ABSTRACT
A strong motivation and mental attitude are paramount to successfully combat disease. To secure ourselves against surgical failure lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating disease is provided by the disease itself. Thus the good surgeon is able to secure himself against surgical mishaps and can increase patient safety, but cannot make certain of defeating disease. The responsible surgeon does the utmost to prevent surgical mistakes and studies disease pathology to cure illness. Security against disease implies defensive tactics through prevention; ability to defeat disease means taking the offensive through surgery and active medical treatment. Standing on the defensive indicates forethought and allows a preventative strategy; attacking a disease implies that active medications and operations are available for use in treating patients. Diagnosing a tension pneumothorax on an X-ray is no sign of great strength.
