John Hunter (1728–1793) was a pioneering Scottish surgeon and anatomist often regarded as the father of modern surgical practices. His approach to surgery was innovative for its emphasis on scientific investigation and experimentation. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hunter was keen on understanding the underlying causes of diseases and disorders, advocating for observation and the study of the natural history of diseases as a basis for surgical intervention.

Hunter’s contributions to medicine are vast; he conducted extensive research on human teeth, bone growth and remodeling, inflammation, and the lymphatic system. He was also among the first to understand the importance of pathological changes in the body, laying the groundwork for modern surgical techniques and principles. Hunter established a museum of over 14,000 specimens of human and animal anatomy and pathology, which served as an invaluable resource for medical education. His work significantly advanced the knowledge and practice of surgery, making him a central figure in medical history.

John Hunter Quotes

1. “Happiness is something that just happens because of the arrangement of circumstances, but joy endures in spite of circumstances.”
― John Hunter

2. “We have to accept that any action we take might promote an equal and opposite reaction that we do not want. We have to realize that even the most noble actions or most obviously correct course can have its dark side that we cannot control or reason our way out of. The fighter of the “just war” must understand that her actions will result in the deaths of other humans; many of whom may be innocent. The pacifist who refuses all war must realize that his inaction might likewise result in the deaths of the innocent. There are no actions without contradiction—and yet we must act, for not to act is also a contradictory action with both positive and negative effects.”
― John Hunter

3. “The ability to overcome failure—to live through it and move on—is crucial. If we are not willing to face failure—if we don’t have the skills to survive it—we have precluded any real creativity or risk. Failure may never become our friend, but if we are to do meaningful work, perhaps failure needs to be our companion.”
― John Hunter

4. “The teacher calls on the first student whose hand went up, and everybody else understands that their participation is no longer required, and so they may immediately disengage.”
― John Hunter

5. “Where once there seemed to be room to wonder, to speculate, to not know, there now seems to be increasing pressure for instant answers, immediate solutions, and narrowly defined results.”
― John Hunter

6. “Time is the empty space that allows knowledge—let alone wisdom—to grow.”
― John Hunter

7. “Sometimes confusion is a necessary way to slow things down until we have within us the strength and courage to find the best and truest answer instead of settling for an easier, quicker one along the way.”
― John Hunter

8. “…if I see myself only in terms of myself, I am always going to be wrong. To fully understand who I am and what I am capable of, I need to always see myself in terms of a community.”
― John Hunter

9. “Some physiologists will have it that the stomach is a mill; others, that it is a fermenting vat; others, again that it is a stew-pan; but in my view of the matter, it is neither a mill, a fermenting vat nor a stew-pan, but a stomach gentlemen, a stomach.”
― John Hunter

10. “Never ask me what I have said, or what I have written; but if you will ask me what my present opinions are, I will tell you”.”
― John Hunter

11. “Every student is a chance for greatness.”
― John Hunter