--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have spent 40 years both as a doctor…" description: "\"I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first.\" — Tom Price" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c2/tom-price-25282_doctor_i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-a_2739415.jpg" --- # I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant… ![“I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first.” quote by Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c2/tom-price-25282_doctor_i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-a_2739415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c2/tom-price-25282_doctor_i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-a_2739415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c2/tom-price-25282_doctor_i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-a_2739415.jpg) > “I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first.” [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A career dedicated to medicine and public service reflects a commitment to placing people's needs above personal interests. **In simple terms:** Putting people first defines service. Key Takeaway Focus on serving others in professional roles. Themes service public health medicine leadership Mood determined empathetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - healthcare - government - community outreach Key Concepts people‑first ethic public service career dedication Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal well‑being while serving others? - What motivates your dedication? A Different Perspective Balancing personal life with service can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) ## Related quotes > [Most medical personnel remain largely unfamiliar with non-medical treatments, and tend to dismiss them without knowing about what they're dismissing. This is a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-saul/most-medical-personnel-remain-largely-unfamiliar-with-non-medical/) [Andrew Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-saul/) > ['Putting People First' was progressivism revived and at its best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-mathews-burwell/putting-people-first-was-progressivism-revived-and-at-its-best/) [Sylvia Mathews Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-mathews-burwell/) > [Im looking like money, stick up kids scheming, spent 40 on the watch keep the wrist gleaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maino/im-looking-like-money-stick-up-kids-scheming-spent-40-on-the-watch/) [Maino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maino/) > [The Democrats talked about putting people first. Well, they put people first unless you happen to be a spotted owl or a giant garter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/the-democrats-talked-about-putting-people-first-well-they-put-people/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [One time I spent more than $40 on groceries, and my bank thought someone stole my debit card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaboukie-young-white/one-time-i-spent-more-than-40-on-groceries-and-my-bank-thought/) [Jaboukie Young-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaboukie-young-white/) > [I probably spent about 40 percent of 2019 on a plane and filming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-goode/i-probably-spent-about-40-percent-of-2019-on-a-plane-and-filming/) [Eric Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-goode/) > [My mother was a secretary that elevated herself to having her own international company, my father elevated himself to an NBA player and perennial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-white/my-mother-was-a-secretary-that-elevated-herself-to-having-her-own/) [Brian J. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-white/) > [It's nice to be able to sit down and have a discussion about something for more than four minutes, and not look at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-hall/it-s-nice-to-be-able-to-sit-down-and-have-a-discussion-about/) [Brad Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-hall/) > [“A great story about a big company’s ability to do this comes from one of the world’s biggest businesses, General Electric. I learned about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-haaff/a-great-story-about-a-big-company-s-ability-to-do-this-comes-from-one/) [Brian de Haaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-haaff/) > [To me, a public servant should have both the grounding and the compassion to carry the common sense and good will of his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/to-me-a-public-servant-should-have-both-the-grounding-and-the/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I want to be a public servant, not a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/i-want-to-be-a-public-servant-not-a-politician/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Life is hard enough without being worried about the smallest interaction with a public servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-childers/life-is-hard-enough-without-being-worried-about-the-smallest/) [Tyler Childers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-childers/) > [Throughout his upbringing and time as a public servant, Xavier Becerra has shown his passion for people and his commitment to improving the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/throughout-his-upbringing-and-time-as-a-public-servant-xavier-becerra/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [I fell far short of living up to the kind of public servant I wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-fell-far-short-of-living-up-to-the-kind-of-public-servant-i-wanted/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [The first lady is, and always has been, an unpaid public servant elected by one person, her husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-bird-johnson/the-first-lady-is-and-always-has-been-an-unpaid-public-servant/) [Lady Bird Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-bird-johnson/) ## More by Tom Price > [I say that Medicaid isn't the only vehicle to be able to purchase coverage or be able to have coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-say-that-medicaid-isn-t-the-only-vehicle-to-be-able-to-purchase/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [Society is now less convinced of the absolute accuracy of the criminal justice system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/society-is-now-less-convinced-of-the-absolute-accuracy-of-the/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [I have no idea what stocks I held in the '90s, in the 2000s, or even now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-have-no-idea-what-stocks-i-held-in-the-90s-in-the-2000s-or-even-now/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [We need a significant amount of market stability, not for the insurance companies, but to ensure patients can get access to the care they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/we-need-a-significant-amount-of-market-stability-not-for-the/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [I have no feelings for the criminal. All my feelings lie with the victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-have-no-feelings-for-the-criminal-all-my-feelings-lie-with-the/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [I liked the give-and-take of a policy discussion in the community, with citizens. I didn't know that even took place, frankly, but I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-liked-the-give-and-take-of-a-policy-discussion-in-the-community/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [All of my political career, I've fought for the taxpayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/all-of-my-political-career-i-ve-fought-for-the-taxpayers/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [The CBO does a great job on budget; they do a relatively poor job of what the coverage consequences of a healthcare plan are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/the-cbo-does-a-great-job-on-budget-they-do-a-relatively-poor-job-of/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [Somebody's going to pay for health coverage for the American people, and the question is, how do you do that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/somebody-s-going-to-pay-for-health-coverage-for-the-american-people/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [Evolving societal values indicate that the death penalty should be abolished in its entirety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/evolving-societal-values-indicate-that-the-death-penalty-should-be/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [I'm very tough on crimes where there are victims who have been physically harmed. In such cases, I do not believe in leniency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-m-very-tough-on-crimes-where-there-are-victims-who-have-been/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [There are going to be counties across this country that won't have any insurance company providing coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/there-are-going-to-be-counties-across-this-country-that-won-t-have/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [Age is the thing that correlates best to what health coverage costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/age-is-the-thing-that-correlates-best-to-what-health-coverage-costs/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [We've got people that are paying premiums of $1,000 a month out there, and then they've got a deductible of $1,000. If you're making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/we-ve-got-people-that-are-paying-premiums-of-1-000-a-month-out-there/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) > [I know as well as anyone that the American people want to know that their hard-earned dollars are being spent wisely by government officials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-know-as-well-as-anyone-that-the-american-people-want-to-know-that/) [Tom Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) [Explore all 23 Tom Price quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/) ## More Doctor quotes > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“As a special branch of general philosophy, pathogenesis had never been explored. In my opinion it had never been approached in a strictly scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/as-a-special-branch-of-general-philosophy-pathogenesis-had-never-been/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [A creative space is an important thing. There are so many studios that feel like doctor's offices in Nashville. I couldn't write there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/a-creative-space-is-an-important-thing-there-are-so-many-studios-that/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/) John Randolph of Roanoke > [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) > [“old-fashioned, gentle Scottish physician, unmoved by the considerations of profit and personal gain that could so disfigure medicine. That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [Thankfully, I found a doctor at Presbyterian Hospital in New York, Scott Hammer, who diagnosed my chronic fatigue as the Epstein-Barr virus, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-halpern/thankfully-i-found-a-doctor-at-presbyterian-hospital-in-new-york/) [Tucker Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-halpern/) > [My parents are so supportive of whatever we want to do and completely nurtured that, and they're so proud of that as well. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-john-kamen/my-parents-are-so-supportive-of-whatever-we-want-to-do-and-completely/) [Hannah John-Kamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-john-kamen/) > [Before we can wave the handkerchief, we have to have a cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/before-we-can-wave-the-handkerchief-we-have-to-have-a-cold/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) > [Tuberculosis, starvation, fatigue, and there are many who have no desire to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/tuberculosis-starvation-fatigue-and-there-are-many-who-have-no-desire/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) [Browse all 3,922 Doctor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Price" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-and-public-servant-putting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doctor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-and-public-servant-putting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c2/tom-price-25282_doctor_i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-a_2739415.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c2/tom-price-25282_doctor_i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-a_2739415.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c2/tom-price-25282_doctor_i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-a_2739415.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first.” — Tom Price", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Tom Price", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-price/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have spent 40 years both...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-and-public-servant-putting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-price/i-have-spent-40-years-both-as-a-doctor-and-public-servant-putting/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```