) [Robert Haven Schauffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-haven-schauffler/) > [I think people are by-and-large happy with the providers that they have got now. They treasure that doctor-patient relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/i-think-people-are-by-and-large-happy-with-the-providers-that-they/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [The key is to cut out the middleman and empower both doctor and patient with information about what things cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/the-key-is-to-cut-out-the-middleman-and-empower-both-doctor-and/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Traditional medical ethics, based on the doctor-patient relationship must be changed... The primary function of health care regulations should be to limit an individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-berwick/traditional-medical-ethics-based-on-the-doctor-patient-relationship/) [Donald Berwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-berwick/) > [“Doctor(to patient): Give me your parent's number so that we can tell them what a bad boy you have been. 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That's an order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-kirk/you-re-a-doctor-there-s-your-patient-that-s-an-order/) [James T Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-kirk/) > [Let no one suppose that the words doctor and patient can disguise from the parties the fact that they are employer and employee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/let-no-one-suppose-that-the-words-doctor-and-patient-can-disguise/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Antidote quotes > [Every well-thought-out rebuttal to dogma, every scrap of intelligent logic, every absurdist reduction of some bullying stance is the antidote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sanders/every-well-thought-out-rebuttal-to-dogma-every-scrap-of-intelligent/) [George Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sanders/) > [The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-safe-and-general-antidote-against-sorrow-is-employment/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [FAITH is the only known antidote for FAILURE!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/faith-is-the-only-known-antidote-for-failure/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Gratitude is the antidote to bitterness and resentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-is-the-antidote-to-bitterness-and-resentment/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [“Relevance is both an antidote to avoid and a method for driving disruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/relevance-is-both-an-antidote-to-avoid-and-a-method-for-driving/) [Roger Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [If one is experiencing poverty, practice ordinary and extreme generosity - this is the antidote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jetsunma-ahkon-lhamo/if-one-is-experiencing-poverty-practice-ordinary-and-extreme/) [Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jetsunma-ahkon-lhamo/) > [Beto is banking on his sacharrine positivity as the ultimate antidote to President Trump's honest saltiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/beto-is-banking-on-his-sacharrine-positivity-as-the-ultimate-antidote/) [Lisa Kennedy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/) > [Every evil has its good, and every ill an antidote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/every-evil-has-its-good-and-every-ill-an-antidote/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [A round of golf is the ideal antidote to stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-forsyth/a-round-of-golf-is-the-ideal-antidote-to-stress/) [Bruce Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-forsyth/) > [Medical men have searched the world for remedies, desiring an antidote. Chiropractors find the cause in the person ailing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/medical-men-have-searched-the-world-for-remedies-desiring-an-antidote/) [B. J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-palmer/) > [Hope that is the only antidote to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-armstrong/hope-that-is-the-only-antidote-to-fear/) [Lance Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-armstrong/) > [Music can minister to minds diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/music-can-minister-to-minds-diseased-pluck-from-the-memory-a-rooted/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Both to the rich and poor, wine is the happy antidote for sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/both-to-the-rich-and-poor-wine-is-the-happy-antidote-for-sorrow/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Conservatism is the antidote to tyranny. It's the only one. It's based on thousands of years of human experience. 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