Ibn Sina (Avicenna)

Medicine Persian 980 – 1037 391 quotes

Canon of Medicine was standard text for centuries

Quotes by Ibn Sina (Avicenna)

The knowledge of the physician is the knowledge of the human body, its parts, its functions, and its diseases.

The Canon of Medicine

The physician must be a philosopher, for without philosophy, he cannot understand the nature of man and the causes of his diseases.

The Canon of Medicine

The best medicine is to teach people how not to use it.

The Canon of Medicine

The more knowledge you have, the more you are aware of your ignorance.

Various Philosophical Treatises

I prefer a short life with width to a narrow life with length.

Various Philosophical Treatises

The soul, when it is separated from the body, is like a drop of water that falls into the ocean.

On the Soul

The intellect is the first emanation from God.

The Book of Healing

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.

Various Philosophical Treatises

The human soul is a spiritual substance, not a body, nor an accident in a body.

On the Soul

The purpose of philosophy is to know the truth of all things.

The Book of Healing

The physician should be able to distinguish between what is curable and what is incurable.

The Canon of Medicine

The heart is the seat of life and the source of all vital faculties.

The Canon of Medicine

The brain is the organ of sensation, thought, and movement.

The Canon of Medicine

The liver is the organ of nutrition and the source of blood.

The Canon of Medicine

The stomach is the organ of digestion and the source of chyle.

The Canon of Medicine

The physician must be a keen observer and a careful diagnostician.

The Canon of Medicine

The treatment of disease should be based on a thorough understanding of its causes.

The Canon of Medicine

The physician should always strive to alleviate suffering and promote healing.

The Canon of Medicine

The soul is not a body, nor an accident in a body, but a spiritual substance.

On the Soul

The intellect is the faculty by which we apprehend universal truths.

The Book of Healing