Florence Nightingale Quotes - Page 2

I never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.

The symptoms or the sufferings generally considered to be inevitable and incident to the disease are very often not symptoms of the disease at all, but of something quite different-of the want of fresh air, or of light, or of warmth, or of quiet, or of cleanliness, or of punctuality and care in the administration of diet, of each or of all of these.

Remember my name-- you'll be screaming it later.

Unnecessary noise is the most cruel abuse of care which can be inflicted on either the sick or the well.

Rather, ten times, die in the surf, heralding the way to a new world, than stand idly on the shore.

Nursing is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts.

People say the effect is only on the mind. It is no such thing. The effect is on the body, too. Little as we know about the way in which we are affected by form, by color, and light, we do know this, that they have an actual physical effect. Variety of form and brilliancy of color in the objects presented to patients, are actual means of recovery.

I use the word nursing for want of a better. It has been limited to signify little more than the administration of medicines and the application of poultices. It ought to signify the proper use of fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, quiet, and the proper selection and administration of diet-all at the least expense of vital power to the patient.

Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better.

It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a Hospital that it should do the sick no harm. It is quite necessary nevertheless to lay down such a principle.

Starting a job and working hard is how to be successful.

If a patient is cold, if a patient is feverish, if a patient is faint, if he is sick after taking food, if he has a bed-sore, it is generally the fault not of the disease, but of the nursing.

Statistics is the most important science in the whole world: for upon it depends the practical application of every other science and of every art: the one science essential to all political and social administration, all education, all organization based on experience, for it only gives results of our experience.

Never give nor take an excuse.

The next Christ will perhaps be a female Christ.

I am not yet worthy; and I will live to deserve to be called a Trained Nurse.

To understand God's thoughts, one must study statistics, for these are the measure of His purpose.

Hospitals are only an intermediate stage of civilization, never intended ... to take in the whole sick population. May we hope that the day will come ... when every poor sick person will have the opportunity of a share in a district sick-nurse at home.

May we hope that, when we are all dead and gone, leaders will arise who have been personally experienced in the hard, practical work, the difficulties, and the joys of organizing nursing reforms, and who will lead far beyond anything we have done!

People talk about imitating Christ, and imitate Him in the little trifling formal things, such as washing the feet, saying His prayer, and so on; but if anyone attempts the real imitation of Him, there are no bounds to the outcry with which the presumption of that person is condemned.

We set the treatment of bodies so high above the treatment of souls, that the physician occupies a higher place in society than the school-master.

Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.

Religion was important to me. My family and I were very religious. I acctualy believe the work I did was a calling from God himself.

Volumes are now written and spoken upon the effect of the mind upon the body. Much of it is true. But I wish a little more was thought of the effect of the body on the mind.

diseases, as all experience shows, are adjectives, not noun substantives.