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Later the assistant chief surgeon told people that he had been a surgeon for eleven years, had seen not a few patients die and consequently had become quite cold and indifferent. He was interested only in diseases as such and had no feelings for his patients as people. But what Chiu Tsai-kang had said impressed him deeply. Even after he left the patient's room he thought it over for quite a long while. Here was a man awaiting death who had to clench his teeth to endure the searing pain of his whole body, but who constantly had the nation's steel production on his mind and who wholeheartedly desired to return to his furnace. In the past, he had read of people with such public spirit and unselfish character only in novels. He had regarded them as nothing but ideal, imaginary creations of literary writers. Now he has seen such a hero in the flesh with his own eyes.

Ba Jin#18

HealthSufferingCourageInspirationLearning

About this quote

What does it mean?
A surgeon realized the patient's heroic mindset changed his view of human spirit.
In plain terms
The patient's strength impressed the doctor deeply.
What can you take from it?
Patients can teach doctors about courage and character.

Where it applies

  • medical training
  • patient interaction
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • listen to patients
  • learn from suffering
  • embrace humanity

Questions to consider

  • What have you learned from someone in pain?
  • How do you define a hero?

Another view

Not all patients have the capacity for such heroic endurance.

More from Ba Jin

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  3. When they accepted their assignments they were not very confident, especially the assistant head surgeon who simply believed in his own past experience, in the…

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