Donna Shalala Quotes

Every year, I am reminded of the kids who aren't in the freshman class and aren't graduating. I remember every single one of them. That is the worst of times for me, to see the future snuffed out.

The dog doesn't know the difference between Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, so I have to walk the dog early those days too.

I am interested in getting people to use the healthcare system at the right time, getting them to see the doctor early enough, before a small health problem turns serious.

By putting people around me who will calm me down and slow me down and make sure I work through an issue.

We know the parental support, community support, makes a difference. It's not just the metrics of testing and putting pressure on the schools and on the teachers.

Sure, it is apparent that presidents are looking at polls, but they are also stepping up on issues. President Clinton stepped up on tobacco. He shaped the polls on the tobacco issue.

I think anyone that thought that we were coming in as a bunch of liberal Democrats to deliver more large-scale social programs was nuts. I sure didn't expect it.

I'll be one of the spokespeople, one of the people who sells the Administration's plans.

We have not yet concluded that needle-exchange programs do not encourage drug use.

We can't afford as a nation - not because of money but because of our social fabric - to have large numbers of people who are not working.

I have to admit, in January and February I was in an absolute fuzz. I had no one on board. It wasn't that I didn't know what I was doing, but we didn't have all the pieces put together.

You don't want to destroy the energy that comes out of a campaign.

In fairy tales, the children are saved by caring adults. We need more caring adults in the lives of our children.

The government is fully capable of delivering services. Even complex services.

I'm pretty disciplined and am almost always on schedule.

What you really remember at the beginning was that you have to throw a budget together. We made some terrible mistakes at the beginning in my own budget that took us at least a year to catch up on.

We are living longer, and we need to live better.

In every community, whether large or small, there are people who lead in their community in easy and difficult times.

I've spent my whole life with people underestimating me.

I try to deal with my serious reading before work.

I have long ties to the women's community.

Asking the government to help you for short periods of time is different than asking the government to take care of you for the rest of your life.

I think President Bush tried to step up on Social Security even though the polls showed that was unpopular. He has not been successful and backed off, but I admire people who take on big problems.

But I have a driver, so I can return calls while I'm in the car.