This phrase is actually derived from the saying of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, that appear in his Aphorisms: “For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable”, or “Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies” ( source ) The meaning hasn't changed since Hippocrates penned this bit of wisdom - it means extreme circumstances can only be resolved by equally extreme actions.

Thanks to a co-worker's devotional at today's staff meeting I have my Gratitude Attitude for the day. He just sparked the idea, the Attitude is all mine. :)   For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven: A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest; A time to kill, a time to heal; a time to tear down, a time to build up; A time to cry, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to dance; A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up; a time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance; A time to search, a time to give up as lost; a time to keep, a time to throw out; A time to tear apart, a time to bind together; a time to be quiet, a time to speak up; A time to love, a time to hate; a time to go to war, a time to make peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 If you read those verses carefully you may notice, as I did, that they pretty much cover every aspect of life. They detail anyth...