“It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.”
- c. 460 BC – c. 370 BC
- Greek
- Physician, “Father of Medicine”
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Quote
“It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.”
Explanation
This quote, frequently attributed to Hippocrates, does not appear verbatim in the surviving texts of the Hippocratic Corpus, but it conveys a sentiment that is deeply aligned with Hippocratic philosophy. The statement reflects an early recognition that individual factors—such as temperament, habits, and environment—play a crucial role in both the development and treatment of illness.
Rather than treating diseases as isolated biological events, Hippocratic medicine emphasized a holistic approach, considering the patient’s lifestyle, emotional state, and personal history. The idea was that each person responds differently to illness and treatment; thus, the physician must understand the person as a whole, not merely categorize their symptoms. This perspective also aligns with the ancient focus on personalized care and the balance of the four humors, which varied by individual.
In contemporary terms, this philosophy underlies patient-centered medicine, which prioritizes empathy, communication, and individualized treatment plans. For example, two patients with the same diagnosis—say, hypertension—may require very different interventions based on their psychological makeup, cultural background, or daily habits. The quote reminds us that medicine is not only a science but a human relationship, where understanding the person is just as important as understanding the pathology.
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