Back To Career News

Words of Wisdom From Bill Gates

Topics: Career Advice

Bill Gates may be best known for being the founder of Microsoft, which also made him (literally) the wealthiest person on the planet, but his life and legacy has always been about way more than that.

bill gates quotes
Image Credit: OnInnovation/Flickr

If you look into his biography, it’s easy to see that his passion for learning, and for making the world a better place, has been with him for quite some time. In 2000, he and his wife, Melinda Gates, established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which is the single largest philanthropic organization in the United States.

Let’s take a look at a few inspirational quotes from Gates himself in an attempt to get a little closer to the kind of genius and compassion that help make him the remarkable entrepreneur, and human being, that he is.

“Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity – the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.”

Do You Know What You're Worth?

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”

“This is a fantastic time to be entering the business world, because business is going to change more in the next 10 years than it has in the last 50.”

“Lectures should go from being like the family singing around the piano to high-quality concerts.”

“Of my mental cycles, I devote maybe 10 percent to business thinking. Business isn’t that complicated. I wouldn’t want to put it on my business card.”

“The mainstream is always under attack.”

“Technology is unlocking the innate compassion we have for our fellow human beings.”

“If you’re low income in the United States, you have a higher chance of going to jail than you do of getting a four-year degree. And that doesn’t seem entirely fair.”

“The best teacher is very interactive.”

“I think that society has to be careful not to shift all of its resources to the elderly versus the young.”

“I am results-oriented.”

“I’m never fully satisfied with any Microsoft product.”

“In this business, by the time you realize you’re in trouble, it’s too late to save yourself. Unless you’re running scared all the time, you’re gone.”

“Eventually, all companies are replaced.”

“The belief that the world is getting worse, that we can’t solve extreme poverty and disease, isn’t just mistaken. It is harmful.”

“I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act.”

“If I’d had some set idea of a finish line, don’t you think I would have crossed it years ago?”

For more quotes from Bill Gates, check out his page at BrainyQuote, which was the source utilized for this article. Also consider checking out gatesnotes, the “personal blog of Bill Gates.” It contains some wonderful information on some of things Gates is reading, learning, and working toward. Finally, be sure to stop by the website for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to learn more about the important work they’re doing, or to get involved.

Tell Us What You Think

What’s your favorite Bill Gates quote? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.


Leave a Reply

avatar
  Subscribe  
Notify of
What Am I Worth?

What your skills are worth in the job market is constantly changing.