--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never planned on doing a book about…" description: "\"I never planned on doing a book about Paul Farmer or his organization. I met him in Haiti when I was on a magazine assignment. It's almost like his sto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/tracy-kidder-8859_assignments_i-never-planned-on-doing-a-book-about-pa_1087781.jpg" --- # I never planned on doing a book about Paul Farmer or his… ![“I never planned on doing a book about Paul Farmer or his organization. I met him in Haiti when I was on a magazine assignment. It's almost like his story sort of fell in my lap.” quote by Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/tracy-kidder-8859_assignments_i-never-planned-on-doing-a-book-about-pa_1087781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/tracy-kidder-8859_assignments_i-never-planned-on-doing-a-book-about-pa_1087781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/tracy-kidder-8859_assignments_i-never-planned-on-doing-a-book-about-pa_1087781.jpg) > “I never planned on doing a book about Paul Farmer or his organization. I met him in Haiti when I was on a magazine assignment. It's almost like his story sort of fell in my lap.” [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author recounts an unexpected, personal encounter that led to writing a biography, showing how chance meetings can spark deep projects. **In simple terms:** A chance meeting inspired a book. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes serendipity biography global health journalism Mood reflective inspirational Type biographical journalistic When to use this quote - Magazine assignment - field research - writing a biography - public health advocacy Key Concepts Narrative nonfiction humanitarianism Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn unexpected encounters into meaningful work? - What responsibilities arise when telling another's story? A Different Perspective The story may overlook systemic issues beyond one individual's work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmer/) [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Haiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haiti/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [Paul Farmer has helped to build amazing health care system in one of the poorest areas of Haiti. He founded Partners in Health, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/paul-farmer-has-helped-to-build-amazing-health-care-system-in-one-of/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“People call me a saint and I think, I have to work harder. Because a saint would be a great thing to be.” -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/people-call-me-a-saint-and-i-think-i-have-to-work-harder-because-a-2/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I usually write about ordinary people and ordinary things, but Paul Farmer is the least ordinary person I've ever met... He's the leader of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-usually-write-about-ordinary-people-and-ordinary-things-but-paul/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“Paul Farmer, the renowned physician who has spent his life trying to cure the world's sickest and poorest people, once quoted me something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/paul-farmer-the-renowned-physician-who-has-spent-his-life-trying-to/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [“One time I listened to Farmer give a talk on HIV to a class at the Harvard School of Public Health, and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/one-time-i-listened-to-farmer-give-a-talk-on-hiv-to-a-class-at-the/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I really like the story of Bardock, Goku's father. It's quite dramatic and the kind of story I absolutely wouldn't draw if it were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/i-really-like-the-story-of-bardock-goku-s-father-it-s-quite-dramatic/) [Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/) > [I know it's trash: just another story made up to scare wicked females and correct unruly children. But it's all I have. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/i-know-it-s-trash-just-another-story-made-up-to-scare-wicked-females/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I like you… But you like her. ~story of my life~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-you-but-you-like-her-story-of-my-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you don't like someone's story, write your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/if-you-don-t-like-someone-s-story-write-your-own/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“…and Dave and I, we were doing this…this weird circling thing, like we needed to figure out every single line of the script before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/and-dave-and-i-we-were-doing-this-this-weird-circling-thing-like-we/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [When I give a speech, I tell it like a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-parscale/when-i-give-a-speech-i-tell-it-like-a-story/) [Brad Parscale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-parscale/) > [Sometimes you have dreams about the day or something like that. But, for the story, it's just present and what you have left ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/sometimes-you-have-dreams-about-the-day-or-something-like-that-but/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [Life is like a story; each day is a brand new chapter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-story-each-day-is-a-brand-new-chapter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was so worried that people wouldn't like me or my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-was-so-worried-that-people-wouldn-t-like-me-or-my-story/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“When you read a book, you don't give up on it. You might soon feel like your part of the story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/when-you-read-a-book-you-don-t-give-up-on-it-you-might-soon-feel-like/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) ## More by Tracy Kidder > [“He sniffed, and said as others had before him and others no doubt would again, "I have learned never to say, 'Never again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/he-sniffed-and-said-as-others-had-before-him-and-others-no-doubt/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Don't worry about being worried. You're heading out on an adventure and you can always change your mind along the way and try something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/don-t-worry-about-being-worried-you-re-heading-out-on-an-adventure/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I do believe that enduring geological features are important, though I don't think I can be clear about exactly why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-do-believe-that-enduring-geological-features-are-important-though-i/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“In the process Paul laid out a comprehensive theory of poverty, of a world designed by the elites of all nations to serve their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/in-the-process-paul-laid-out-a-comprehensive-theory-of-poverty-of-a/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“Farmer liked to tell his Harvard students that to be a good clinician you must never let a patient know that you have problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/farmer-liked-to-tell-his-harvard-students-that-to-be-a-good-clinician/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“One shouldn't expect anyone to be complete at any given moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/one-shouldn-t-expect-anyone-to-be-complete-at-any-given-moment/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I want my prose to be as clear as a pane of glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-want-my-prose-to-be-as-clear-as-a-pane-of-glass/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [What I like about non-fiction is that it covers such a huge territory. The best non-fiction is also creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/what-i-like-about-non-fiction-is-that-it-covers-such-a-huge-territory/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Things were here before you and will be here after you're gone. The geographic features, especially, give you a sense of your own place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/things-were-here-before-you-and-will-be-here-after-you-re-gone-the/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I do believe in God. I think God has given so much power to people, and intelligence, and said, 'Well, you are on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-do-believe-in-god-i-think-god-has-given-so-much-power-to-people-and/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [The goofiness of radicals thinking they have to dress in Guatemalan peasant clothes. The poor don't want you to look like them. They want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/the-goofiness-of-radicals-thinking-they-have-to-dress-in-guatemalan/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [That's when I feel most alive, he told me once on an airplane, when I'm helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/that-s-when-i-feel-most-alive-he-told-me-once-on-an-airplane-when-i-m/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [...Attempts at imitation would put the emphasis where it didn't belong. The goal was to improve the lives of others, not oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/attempts-at-imitation-would-put-the-emphasis-where-it-didn-t-belong/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“Nothing every happens unless you push it. Ed Rasala. 111”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/nothing-every-happens-unless-you-push-it-ed-rasala-111/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Curing yourself of obsessive compulsive disorder by going to a strip club is pretty strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/curing-yourself-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-by-going-to-a-strip/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) [Explore all 77 Tracy Kidder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) ## More Assignments quotes > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [Men often joke about this assignment (I Peter 3:7): 'Who can understand a woman?' God has answered the question loud and clear. You can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stu-weber/men-often-joke-about-this-assignment-i-peter-3-7-who-can-understand-a/) [Stu Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stu-weber/) > [Do not delegate an assignment and then attempt to manage it yourself - you will make an enemy of the overruled subordinate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wess-roberts/do-not-delegate-an-assignment-and-then-attempt-to-manage-it-yourself/) [Wess Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wess-roberts/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Because God wants to take you in ever-increasing measures to know Him. And the only way you can know Him is by experiencing Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-blackaby/because-god-wants-to-take-you-in-ever-increasing-measures-to-know-him/) [Henry Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-blackaby/) > [From the beginning, we failed to overcome Europe's division. The Berlin Wall fell, but invisible walls were moved to the East of Europe. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/from-the-beginning-we-failed-to-overcome-europe-s-division-the-berlin/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [We were called, male and female, to do great works with separate approaches and separate assignments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/we-were-called-male-and-female-to-do-great-works-with-separate/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Just how we fit into the plans of the Great Architect and how much he has assigned us to do we do not know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/just-how-we-fit-into-the-plans-of-the-great-architect-and-how-much-he/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [I've always been creative verbally, had a flair, my teachers said - wrote great expository essays in elementary school, scribbled little poems, embraced all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/i-ve-always-been-creative-verbally-had-a-flair-my-teachers-said-wrote/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Even with an assignment, I take over, I find a freedom and make the idea my own, and that's where you get the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-d-ambrosio/even-with-an-assignment-i-take-over-i-find-a-freedom-and-make-the/) [Charles D'Ambrosio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-d-ambrosio/) > [For some time I have been disturbed by the way the CIA has been diverted from its original assignment. It has become an operational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/for-some-time-i-have-been-disturbed-by-the-way-the-cia-has-been/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [I remember when I was in art classes, I hated following the assignments. And I would get in trouble for doing something totally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-remember-when-i-was-in-art-classes-i-hated-following-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [My paintings are about light, about the way things look in their environment and especially about how things look painted. Form, colour and space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-goings/my-paintings-are-about-light-about-the-way-things-look-in-their/) Ralph Goings > [They told me I didn't understand the assignment, I told them they didn't understand life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/they-told-me-i-didn-t-understand-the-assignment-i-told-them-they-didn/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I don't read for amusement, I read for enlightenment. I do a lot of reviewing, so I have a steady assignment of reading. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-don-t-read-for-amusement-i-read-for-enlightenment-i-do-a-lot-of/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) Browse all 278 Assignments quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never planned on doing a book about Paul Farmer or his organization. I met him in Haiti when I was on a magazine assignment. 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