I went to Washington, not to get that job but to do that job. I wanted to do something about the problems that I saw out there that were happening in our country. I wanted to do something to make sure that all people had access to health care. I wanted to do something to reduce teenage pregnancies and begin to address the needs of our adolescents.

Joycelyn Elders

Related Quotes

We really need to get over this love affair with the fetus and start worrying about children.

— Joycelyn Elders

AboutAffairChildren

You can't be what you don't see. I didn't think about being a doctor. I didn't even think about being a clerk in a store, I'd never seen a black clerk in a clothing store.

— Joycelyn Elders

AboutBeingBlack

Our country talked about masturbation more in December of 1994 than they ever have in the history of the country, and you know, people would think you'd be embarrassed about that. I'm not embarrassed about that.

— Joycelyn Elders

If I could make any changes at all to the current health care system, you know I would start with education, education, education. You can't educate people that are not healthy. But you certainly can't keep them healthy if they're not educated.

— Joycelyn Elders

This game is over - dead as George Washington . We've got to keep moving on.

— Amani Toomer