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Jimmy Carter

39th President of the United States, 1977–1981; Governor of Georgia 1971–1975

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
As far as the Carter Center's concerned, I would like to see guinea worm completely eradicated before -- before I die. I'd like for the last guinea worm to die before I do. ... I think right now, we have 11 cases. We started out with 3.6 million cases. And I think we have two cases in South Sudan and one case in Ethiopia and one case in Mali and seven cases in Chad. That's all the guinea worms in the world, and we know where all of them are. So obviously, that would be my top priority.

Maria Saporta, News conference at the Carter Center, Atlanta, as transcribed by CNN, 20 August 2015 source ↗

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Jenny Diski Novelist and essayist
Dear God, not a bucket list? Really, there is nothing that I want to do before I die, except perhaps just lie back and enjoy the morphine, daydreaming my way to oblivion.
Recorded London Review of Books, 11 September 2014 source ↗
Tony Judt Historian and essayist
It could really have an impact if I get it right. Something that will get the next generation to see there is a way to think about politics that is not just the way we've been habituated to do it. I care about that and I think I can do it.
Recorded Ed Pilkington, The Guardian, 8 January 2010 source ↗
David Vélez Co-founder and chief executive of Nubank
No, falta mucho por construir. Estoy muy contento con lo que hemos podido construir en Nubank en estos casi diez años. En lo personal, tengo una familia con cuatro niños chiquitos y eso es un desafío gigantesco, que crezcan, sean buenas personas y lleguen a ser buenos ciudadanos. Es un gran desafío en el que estoy muy enfocado.
Recorded Vicky Dávila, interview, Semana, 1 October 2022 source ↗
Clive James Critic, essayist, poet and broadcaster
Yes, but I don’t think I have the energy. I’ve been hit in the face by a cricket bat at 1,000 miles an hour. I think the last round-up is here. But that’s OK. It would be bad manners to complain. I’ve had a lucky life, and I’m grateful for it.
Recorded Rachel Cooke, The Observer, 1 December 2019 source ↗

More from Jimmy Carter

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Question What became visible only after your working life slowed down or ended? Time & hindsight
I'm the only president that's ever visited Africa south of the Sahara Desert. I went to two (African) countries while I was president, and I didn't know the potential of that continent, nor the challenges that faced those people. Now I do. To a much greater extent I didn't understand the [widespread] problems in our own country, from a personal point of view. I was dealing with billions of dollars that would be allocated for education or health or welfare or housing, or whatever. But I didn't know from a personal point of view the people that actually were in need or that were the recipients of those quite often inadequate and ill-designed programs.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview, Atlanta, Georgia, 25 October 1991 source ↗
Question Which teacher, parent, coach, or friend most made you who you are, and what did you learn from them? Relationships
My mother in that way I've described. My daddy taught me how much a man could do in dealing directly with a multiplicity of responsibilities. Outside my family, the main person, outside of my father, the main man who has had an influence on my life is Admiral Hyman Rickover. I was one of the two young officers in the program to build atomic submarines. There were two built: the Nautilus and the Sea Wolf. I was in charge of the crew that was helping to build the Sea Wolf and building the nuclear power plant that later became a prototype. Rickover was a man who demanded absolute excellence and total dedication from all those who worked under him. He demanded as much from himself. And so he set a standard of commitment and perfection in life that I had never experienced before. He really had a great impact on my life.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Question Which book reshaped how you think, and in what way? Taste & recommendation
When I was a young boy, [my schoolteacher Julia Coleman] introduced me to Leo Tolstoy's novel, "War and Peace." She interpreted that powerful narrative as a reminder that the simple human attributes of goodness and truth can overcome great power. She also taught us that an individual is not swept along on a tide of inevitability but can influence even the greatest human events.
Recorded Oslo City Hall, The Nobel Foundation, 10 December 2002 source ↗
Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains
Well, the best thing I ever did was marrying Rosalynn. That's the pinnacle of my life. And we've had 69 years together. Still together. And so that's the best thing that happened to me. But I think getting involved in politics and going up, you know, as a state senator, then governor, and then president of the United States is, obviously a glorious event. So - and we have a growing family. We have 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren now and they're coming every year. So - so we have a good, harmonious family.
Recorded News conference at the Carter Center, Atlanta, as transcribed by CNN, 20 August 2015 source ↗

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