What Sort of Person

Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.)

Hippocrates is considered the father of Western Medicine and the author of the Hippocratic Oath. The text of the Hippocratic Oath (c. 400 bc) provided below [in Resources] is a translation from Greek by Francis Adams (1849). It is considered a classical version and differs from contemporary versions, which are reviewed and revised frequently to fit with changes in modern medical practice.

More aphorisms from Hippocrates:

“First do no harm”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].

“As to diseases, make a habit of two things – to help, or at least, to do no harm.”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].

“Walking is man’s best medicine”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].

“That which is used – develops. That which is not used wastes away.”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].

“The natural healing force within us is the greatest force in getting well.”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].

“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].

“Diseases caused by over-eating are cured by fasting; those caused by starvation are cured by feeding up. Diseases caused by exertion are cured by rest; those caused by indolence are cured by exertion. To put it briefly: the physician should treat disease by the principle of opposition to the cause of the disease according to its form.”

–Hippocrates [“Aphorisms by Hippocrates” Francis Adams, Translator].