For me, an area of moral clarity is: you're in front of someone who's suffering and you have the tools at your disposal to alleviate that suffering or even eradicate it, and you act.

Quote by Paul Farmer

Topics: Paul Farmer Quotes

So I can't show you how, exactly, health care is a basic human right. But...

So I can't show you how, exactly, health care is a basic human right. But...

Anywhere you have extreme poverty and no national health insurance, no promise of health care...

Anywhere you have extreme poverty and no national health insurance, no promise of health care...

I've been impressed, over the last 15 years, with how often the somewhat conspiratorial comments...

I've been impressed, over the last 15 years, with how often the somewhat conspiratorial comments...

In fact, it seems to me that making strategic alliances across national borders in order...

In fact, it seems to me that making strategic alliances across national borders in order...

But as for activism, my parents did what they could, given the constraints, but were...

But as for activism, my parents did what they could, given the constraints, but were...

Again, conventional Catholicism does not much appeal to me.

Again, conventional Catholicism does not much appeal to me.

I'm not an austere person.

I'm not an austere person.

It is clear that the pharmaceutical industry is not, by any stretch of the imagination,...

It is clear that the pharmaceutical industry is not, by any stretch of the imagination,...

I mean we grew up in a TB bus and I became a TB doctor.

I mean we grew up in a TB bus and I became a TB doctor.

I would say that, intellectually, Catholicism had no more impact on me than did social...

I would say that, intellectually, Catholicism had no more impact on me than did social...

The poorest parts of the world are by and large the places in which one...

The poorest parts of the world are by and large the places in which one...

The human rights community has focused very narrowly on political and civil rights for many...

The human rights community has focused very narrowly on political and civil rights for many...

We've taken on the major health problems of the poorest - tuberculosis, maternal mortality, AIDS,...

We've taken on the major health problems of the poorest - tuberculosis, maternal mortality, AIDS,...

The thing about rights is that in the end you can't prove what should be...

The thing about rights is that in the end you can't prove what should be...

The only way to do the human rights thing is to do the right thing...

The only way to do the human rights thing is to do the right thing...

At the same time, it is obvious that clinicians in Haiti are faced with different,...

At the same time, it is obvious that clinicians in Haiti are faced with different,...

But if you're asking my opinion, I would argue that a social justice approach should...

But if you're asking my opinion, I would argue that a social justice approach should...

I'm one of six kids, and the eight of us lived for over a decade...

I'm one of six kids, and the eight of us lived for over a decade...

Civil and political rights are critical, but not often the real problem for the destitute...

Civil and political rights are critical, but not often the real problem for the destitute...

I think we will see better vaccines within the next 15 years, but I'm not...

I think we will see better vaccines within the next 15 years, but I'm not...