A doctor, like anyone else who has to deal with human beings, each of them unique, cannot be a scientist; he is either, like the surgeon, a craftsman, or, like the physician and the psychologist, an artist.

Summary

This quote highlights the distinction between the roles of doctors as scientists and as craftsmen or artists. It suggests that due to the uniqueness of human beings, doctors cannot purely adhere to scientific methods alone. Instead, they must employ the skills of a craftsman or an artist. Surgeons are portrayed as craftsmen, requiring precision and technical skills, while physicians and psychologists are seen as artists, involving creativity and empathy in dealing with individual patients. This quote emphasizes the diverse and multifaceted nature of the doctor's profession to effectively understand and care for their patients.

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