“The life so short, the craft so long to learn.”
- c. 460 BC – c. 370 BC
- Greek
- Physician, “Father of Medicine”
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Quote
“The life so short, the craft so long to learn.”
Explanation
This quote is a faithful rendering of the original Hippocratic aphorism, found in the opening line of the Aphorismi, one of the most renowned texts in the Hippocratic Corpus. In its classical form, it is often translated from Latin as “Vita brevis, ars longa”. Here, “ars” refers not to art in the aesthetic sense but to the craft or discipline of medicine. The quote reflects the timeless challenge of mastering a profound and complex field within the limited span of human life.
Hippocrates likely intended this statement as a warning and an encouragement to physicians: though the body of medical knowledge is vast and ever-growing, life is fleeting, and thus every moment of learning and observation counts. It underscores the necessity of dedicated study, mentorship, and humility in the face of a discipline that cannot be fully mastered in one lifetime.
Today, this wisdom resonates beyond medicine. In every demanding field—whether science, philosophy, or the arts—the journey of mastery often exceeds the time available to achieve it. In a world obsessed with speed and instant results, the quote is a powerful reminder that true skill and understanding require patience, perseverance, and a lifetime of learning.
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