“Doctors are paid to talk nonsense with the patient until nature heals or the remedies kill.”
Medical history often reveals deep cynicism regarding the healing arts. We frequently trust physicians to cure our ailments. However, a biting historical sentiment suggests otherwise. This perspective claims doctors merely distract us while our bodies heal themselves. If nature fails, the skepticism goes further. It implies medical treatments might actually hasten death. This cynical observation has survived for centuries.
Scholars and historians have tracked this witty aphorism through hundreds of years of literature. It appears in various forms across different cultures. Yet, the core message remains unchanged. Specifically, it argues that medicine is often theater rather than science. The physician performs a role, speaks complex jargon, and collects a fee. Meanwhile, biology does the heavy lifting.
The Mystery of Authorship
Many people attribute this famous quote to specific historical giants. You might see it linked to the French satirist Voltaire. Others confidently claim the playwright Molière coined the phrase. These assumptions make sense on the surface. Both writers famously mocked the medical profession. Their works often featured incompetent or greedy doctors. Consequently, assigning this witty insult to them feels natural.
However, historical evidence tells a different story. Researchers have combed through the archives to find the true source. Surprisingly, neither Voltaire nor Molière appears to be the originator. The quote predates Voltaire’s birth significantly. Furthermore, Molière’s connection is tenuous at best. We must look further back in time to find the real roots of this medical critique.
The True Origin Story
We find the earliest printed version of this sentiment in 1678. Jean Scholastique Pitton, a French historian, included it in his book regarding the hot springs of Aix. Pitton did not claim credit for the line himself. Instead, he attributed the thought to a character named Eraste.
In this text, the character describes the physician’s role with brutal honesty. Eraste argues that doctors overwhelm poor patients with words. They use terms that mean nothing. The goal is simply amusement. The doctor keeps the patient busy with remedies while waiting for the outcome. Eventually, nature either cures the sick person, or the treatment kills them.
This 1678 publication establishes a clear timeline. It proves the saying circulated in print well before the 18th-century philosophers arrived. Pitton likely recorded a sentiment that was already popular in oral tradition. People have always questioned the value of expensive medical advice.
Spreading Through French Literature
After Pitton’s publication, the phrase gained momentum. Writers across France began incorporating variations of it into their works. Nicolas Frémont d’Ablancourt used a version in 1683. His book, Dialogues de la Santé, features a patient delivering a scathing review of physicians. The character defines doctors as people paid to entertain the sick with nonsense.
Other authors soon followed suit. Pierre Ortigue de Vaumorière included the saying in a 1695 guide on letter writing. He acknowledged borrowing the idea from an earlier source. This admission confirms the phrase was becoming common knowledge. It was evolving into a standard joke about the profession.
Moreover, dictionaries began to adopt the definition. Antoine Furetière’s universal dictionary included the saying in 1701. The entry for “Doctor” cited a satirist who defined the role as speaking nonsense until nature heals the patient. By this point, the insult had become a recognized part of the French language.
The Molière Misconception
Why do so many people credit Molière? The confusion likely stems from a biography published in 1705. The author of The Life of Molière tentatively attributed the saying to the famous playwright. Molière had died decades earlier in 1673.
Crucially, the biographer immediately cast doubt on his own claim. He noted that a physician named Mr. de Mauvilain contested the attribution. Mauvilain claimed he was the actual author. This dispute highlights the uncertainty surrounding the quote. Even in 1705, no one knew for sure who said it first.
Crossing the Channel to England
The witticism eventually migrated to the English-speaking world. Translators and writers adapted the sentiment for new audiences. In 1720, Thomas Brown published a collection that featured the saying. He described the physician as a “grave formal animal.” This creature picks pockets by talking unintelligible stuff until nature cures the patient.
Benjamin Franklin also offered a similar perspective. In the 1736 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanac, he wrote a concise variation. Franklin stated, “God heals, and the Doctor takes the Fees.” While shorter, the meaning is identical. He emphasizes that divine or natural forces perform the work. The doctor simply collects the payment.
English writers continued to refine the joke throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Some attributed it to Francis Bacon. Others credited Ben Jonson. The attribution to Voltaire appeared surprisingly late. It surfaced in medical journals around 1842. This is more than 60 years after Voltaire’s death. Such a long gap suggests the attribution is spurious.
Why The Quote Endures
This saying remains popular because it touches on a universal anxiety. We all fear that medical expertise might be an illusion. Patients often feel powerless in a clinical setting. Doctors use language we do not understand. We take pills without knowing how they work.
Furthermore, the concept of the “placebo effect” validates the quote scientifically. Modern research shows that belief plays a huge role in recovery. Sometimes, the mere presence of a doctor helps us heal. The “nonsense” or “amusement” mentioned in the quote might actually serve a psychological purpose. It calms the patient while the immune system fights the infection.
Additionally, the history of medicine is full of dangerous remedies. For centuries, doctors used bloodletting and toxic mercury. In those cases, the “remedies” often did kill. Surviving the doctor was sometimes harder than surviving the disease. This historical reality gives the quote a dark, truthful edge.
Conclusion
We may never know the exact originator of this cynical wisdom. It likely emerged from the collective frustrations of patients centuries ago. Jean Scholastique Pitton gave it a home in print in 1678. However, he probably did not invent it.
Famous figures like Voltaire, Molière, and Franklin helped popularize the sentiment. Yet, none of them hold the copyright. The quote belongs to everyone who has ever sat in a waiting room. It serves as a humorous reminder to respect the body’s natural power to heal. Medicine has advanced significantly since the 17th century. Nevertheless, a healthy dose of skepticism remains a valuable prescription.