"To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?" This great saying, borrowed from the late Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, came to mind as we pored over the survey results for our cover story on whether you'd recommend a career in surgery (the toughest job you'll ever love, right?). I'm drawn to pithy statements that capture the essence of a big idea in precious few words. Here are some you might enjoy.

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"Imagine if Marriott could make us its business partners. You can lodge anywhere, but why would you stay anywhere else? That's the unique advantage of the surgery center business."

- Thomas Mallon, president and CEO of Regent Surgical Health

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"My mother is the poster child for what can happen when the foxes own and operate the hen house for their own benefit."

- Rev. Michael W. Wilson, whose mother died at a specialty hospital, testifying at a Senate Finance Committee hearing

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"My job is not to take care of my patients. My job is to take care of my staff."

- Deb Sterkenberg, MS, RN, director of surgical services, Ephrata (Pa.) Community Hospital

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"The only problem with being punctual is that there's nobody there to appreciate it. That happens a lot in today's operating rooms."

- Vinod Malhotra, MD, professor of clinical anesthesiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

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"Competition and capitalism protect consumers ... better than government can. ... Markets work best when the consumer and the supplier deal directly with each other."

- John Stossel, ABC News, at FASA Conference

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"We must have competition and we must have patient choice. ASCs fit the bill perfectly on both fronts as Congress moves forward with healthcare reform."

- Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) at FASA conference

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"It's easier to teach a clinician the costing process than it is to teach a financial person medicine."

- Craig Veach, senior vice president, Amkai

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"An entire new industry is being created. Within 10 years, outpatient spinal centers will be the major providers of [spinal] care."

- Robert S. Bray Jr., MD, D.I.S.C. CEO