Quotes by Physician

“From naive simplicity we arrive at more profound simplicity.”

“Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.”

“A good example has twice the value of good advice”

“The stronger the reverence for natural life, the stronger grows also that for spiritual life.”

“As we acquire knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious.”

“You know of the disease in Central Africa called sleeping sickness. . . . There also exists a sleeping sickness of the soul. Its most dangerous aspect is that one is unaware of its coming. That is why you have to be careful. As soon as you notice the slightest sign of indifference, the moment you become aware of the loss of a certain seriousness, of longing, of enthusiasm and zest, take it as a warning. You should realize your soul suffers if you live superficially.”

“Once a man recognizes himself as a being surrounded by other beings in this world and begins to respect his life and take it to the highest value, he becomes a thinking being. Then he values other lives and experiences them as part of his own life. With that, his goal is to help everyone take their life to the highest value; anything which limits or destroys a life is evil. That is morality. That is how men are related to the world around them.”

“I look back upon my youth and realize how so many people gave me help, understanding, courage - very important things to me - and they never knew it. They entered into my life and became powers within me.”

“It seemed incredible to me, that physical courage should be so commonplace and revered, while moral courage . . . is so rare and despised.”

“Don't let your hearts grow numb. Stay alert. It is your soul which matters.”

“Ethics cannot be based upon our obligations toward people, but they are complete and natural only when we feel this Reverence for Life and the desire to have compassion for and to help all creatures insofar as it is in our power. I think that this ethic will become more and more recognized because of its great naturalness and because it is the foundation of a true humanism toward which we must strive if our culture is to become truly ethical.”

“When people have light in themselves, it will shine out from them. Then we get to know each other as we walk together in the darkness, without needing to pass our hands over each other's faces, or to intrude into each other's hearts.”

“Set a great example. Someone may imitate it.”

“Keiner darf die Augen schliessen und das Leiden, dessen Anblick er sich erspart, als nicht geschehen ansehen.”

“We cannot abdicate our conscience to an organization, nor to a government. 'Am I my brother's keeper?' Most certainly I am! I cannot escape my responsibility by saying the State will do all that is necessary. It is a tragedy that nowadays so many think and feel otherwise.”

“We are united with all life that is in nature. Man can no longer live his life for himself alone.”

“We all know how important love is, yet how often is it really emoted or exhibited? What so many sick people in this world suffer from-loneliness, boredom and fear-can't be cured with a pill.”

“That's my private ant. You're liable to break its legs.”

“It's not enough merely to exist. Every man has to seek in his own way to make his own self more noble and to relize his own true worth.”

“Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.”

“Those who experiment on animals should never be able to quiet their own conscience by telling themselves that these cruelties have a worthy aim.”

“I used to suffer particularly because the poor animals must endure so much pain and want. The sight of an old, limping horse being dragged along by one man while another man struck him with a stick he was being driven to the Colmar slaughterhouse - haunted me for weeks.”

“All people are endowed with the faculty of compassion, and for this reason can develop the humanitarian spirit.”

“Truth has not special time of its own. Its hour is now - always and, indeed then most truly, when it seems unsuitable to actual circumstances.”