Who said “The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”?

Misattributed

Not Voltaire. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundNot by Voltaire. Earliest known source: An idea traced to Pitton (1678); short form anonymous by 1823.

Evidence: Quote Investigator · Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”
— Voltaire
MisattributedNot by Voltaire. Earliest known source: An idea traced to Pitton (1678); short form anonymous by 1823. · evidenceMedicine
Report

Cite this quote

APA

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” [Quotation attributed to Voltaire]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25032-the-art-of-medicine-consists-of-amusing-the/

MLA

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25032-the-art-of-medicine-consists-of-amusing-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25032-the-art-of-medicine-consists-of-amusing-the/.

Related quotes

“Modern medicine is a negation of health. It isn't organized to serve human health, but only itself, as an institution. It makes more people sick than it heals.”
— Ivan Illich
VerifiedMedical Nemesis (1976) · evidenceDetails & citeMedicine
Report

More quotes by Voltaire

“If there were only one religion in England there would be danger of despotism, if there were two, they would cut each other's throats, but there are thirty, and they live in peace and happiness.”
VerifiedLetters on England, letter 6, "On the Presbyterians", trans. Leonard Tancock (Penguin Books, 1980) p. 41, published first in English in 1733 · evidenceDetails & citeMulticulturalism
Report
“Men argue, nature acts.”
Argument
Report
“A witty saying proves nothing.”
Speech
Report
“The best is the enemy of the good.”
Excellence
Report
All 119 Voltaire quotes →