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Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes

Physician

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was an American physician, poet, and writer who made significant contributions to the field of medicine and influenced American literature and culture. He was a pioneer in the use of ether as an anesthetic and a leading figure in the medical community of his time.

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Famous Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes

“Science is a first-rate piece of furniture for a man's upper chamber, if he has common sense on the ground floor.”

Science Common Sense

Author:Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

“The mind of a bigot to the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour on it, the more it contracts.”

Inspirational Mind Light Eye Science Prejudice Intelligence Bigotry Contracts Pupils Bigots

Book:Autocrat Of The Breakfast Table

Source: Autocrat Of The Breakfast Table

“Why can't somebody give us a list of things that everybody thinks and nobody says, and another list of things that everybody says and nobody thinks?”

Thinking Giving Writing Science Lists

Book:The Professor at the Breakfast-table: With The Story of Iris

Source: The Professor at the Breakfast-table: With The Story of Iris

“I hate facts. I always say the chief end of man is to form general propositions - adding that no general proposition is worth a damn.”

Men Ends Facts Form Science Hate I Hate Chiefs Damn Propositions Complacency

Book:The Mind and Faith of Justice Holmes: His Speeches, Essays, Letters, and Judicial Opinions

Source: The Mind and Faith of Justice Holmes: His Speeches, Essays, Letters, and Judicial Opinions

“Science is a first-rate piece of furniture for a man's upper chamber, if he has common sense on the ground-floor. But if a man hasn't got plenty of good common sense, the more science he has, the worse for his patient.”

Ifs Men Firsts Science Common Pieces Accounts Patient Rate Common Sense Plenty Furniture Chamber Quip

Book:THE

Source: THE

“[Science is] piecemeal revelation.”

Science Revelations

Author:Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

“Science is the topography of ignorance.”

Science Ignorance Topography

Book:Medical Essays

Source: Medical Essays

About the Author

Born: August 29, 1809
Died: October 7, 1894
Known for: Physician
Quotes: 120

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Books & Sources

Professor At The Breakfast TableRelated source material

Autocrat Of The Breakfast TableRelated source material

The Autocrat of the Breakfast-table: Every Man His Own BoswellRelated source material

The Poet at the Breakfast TableRelated source material

Poems 1Related source material

Poems 2Related source material

Medical EssaysRelated source material

Over the TeacupsRelated source material

The Professor at the Breakfast-table: With The Story of IrisRelated source material

A Mortal AntipathyRelated source material

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