Dr. Ben Carson

I think the ability for it to change people's lives. The fact that you can take somebody who is moving in the wrong direction and they can undergo a conversion experience that makes them into a different person. But are they really a different person? They have the same arms and legs and the heart and lung.

But it's the brain, it's the mind that has changed them, that has made them into a different person. No other part of the body does that. That's why we spend so much time, my wife and I, trying to provide opportunities for children. That's why we created the Carson Scholars Fund. That's why we have the Little Patriots component of the American Cornerstone Institute.

But it's the brain, it's the mind that has changed them, that has made them into a different person. No other part of the body does that. That's why we spend so much time, my wife and I, trying to provide opportunities for children. That's why we created the Carson Scholars Fund. That's why we have the Little Patriots component of the American Cornerstone Institute.

But it's the brain, it's the mind that has changed them, that has made them into a different person. No other part of the body does that. That's why we spend so much time, my wife and I, trying to provide opportunities for children. That's why we created the Carson Scholars Fund. That's why we have the Little Patriots component of the American Cornerstone Institute.

Because we know that if you can positively affect the mind, the brain of a young person, you can change the trajectory of their life.

Because we know that if you can positively affect the mind, the brain of a young person, you can change the trajectory of their life.

Because we know that if you can positively affect the mind, the brain of a young person, you can change the trajectory of their life.

Well, you know, somebody told me that neurosurgeons die early. And I didn't believe it, so I wrote down the name of the last 10 neurosurgeons that I knew who died. And I calculated the average age of death, and it was 61. And I said, I'm going to retire when I turn 61 if I'm still alive.

Well, you know, somebody told me that neurosurgeons die early. And I didn't believe it, so I wrote down the name of the last 10 neurosurgeons that I knew who died. And I calculated the average age of death, and it was 61. And I said, I'm going to retire when I turn 61 if I'm still alive.

Well, you know, somebody told me that neurosurgeons die early. And I didn't believe it, so I wrote down the name of the last 10 neurosurgeons that I knew who died. And I calculated the average age of death, and it was 61. And I said, I'm going to retire when I turn 61 if I'm still alive.

Well, that same year I was asked to speak at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast as the keynote speaker, which I thought was very strange because I had spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1997 when Bill Clinton was president. I didn't know anybody ever did it twice. But I did some research and found out that there was one person who had done it twice, and that was Billy Graham.

Well, that same year I was asked to speak at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast as the keynote speaker, which I thought was very strange because I had spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1997 when Bill Clinton was president. I didn't know anybody ever did it twice. But I did some research and found out that there was one person who had done it twice, and that was Billy Graham.

Well, that same year I was asked to speak at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast as the keynote speaker, which I thought was very strange because I had spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1997 when Bill Clinton was president. I didn't know anybody ever did it twice. But I did some research and found out that there was one person who had done it twice, and that was Billy Graham.

And I said, that's pretty good company. So I agreed to do it. And after that speech, everybody was saying, you should run for president. I said, these people are crazy. Why would I do something like that? But I figured if I just ignored them, it would go away. But it didn't go away. Every place I went, there were people with placards, run, bend, run. I had over 500,000 petitions in my office.

And I said, that's pretty good company. So I agreed to do it. And after that speech, everybody was saying, you should run for president. I said, these people are crazy. Why would I do something like that? But I figured if I just ignored them, it would go away. But it didn't go away. Every place I went, there were people with placards, run, bend, run. I had over 500,000 petitions in my office.

And I said, that's pretty good company. So I agreed to do it. And after that speech, everybody was saying, you should run for president. I said, these people are crazy. Why would I do something like that? But I figured if I just ignored them, it would go away. But it didn't go away. Every place I went, there were people with placards, run, bend, run. I had over 500,000 petitions in my office.

And I finally just said, Lord, you know I don't want to run for president. But if you really want me to, you have to give me all the things that a person who runs for president has. A Rolodex with all the important names, an organization, a lot of money. Next thing I knew, all those things were there. Our organization was raising more money than the RNC.

And I finally just said, Lord, you know I don't want to run for president. But if you really want me to, you have to give me all the things that a person who runs for president has. A Rolodex with all the important names, an organization, a lot of money. Next thing I knew, all those things were there. Our organization was raising more money than the RNC.

And I finally just said, Lord, you know I don't want to run for president. But if you really want me to, you have to give me all the things that a person who runs for president has. A Rolodex with all the important names, an organization, a lot of money. Next thing I knew, all those things were there. Our organization was raising more money than the RNC.

And it was a fascinating experience as I got out on the road, traveled to the smallest little hamlets in Tennessee or Alabama to the largest cities. I was impressed by the fact that most of the American populace has common sense. But I was disappointed that most of them did not have courage. Those people were not willing to stand up for what they believed in. They wanted to go along to get along.