There's a lot of arrogance in the medical community. There are

The words of Tom Brokaw—“There’s a lot of arrogance in the medical community. There are good, reliable websites you can go to for information—the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins.”—strike with the force of both caution and counsel. They are not a condemnation of medicine, but a warning that even in a noble field, pride can creep in and cloud judgment. At the same time, Brokaw points toward trustworthy sources, pillars of integrity in a sea of confusion, where seekers of health may find wisdom without the burden of arrogance. His words carry the dual weight of critique and hope: beware the pride of experts, but honor the institutions that remain faithful guides.

In these words lies an ancient tension: the conflict between knowledge and humility. Medicine, like all great arts, is born of study and sacrifice, yet those who hold its knowledge may forget that they, too, are mortal. The physician, trained to heal, may grow proud and dismissive of the layman’s questions, forgetting that the patient’s voice is sacred. Brokaw’s reference to arrogance reminds us that true wisdom does not silence others, but listens, explains, and respects. To be learned and yet proud is to betray the very heart of medicine, which is service.

History offers a vivid example in the story of Ignaz Semmelweis. He discovered that simple handwashing could save countless mothers from dying of infection. Yet the medical community, blinded by pride, rejected his teaching. They clung to their authority, dismissing him as misguided. His discovery, resisted for decades, cost many lives. Here we see the very danger Brokaw warns of: arrogance in medicine can turn knowledge into folly and delay truth that could save. It is not knowledge itself that heals, but knowledge wielded with humility.

But Brokaw does not leave us in despair. He points to institutions like the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins, as beacons of reliability. These names stand as modern temples of healing, built not only on expertise but on trustworthiness. They remind us that even in a flawed community, there are sanctuaries where integrity still rules. Just as in ancient times people traveled to Asclepius’ shrines seeking healing, so now the modern seeker may turn to these clinics for guidance that is clear, careful, and humble.

The emotional force of Brokaw’s words lies in his insistence that knowledge must be accessible. He honors the right of ordinary people to understand their health, to seek truth without being silenced by pride. This democratization of knowledge is itself an act of respect. For when patients can go to reliable sources, they are no longer at the mercy of arrogance; they are empowered, able to stand alongside physicians as partners in the journey of healing.

Yet the warning remains: without humility, even the greatest community of healers can falter. The lesson is that knowledge must walk hand in hand with compassion. The healer must never forget that every patient is not a statistic but a soul, not a case but a person. And the patient, too, must seek truth from reliable fountains, not from rumor or vanity. Both sides—physician and patient—must meet with respect, for only then does healing rise to its full power.

So what practical steps may we take? First, if you are a patient, seek wisdom not from the chaos of untested voices, but from sources proven and noble—just as Brokaw names. Second, if you are a healer, remember that your knowledge is a gift meant to serve, not to elevate yourself above others. Practice humility as diligently as you practice medicine. Finally, let all people, in every field, remember that arrogance blinds, but humility sees clearly.

Thus, Tom Brokaw’s words shine as a teaching for all generations: knowledge without humility is dangerous, but knowledge shared with respect is salvation. Let us honor the institutions that uphold truth, resist the arrogance that corrupts it, and remember always that the highest form of wisdom is not pride, but service. For in service, knowledge becomes light, and in humility, healing becomes whole.