1
Medicine rests upon four pillars–philosophy, astronomy, alchemy, and ethics. The first pillar is the philosophical knowledge of earth and water; the second, astronomy, supplies its full understanding of that which is of fiery and airy nature; the third is an adequate explanation of the properties of all the four elements–that is to say, of the whole cosmos–and an introduction into the art of their transformations; and finally, the fourth shows the physician those virtues which must stay with him up until his death, and it should support and complete the three other pillars.Paracelsus
2
There is an earthly sun, which is the cause of all heat, and all who are able to see may see the sun; and those who are blind and cannot see him may feel his heat. There is an Eternal Sun, which is the source of all wisdom, and those whose spiritual senses have awakened to life will see that sun and be conscious of His existence; but those who have not attained spiritual consciousness may yet feel His power by an inner faculty which is called Intuition.Paracelsus
3
Death is the midwife of very great things.... It brings about the birth and rebirth of forms a thousand times improved. This is the highest mystery of God.Paracelsus
4
Be not another, if you can be yourself.Paracelsus
5
For God, who is in heaven, is in man. Where else can heaven be, if not in man? As we need it, it must be within us. Therefore it knows our prayer even before we have uttered it, for it is closer to our hearts than to ourParacelsus
6
Man is a microcosm, or a little world, because he is an extract from all the stars and planets of the whole firmament, from the earth and the elements; and so he is their quintessence.Paracelsus
7
There is in each person, in every animal, bird and plant a star which mirrors, matches or is in some sense the same as a star in the heavens.Paracelsus
8
All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous.Paracelsus
9
The dreams which reveal the supernatural are promises and messages that God sends us directly: they are nothing but His angels, His ministering spirits, who usually appear to us when we are in a great predicament.Paracelsus
10
Dreams must be heeded and accepted. For a great many of them come true.Paracelsus
11
Dreams are not without meaning wherever thay may come from-from fantasy, from the elements, or from other inspiration.Paracelsus
12
The interpretation of dreams is a great art.Paracelsus
13
From time immemorial artistic insights have been revealed to artists in their sleep and in dreams, so that at all times they ardently desired them.Paracelsus
14
The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.Paracelsus
15
Medicine is not only a science; it is also an art. It does not consist of compounding pills and plasters; it deals with the very processes of life, which must be understood before they may be guided.Paracelsus
16
Once a disease has entered the body, all parts which are healthy must fight it: not one alone, but all. Because a disease might mean their common death. Nature knows this; and Nature attacks the disease with whatever help she can muster.Paracelsus
17
However, anyone to whom this happens should not leave his room upon awakening, should speak to no-one, but remain alone and sober until everything comes back to him, and he recalls the dream.Paracelsus