William Osler

The young man who has not wept upon the body of his dead mistress, or been stirred to the depths by the sight of a beautiful woman, is not likely to be a great physician.

The student must be taught to observe, to reason, to compare, to classify, to record.

The physician who is not a student all his life, will be a charlatan.

The practice of medicine is a blend of science and art, and the art is often the more important.

The only way to learn medicine is to get into the hospital, to go to the wards, to the bedside, for it is not a science to be learned from books and lectures.

The physician needs a clear head and a kind heart.

The physician must be a man of few words, but those few words must be golden.

The greatest danger to the physician is the belief that he knows all there is to know.

The practice of medicine is a life-long education.

The physician must be a man of hope, for he will often have to inspire hope in others.

The physician must be a man of faith, for he will often have to rely on faith.

The physician must be a man of charity, for he will often have to give of himself.

The physician must be a man of patience, for he will often have to wait.

The physician must be a man of humility, for he will often have to admit his limitations.

The physician must be a man of wisdom, for he will often have to make difficult decisions.

The physician must be a man of integrity, for he will often have to uphold the trust of his patients.

The physician must be a man of compassion, for he will often have to comfort the suffering.

The physician must be a man of understanding, for he will often have to interpret the unspoken.

The physician must be a man of observation, for he will often have to see what others miss.

The physician must be a man of reflection, for he will often have to learn from his mistakes.