Donna Shalala Quotes

United States, Politician
February 14, 1941

Donna Edna Shalala (/ʃəˈleɪlə/ shə-LAY-lə; born February 14, 1941) is a politician who served as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001. She was the president of the University of Miami, a private university in Coral Gables, Florida, from 2001 through 2015. Previously she was the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1988 to 1993. Shalala currently serves as Trustee Professor of Political Science and Health Policy at the University of Miami, and was President of the Clinton Foundation from 2015 to March 2017.

In fairy tales, the children are saved by caring adults. We need more caring adults in the lives of our children.

Donna Shalala
- Children
- Caring
I think President Bush tried to step up on Social Security even though the polls showed that was unpopular. He has not been successful and backed off, but I admire people who take on big problems.

Donna Shalala
- People
- Up

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
- People
- Up
- American
We can't afford as a nation - not because of money but because of our social fabric - to have large numbers of people who are not working.

Donna Shalala
- People
- Money
I think anyone that thought that we were coming in as a bunch of liberal Democrats to deliver more large-scale social programs was nuts. I sure didn't expect it.

Donna Shalala
Sure, it is apparent that presidents are looking at polls, but they are also stepping up on issues. President Clinton stepped up on tobacco. He shaped the polls on the tobacco issue.

Donna Shalala
- Up
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.

Donna Shalala
- People
- Time
- Small
In every community, whether large or small, there are people who lead in their community in easy and difficult times.

Donna Shalala
- People
- Small
- Community

By putting people around me who will calm me down and slow me down and make sure I work through an issue.

Donna Shalala
- People
- Work
- Calm
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.

Donna Shalala
- Life
- Time
- Different
But for me, it is when a student has died. I find the death of a young person the most difficult and painful of times. To explain it to other young people, to see a bright future snuffed out, is just awful. I am haunted by those deaths.

Donna Shalala
- People
- Future
- Death
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
- Community
- Support
We are living longer, and we need to live better.

Donna Shalala
- Live
I get to work at about 7:30 or 8 unless I have a breakfast meeting.

Donna Shalala
- Work
- Breakfast