The poorest parts of the world are by and large the places in which one can best view the worst of medicine and not because doctors in these countries have different ideas about what constitutes modern medicine. It's the system…

Quote by Paul Farmer

Topics: Paul Farmer Quotes

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 critique market-based medicine not because I haven't seen its heights but because I've seen...

I critique market-based medicine not because I haven't seen its heights but because I've seen...

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...

For me, an area of moral clarity is: you're in front of someone who's suffering...

For me, an area of moral clarity is: you're in front of someone who's suffering...

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 recommend the same therapies for all humans with HIV. There is no reason to...

I recommend the same therapies for all humans with HIV. There is no reason to...

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...

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,...

I'm not an austere person.

I'm not an austere person.

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...

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...

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...

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...