Florence Nightingale

"The true foundation of all ethics is to save one another."

"I must strive to improve and continually better myself, this is my passion."

"Women have unlimited power to use for good, if they would use it."

"The very first requirement in a hospital is cleanliness and order."

"There are painful duties and there are pleasant ones. To refuse the painful ones is to run away from life itself."

"My work has been a voyage of discovery, one that has taken my entire life."

"Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses. We must be always learning."

"To think deeply is not enough; one must also act upon one's thoughts."

"The true foundation of theology is to ascertain the character of God's work through careful observation."

"A woman is not idle because she is absorbed in her thoughts. There is as much bustle in the mind as in the world."

"I have lived and I have learned that there is nothing of any consequence in this life but love."

"Mortality cannot be altered by statistical knowledge, but suffering can be prevented."

"The true foundation of medicine is sympathy and understanding."

"We are made or unmade by ourselves; upon the same bosom, but in a very different manner, our ambitions grow."

"The very essence of nursing is to care for all equally, without prejudice or favor."

"Life is not a repetition of what one has done, it is a constant growth and change."

"The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should be kept clean enough to prevent disease."

"One's vision must be clear before the hand can act accordingly."

"Kind words do not cost much, but they purchase a great deal."

"Nursing is an art and a calling, it is not suitable for a life of ignorance or sloth."

"The very progress of the world depends upon the labors of women in all fields of human endeavor."

"To care for another is to understand their deepest needs and wishes."

"The true source of progress is in changing oneself, not in complaining about circumstances."

"A woman must be capable of receiving instruction and working hard before she can be a good nurse."

"The very essence of all religion is moral sentiment, and that is at the core of good nursing."

"Life is too precious to waste on gossip or foolish pursuits."

"The true foundation of power is the ability to serve others well."

"Noise is one of the greatest preventers of recovery; silence is the nurse's best tool."

"To be a nurse requires not just knowledge but the courage to act upon it."

"The very first requirement is to listen carefully to what patients need and desire."