--- title: "8 General Quotes By Richard Carmona" description: "8 General quotes by Richard Carmona. Plus more from Richard Carmona and more General sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/richard-carmona-17754_doctor_as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privil_502855.jpg" --- > [As 17th U.S. Surgeon General, I was privileged to serve as the nation's doctor. I focused much of my time on promoting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privileged-to-serve-as-the-nation-s/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/richard-carmona-17754_doctor_as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privil_502855.jpg) > [The overarching issue, really, is our surgeon general should be able to communicate transparently and honestly with the American public on all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/the-overarching-issue-really-is-our-surgeon-general-should-be-able-to/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/richard-carmona-17754_able_the-overarching-issue-really-is-our-surg_1346028.jpg) > [When I came home after my statutory term as surgeon general, I just resumed my life here in southern Arizona. Teaching at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/when-i-came-home-after-my-statutory-term-as-surgeon-general-i-just/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/richard-carmona-17754_after_when-i-came-home-after-my-statutory-term_1427875.jpg) > [C. Everett 'Chic' Koop became U.S. Surgeon General under President Reagan. He was a world renowned pediatric surgeon who had a tumultuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/c-everett-chic-koop-became-u-s-surgeon-general-under-president-reagan/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/richard-carmona-17754_aids_c-everett-chic-koop-became-u-s-surgeon-g_1861593.jpg) > [I've had opportunities before to run for office - the Republicans recruited me when I was surgeon general, to run for Congress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-ve-had-opportunities-before-to-run-for-office-the-republicans/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/richard-carmona-17754_against_i-ve-had-opportunities-before-to-run-for_2061334.jpg) > [A grateful world, nation and cadre of surgeons general who followed in his shadow are forever indebted to Surgeon General Koop's wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/a-grateful-world-nation-and-cadre-of-surgeons-general-who-followed-in/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/richard-carmona-17754_followed_a-grateful-world-nation-and-cadre-of-sur_2137452.jpg) > [I really think the most important thing I do is to protect the dignity and the integrity of the Office of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-really-think-the-most-important-thing-i-do-is-to-protect-the/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/richard-carmona-17754_dignity_i-really-think-the-most-important-thing_2426987.jpg) > [As a young surgeon in training at the University of California San Francisco General Hospital in the early '80s, my colleagues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/as-a-young-surgeon-in-training-at-the-university-of-california-san/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/richard-carmona-17754_80s_as-a-young-surgeon-in-training-at-the-un_2463529.jpg) ## Other authors on General ## More by Richard Carmona > [I grew up in Harlem. My grandmother was one of the best cooks around, but the first thing she did on Sunday mornings when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-grew-up-in-harlem-my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-best-cooks-around/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [In honor of Surgeon General Koop's legacy, we should ensure that the position of surgeon general is protected from political interference, funded appropriately and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/in-honor-of-surgeon-general-koop-s-legacy-we-should-ensure-that-the/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [Whenever I've had to make a major decision as a doctor, cop or for a company I've worked for, I ask myself: What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/whenever-i-ve-had-to-make-a-major-decision-as-a-doctor-cop-or-for-a/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [Do any of us actually want to live in a world where your boss can decide that he or she is morally opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/do-any-of-us-actually-want-to-live-in-a-world-where-your-boss-can/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/overweight-and-obesity-is-the-second-leading-cause-of-death-killing/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privileged-to-serve-as-the-nation-s/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [As a father, physician and nurse, I have a special place in my heart for children, and I know the brief window of opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/as-a-father-physician-and-nurse-i-have-a-special-place-in-my-heart/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [I see good ideas on the Republican side as well as the Democratic side. You have to return civility and statesmanship to governance. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-see-good-ideas-on-the-republican-side-as-well-as-the-democratic/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [In 1967, I signed up for the Army, where I earned an equivalency diploma, then went on to join the Special Forces. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/in-1967-i-signed-up-for-the-army-where-i-earned-an-equivalency/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [The reason I'm disabled is because I have wounds and injuries that I got while on active duty ... from parachute jumping to combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/the-reason-i-m-disabled-is-because-i-have-wounds-and-injuries-that-i/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/actions-such-as-the-designation-of-national-childhood-obesity/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [The overarching issue, really, is our surgeon general should be able to communicate transparently and honestly with the American public on all issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/the-overarching-issue-really-is-our-surgeon-general-should-be-able-to/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/my-mom-used-to-tell-me-that-the-most-valuable-thing-she-owned-was-her/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [When I came home after my statutory term as surgeon general, I just resumed my life here in southern Arizona. Teaching at the university;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/when-i-came-home-after-my-statutory-term-as-surgeon-general-i-just/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [When I was 5, 6 - so you know, memories aren't that great - I remember coming home and I remember seeing all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/when-i-was-5-6-so-you-know-memories-aren-t-that-great-i-remember/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/richard-carmona/#itemlist", "name": "8 General Quotes By Richard Carmona", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privileged-to-serve-as-the-nation-s/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/richard-carmona-17754_doctor_as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privil_502855.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/richard-carmona-17754_doctor_as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privil_502855.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/richard-carmona-17754_doctor_as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privil_502855.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As 17th U.S. Surgeon General, I was privileged to serve as the nation's doctor. I focused much of my time on…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The overarching issue, really, is our surgeon general should be able to communicate transparently and honestly with the American public on all issues.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/the-overarching-issue-really-is-our-surgeon-general-should-be-able-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/richard-carmona-17754_able_the-overarching-issue-really-is-our-surg_1346028.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/richard-carmona-17754_able_the-overarching-issue-really-is-our-surg_1346028.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/235/richard-carmona-17754_able_the-overarching-issue-really-is-our-surg_1346028.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The overarching issue, really, is our surgeon general should be able to communicate transparently and…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I came home after my statutory term as surgeon general, I just resumed my life here in southern Arizona. Teaching at the university; my law enforcement career. Sitting on some boards. All the things I did before.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/when-i-came-home-after-my-statutory-term-as-surgeon-general-i-just/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/richard-carmona-17754_after_when-i-came-home-after-my-statutory-term_1427875.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/richard-carmona-17754_after_when-i-came-home-after-my-statutory-term_1427875.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/richard-carmona-17754_after_when-i-came-home-after-my-statutory-term_1427875.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I came home after my statutory term as surgeon general, I just resumed my life here in southern…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "C. Everett 'Chic' Koop became U.S. Surgeon General under President Reagan. He was a world renowned pediatric surgeon who had a tumultuous Senate confirmation process due to partisanship. Chic took office in January 1982, a time of 'tobacco wars' and a new and evolving terrifying disease that we ultimately came to know as AIDS.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/c-everett-chic-koop-became-u-s-surgeon-general-under-president-reagan/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/richard-carmona-17754_aids_c-everett-chic-koop-became-u-s-surgeon-g_1861593.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/richard-carmona-17754_aids_c-everett-chic-koop-became-u-s-surgeon-g_1861593.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/richard-carmona-17754_aids_c-everett-chic-koop-became-u-s-surgeon-g_1861593.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“C. Everett 'Chic' Koop became U.S. Surgeon General under President Reagan. He was a world renowned pediatric…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've had opportunities before to run for office - the Republicans recruited me when I was surgeon general, to run for Congress, to run against Gov. Napolitano. But I didn't feel it was my calling... I felt, 'Well, I'm flattered, but I really would rather stay and be the doctor of the nation and stay as surgeon general.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-ve-had-opportunities-before-to-run-for-office-the-republicans/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/richard-carmona-17754_against_i-ve-had-opportunities-before-to-run-for_2061334.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/richard-carmona-17754_against_i-ve-had-opportunities-before-to-run-for_2061334.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/richard-carmona-17754_against_i-ve-had-opportunities-before-to-run-for_2061334.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've had opportunities before to run for office - the Republicans recruited me when I was surgeon general…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A grateful world, nation and cadre of surgeons general who followed in his shadow are forever indebted to Surgeon General Koop's wisdom, fortitude, integrity and selfless service.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/a-grateful-world-nation-and-cadre-of-surgeons-general-who-followed-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/richard-carmona-17754_followed_a-grateful-world-nation-and-cadre-of-sur_2137452.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/richard-carmona-17754_followed_a-grateful-world-nation-and-cadre-of-sur_2137452.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/richard-carmona-17754_followed_a-grateful-world-nation-and-cadre-of-sur_2137452.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A grateful world, nation and cadre of surgeons general who followed in his shadow are forever indebted to…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really think the most important thing I do is to protect the dignity and the integrity of the Office of the Surgeon General.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-really-think-the-most-important-thing-i-do-is-to-protect-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/richard-carmona-17754_dignity_i-really-think-the-most-important-thing_2426987.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/richard-carmona-17754_dignity_i-really-think-the-most-important-thing_2426987.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/richard-carmona-17754_dignity_i-really-think-the-most-important-thing_2426987.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I really think the most important thing I do is to protect the dignity and the integrity of the Office of…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a young surgeon in training at the University of California San Francisco General Hospital in the early '80s, my colleagues and I were inundated with an epidemic of young men with fevers, rashes, swollen lymph nodes and eventually death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carmona" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/as-a-young-surgeon-in-training-at-the-university-of-california-san/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/richard-carmona-17754_80s_as-a-young-surgeon-in-training-at-the-un_2463529.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/richard-carmona-17754_80s_as-a-young-surgeon-in-training-at-the-un_2463529.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/richard-carmona-17754_80s_as-a-young-surgeon-in-training-at-the-un_2463529.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a young surgeon in training at the University of California San Francisco General Hospital in the early…” — Richard Carmona", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/richard-carmona/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/richard-carmona/", "name": "General Quotes by Richard Carmona", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/richard-carmona/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/richard-carmona-17754_doctor_as-17th-u-s-surgeon-general-i-was-privil_502855.jpg" }, "description": "8 General quotes by Richard Carmona. Plus more from Richard Carmona and more General sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/richard-carmona/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/richard-carmona/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "General", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Richard Carmona", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/richard-carmona/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```