As 17th U.S. Surgeon General, I was privileged to serve as the nation's doctor. I focused much of my time on promoting proven programs and individual steps that lead to good health.

If the childhood obesity epidemic remains unchecked, it will condemn many of our kids to shorter lives, as well as the emotional and financial burdens of poor health.

Surgeon general's job is to protect, promote and advance the health, safety and security of the nation.

Overweight and obesity is the second leading cause of death, killing 300,000 people a year, There is not a miracle pill that will lead to weight loss.

Trying to block women from getting access to contraception or defunding Planned Parenthood is completely nonsensical from a policy standpoint.

I really think the most important thing I do is to protect the dignity and the integrity of the Office of the Surgeon General.

The overarching issue, really, is our surgeon general should be able to communicate transparently and honestly with the American public on all issues.

I used to be a real doctor. Now I just play one on TV.

The reason I'm disabled is because I have wounds and injuries that I got while on active duty ... from parachute jumping to combat to gunshot wounds, all that stuff.

Actions, such as the designation of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, spring from First Lady Michelle Obama's leadership of efforts to end childhood obesity within this generation.

My mom used to tell me that the most valuable thing she owned was her library card. We were poor, but that's not what she was talking about. My mom knew that education opened doors and opened minds.

All good art is political. Between the lines of every book, the author implants messages for the unsuspecting reader. If not, what point does it serve?

Truth is a relationship. As such, each one of us receives the truth and expresses it from within, that is to say, according to one's own circumstances, culture, and situation in life.

Life is too large to hang out a sign: 'For Men Only.

There was, I think, never any reason to believe in any innate superiority of the male, except his superior muscle.

It's fun because I really do love meeting new people. Comedy can be so different from show to show and from writer to writer and actor to actor. People don't set out to make a bad show.

What convinces is conviction.

All that can be done for you is nothing to what you can do for yourself.

I'm never worried about being upstaged. I love to have the best, most individual people come in and see if we hit on something.

It doesn't much concern me if Tiger plays in the tournament or no.

I think Irish people started to move to the United States - many things that were of consequence. And it was a tiny and mild event compared to what had happened 74,000 years ago.