"Literature is full of examples of remarkable cures through the influence of the imagination, which is only an active phase of faith."

William Osler Medicine See all quotes by William Osler →

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“Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.”

“Take the sum of human achievement in action, in science, in art, in literature—subtract the work of the men above forty, and while we should miss great treasures, even priceless treasures, we would practically be where we are today … The effective, moving, vitalizing work of the world is done between the ages of twenty-five and forty.”

“Osler Library, brief biography of William Osler”

“We are here to add what we can to, not to get what we can from, Life.”

“Common sense in matters medical is rare, and is usually in inverse ratio to the degree of education.”

“The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism.”

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Philosophy1844–1900

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"Although the philological frame is very important, it is the philosophy of the Hindus which interests me most in Sanskrit literature and it has been my chief aim to bring about a better understanding …"

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"Those who think through possible outcomes with discipline, forge connections, in so doing, to other cosmi in which those outcomes are more than mere possibilities. Such a consciousness is measurably, …"

— Neal Stephenson

Literature1959

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"One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. A…"

— Abraham Lincoln

Politics1744–1786

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