Christiaan Barnard

The only thing more complicated than a human heart is a human relationship.

I'm not sure what's more difficult: operating on a heart or dealing with the press.

If you want to live a long life, choose your parents carefully.

The human body is a magnificent machine, but it's prone to breaking down.

I've always believed that the best way to predict the future is to create it.

Some people say I played God. I say I just helped Him out a bit.

The only thing constant in medicine is change.

I've learned more from my failures than from my successes.

The most important tool a surgeon has is his hands, but his brain is a close second.

I'm not afraid of death, but I'm not in a hurry to get there.

The human heart is a symbol of love, but it's also just a muscle.

If you're not making mistakes, you're not trying hard enough.

The only thing more difficult than performing a heart transplant is explaining it to a layman.

I've always been a firm believer in the power of positive thinking, especially when you're about to open someone's chest.

The greatest challenge in medicine is not curing disease, but preventing it.

I've often thought that if I hadn't become a surgeon, I would have been a comedian. Both professions require a good sense of timing.

The human body is a testament to evolution, but sometimes I think it could use a few upgrades.

They say laughter is the best medicine. I say a good surgeon is better.

The only thing more unpredictable than a patient's recovery is the weather.

I've always believed that the pursuit of knowledge is the noblest of endeavors, even if it means getting your hands a little bloody.