Pedanius Dioscorides

They say necessity is the mother of invention. In medicine, it is often the mother of desperation, leading to some truly bizarre remedies.

One can learn much from a plant, but it rarely argues with your diagnosis.

The patient who demands a quick cure often receives a quick disappointment.

Many claim to know the secrets of nature, but nature, like a good woman, keeps her true secrets well-guarded.

Some remedies are so potent, they cure the patient of their illness and their desire to ever be ill again.

A physician who relies solely on ancient texts without observing nature is like a sailor who studies maps but never sets foot on a ship.

The greatest challenge in medicine is not finding the right herb, but convincing the patient to take it.

To truly understand a plant, one must observe it in all its seasons, much like understanding a human.

They say laughter is the best medicine. I have yet to find a plant that produces such a potent effect.

Some diseases are so stubborn, they make the patient more stubborn in their refusal to be cured.

The difference between a good physician and a bad one is often the difference between a living patient and a well-preserved corpse.

One can learn more from a single patient's symptoms than from a thousand philosophical debates.

The human body is a complex garden, and sometimes, the weeds are more persistent than the flowers.

I have seen remedies so strange, they would make a goat blush.

To truly know a plant, one must not only observe its form but also its spirit, for some are more mischievous than others.

The most dangerous disease is often ignorance, for which there is no known herb.

Some patients believe that if a remedy tastes terrible, it must be effective. I often oblige them.

The art of medicine is long, and life is short. Especially for those who ignore my advice.

Nature provides the remedies; man provides the complications.

I have found that the most effective cure for arrogance is a stubborn illness.