Each October, the pharmacy profession pauses to recognize technicians' decades-long evolution, from on-the-job trainees to nationally certified health care professionals.
Commentary|Articles|January 18, 2016 (Updated: October 18, 2024)
10 Pharmacy Quotes That Will Make You Rethink the Profession
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From 19th-century English romantic poets, to reggae musicians, to Twitter users, many have commented on pharmacy, offering funny, quirky, and sometimes negative musings.
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From 19th-century English romantic poets, to reggae musicians, to Twitter users, many have commented on pharmacy, offering funny, quirky, and sometimes negative musings.
Here are 10 pharmacy-related quotes that are sure to enlighten and amuse:
Quote #1
"It is easy to get a thousand prescriptions, but hard to get one single remedy" — Chinese Proverb
Quote #2
"Rogue Internet pharmacies continue to pose a serious threat to the health and safety of Americans. Simply put, a few unethical physicians and pharmacists have become drug suppliers to a nation"— Dianne Feinstein, US Senator for California
Quote #3 “Alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical drugs are legal, but they can hurt a lot of people.” — Ziggy Marley, reggae musician
Quote #4
"I entered the work force cleaning breast pumps at a pharmacy! It was a part-time gig while I was at school...no interview required"— Chris Hemsworth, Australian actor
Quote #5
"Water, air, and cleanness are the chief articles in my pharmacy.” — Napoleon Bonaparte, 19th-century French military leader and emperor
Quote #6
"When somebody follows you 20 blocks to the pharmacy, where they watch you buy toilet paper, you know your life has changed."— Jennifer Aniston, actress
Quote #7
"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine."— Lord Byron, 19th-century English romantic poet
Quote #8
"He who takes medicine and neglects diet wastes the skill of his doctors."— Chinese proverb
Quote #9
"Rule #1 of life. Do what makes YOUR area manager happy."— Twitter, @MrDispenser
Quote #10
"Poisons and medicine are often the same substance given with different intents."— Peter Mere Latham, 19th-century English physician and educator
While the 19th-century quotes and proverbs reference holistic health and express skepticism about the pharmacy profession, today’s quotes mention Internet pharmacies, harmful prescription medicines, and the prevalence of chain pharmacies.
As the pharmacy profession and attitudes toward it evolve, pharmacists are at the forefront of many important issues, including drug safety, affordable health care, and customer service. Just as we learn about past attitudes toward pharmacy by reading old quotes, it is interesting to consider what future historians will deduce from reading the quotes of today.
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