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

Donna Shalala

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Donna Shalala
Age: 83
Born: 1941
Born: February 14
Politician
Trade Unionist
University Teacher
Cleveland
Ohio
Donna Edna Shalala
Underestimating
Underestimate
Spent
Whole
Life
People

More quotes by Donna Shalala

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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.
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The dog doesn't know the difference between Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, so I have to walk the dog early those days too.
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I bring other constituencies - I also have ties to minority communities. And obviously, to the world of world-class research universities. So I can bring some constituencies that I'm used to working with.
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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.
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You don't want to destroy the energy that comes out of a campaign.
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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.
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We have not yet concluded that needle-exchange programs do not encourage drug use.
Donna Shalala
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Our young people are out on the streets looking for parties, a place to dance, looking for a scene. No institutions are providing them with alternatives, fun things to do that don't necessarily have alcohol at the center.
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We are living longer, and we need to live better.
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In every community, whether large or small, there are people who lead in their community in easy and difficult times.
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The government is fully capable of delivering services. Even complex services.
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I compensate for big risks by always doing my homework and being well-prepared. I can take on larger risks by reducing the overall risk.
Donna Shalala
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You can't have a university without having free speech, even though at times it makes us terribly uncomfortable. If students are not going to hear controversial ideas on college campuses, they're not going to hear them in America. I believe it's part of their education.
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I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents put up with. They're much more self-confident. It's no longer acceptable to make fun of people because of race or sex. But it has always been present in American society.
Donna Shalala
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By putting people around me who will calm me down and slow me down and make sure I work through an issue.
Donna Shalala
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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.
Donna Shalala
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We have to mainstream everybody. No matter what their circumstances when they were growing up. Part of that is knowing that after they're finished with school, everybody in this country gets up and goes to work.
Donna Shalala
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Sometimes I'll trust my gut more than my head. Logical information might lead me in one direction and my feelings in another. Whereas I would have followed my head ten years ago, now I'm as likely or more likely to go with my gut feeling. It's ironic - you'd think the opposite would be true as you move to the top but it's not.
Donna Shalala
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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.
Donna Shalala
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I'm pretty disciplined and am almost always on schedule.
Donna Shalala