Margaret Houlihan

"Knowledge without action is just philosophy."

"Change is inevitable; adaptation is the only choice."

"Life is what happens between the surgeries and the sleeping."

"Happiness is a moment of quiet when the alarms aren't blaring."

"I won't settle for mediocrity in myself or anyone working under me."

"Love complicates everything, which is why I keep mine professional."

"The greatest wisdom I've gained is knowing when to bend and when to hold firm."

"Friendship means having someone who understands what you've been through without explanation."

"Family is back home. Here, we are each other's family."

"Humor keeps us from crying, and sometimes we need to laugh to survive."

"Nature seems cruel and beautiful in equal measure."

"I respect those who follow orders without questioning their sanity."

"Music is one of the few things that can lift spirits in a place like this."

"Faith is tested daily in a hospital tent."

"I lead by example, not by barking orders."

"Work ethic is something you can't fake, and everyone knows who has it."

"Dreams of home keep me going through the night shifts."

"I won't tolerate laziness or excuses. We're too busy to afford either."

"Inspiration comes from seeing your team succeed despite impossible odds."

"Technology doesn't save lives—skilled hands and quick thinking do."

"History will judge us by what we did in these tents."

"Philosophy is interesting, but it doesn't help you stitch a wound."

"I've read enough literature to know that life rarely follows a plot."

"Politics has no place in surgery, but it seems to find its way in anyway."

"War teaches you what you're really made of."

"I'm not here to make friends; I'm here to do my job."

"A nurse's duty is sacred, and I take it seriously."

"Strength isn't about yelling the loudest; it's about standing your ground."

"Fear is the enemy of clear thinking."

"Power without compassion is just tyranny."