A 1967 article in the British Medical Journal ¹ indicates that this often misattributed quote may have originated in the 1909 book Gayetez d’Esculape ². The book includes italicized quotes followed by comments. "His role is to heal sometimes, relieve often, and console always" was a comment on the 15th century quote "the presence of a physician is very beneficial."

English translation of full paragraph in which quote appears:

The physician is the fiddler of the body and soul. —
He acts on the physical and moral. In the 15th century,
it was said: the presence of a physician is very beneficial. —
His role is to heal sometimes, relieve often, and console always.

Untranslated French version:

Le Médecin est le ménétrier du corps et de l’âme. —
Il agit sur le physique et le moral. Au XV ᵉ siècle, on
disait : la présence d’un Médecin profite beaucoup. —
Son rôle est de guérir quelquefois, soulager souvent
et consoler toujours.

Original paragraph, scanned from Gayetez d’Esculape:

An appropriate attribution line for the quote would be Gayetez d’Esculape, 1909.

1. Payne LM. Guérir quelquefois, soulager souvent, consoler toujours. Br Med J. 1967;4(5570):47-48. doi:10.1136/bmj.4.5570.47. https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/4/5570/47.full.pdf
2. Witkowski GJ, Cabanès A. Gayetez d’Esculape. Paris: A. Maloine; 1909:283. Accessed July 7, 2025.
   https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006608536&seq=301

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