Brains cause technology, society, art, science, soap operas, sin. A remarkable set of effects
for such a small chunk of coagulated atoms.
—Collin McGinn, 1999
I bet the human brain is a kludge.
—Marvin Minsky
16
If the human mind was simple enough to understand, we’d be too simple to understand it.
—Emerson M. Pugh, *1938
17
The human brain is the last, and greatest scientific frontier.
18
—Joel L. Davis, 1997
***
[Medicine:] the art of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.
—Ben Jonson
19
God cures, and the doctor takes the fee.
—European proverb
The blunders of physicians are covered by the earth.
—Spanish proverb
Medicine is a science of uncertainty and the art of probability.
—William Osler, 1950
It is my duty to heal the sick, not to enrich the apothecaries.
—Paracelsus
20
One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine.
—William Osler, 1961
A drug is a substance which, if injected into a rabbit, produces a [scientific] paper.
—Otto Loewi
21
16
As quoted, without a date, by David K. Mellinger in 1991.
17
First quoted by his son, George W. Pugh, in 1977.
18
Cf. the expression “Space, the final frontier” used in the Star Trek movies.
19
As quoted, without a date, in an editorial of The Veterinarian in 1851; frequently misattributed to
Voltaire.
20
As quoted, without a date, by many, possibly starting with Joseph Ennemoser and Mary Botham
Howitt in 1854.
21
As quoted by A. Szent-Gyorgyi in 1976; paraphrased, after O. Loewi’s death in 1961, by others
—mostly without a reference.
48
On Sciences and Technologies
for such a small chunk of coagulated atoms.
—Collin McGinn, 1999
I bet the human brain is a kludge.
—Marvin Minsky
16
If the human mind was simple enough to understand, we’d be too simple to understand it.
—Emerson M. Pugh, *1938
17
The human brain is the last, and greatest scientific frontier.
18
—Joel L. Davis, 1997
***
[Medicine:] the art of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.
—Ben Jonson
19
God cures, and the doctor takes the fee.
—European proverb
The blunders of physicians are covered by the earth.
—Spanish proverb
Medicine is a science of uncertainty and the art of probability.
—William Osler, 1950
It is my duty to heal the sick, not to enrich the apothecaries.
—Paracelsus
20
One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine.
—William Osler, 1961
A drug is a substance which, if injected into a rabbit, produces a [scientific] paper.
—Otto Loewi
21
16
As quoted, without a date, by David K. Mellinger in 1991.
17
First quoted by his son, George W. Pugh, in 1977.
18
Cf. the expression “Space, the final frontier” used in the Star Trek movies.
19
As quoted, without a date, in an editorial of The Veterinarian in 1851; frequently misattributed to
Voltaire.
20
As quoted, without a date, by many, possibly starting with Joseph Ennemoser and Mary Botham
Howitt in 1854.
21
As quoted by A. Szent-Gyorgyi in 1976; paraphrased, after O. Loewi’s death in 1961, by others
—mostly without a reference.
48
On Sciences and Technologies