“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”
- c. 460 BC – c. 370 BC
- Greek
- Physician, “Father of Medicine”
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Quote
“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”
Explanation
This quote is genuinely attributed to Hippocrates, appearing in the Precepts section of the Hippocratic Corpus. It reflects the ancient physician’s deep awareness of both the natural processes of recovery and the importance of timing and context in medical intervention. Hippocrates understood that while many conditions improve over time, the physician must also recognize and act decisively when the right moment arises.
The phrase highlights a central principle of medicine: healing is not passive waiting, but a process that combines patience with readiness. Certain treatments or interventions may only be effective when applied at the correct stage of illness. The “opportunity” refers to the critical windows during which treatment can make a decisive difference—a concept that is just as relevant in modern emergency care, surgery, or disease prevention strategies.
Today, the quote underscores the importance of clinical judgment and timing. Whether it’s administering clot-busting drugs in the first hour of a stroke, recognizing early symptoms of cancer, or intervening before a chronic condition becomes irreversible, medical professionals must be trained not only to treat but to seize the moment when healing is most possible. In this, Hippocrates’ ancient wisdom continues to guide modern medical practice.
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