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King Wen of Wei once asked the famous doctor Bian Que, “You and your two brothers are all skilled in medicine. Which of you would you say is the best?”
Bian Que replied, “My eldest brother is the best, my second brother is the next skilled, and I am the worst.”
King Wen asked, “Then why are you the most famous?”
Bian Que replied, “My eldest brother treats diseases before they break out. Since ordinary people don’t know that he has eliminated the root cause of their disease in advance, his reputation doesn’t spread far. My middle brother treats diseases when they start. Since he cures their ills before they become serious, people think that he can only heal minor ailments, so his fame only reaches his hometown. I, on the other hand, only treat diseases when they are already serious. People see me performing major surgeries like inserting needles into the meridians and bleeding or applying medicine on the skin, so they think my medical skills are extraordinary, and my reputation spreads throughout the country.”
Insights: Understanding health is crucial. It’s best to stop things before they start, or at least before they become too problematic. However, you are less likely to become famous for resolving what people will assume was a minor issue. This knowledge enlightens us about the importance of preventive care.
扁鵲的醫術
魏文王問名醫扁鵲說：「你們家兄弟三人，都精於醫術，到底哪一位最好呢？
扁鵲答：「長兄最好，中兄次之，我最差。
文王再問：「那麼為什麼你最出名呢？
扁鵲答：「長兄治病，是治病於病情發作之前。由於一般人不知道他事先能剷除病因，所以他的名氣無法傳出去；中兄治病，是治病於病情初起時。一般人以為他只能治輕微的小病，所以他的名氣只及本鄉里。而我是治病於病情嚴重之時。一般人都看到我在經脈上穿針管放血、在皮膚上敷藥等大手術，所以以為我的醫術高明，名氣因此響遍全國。
心得：事後控制不如事中控制，事中控制不如事前控制。
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