All of a sudden people in the United States start to realize that vaccines make a difference. The controversy and the myth that's there, we're always trying to bust through that. So when I see a disease outbreak, I say to myself, "OK, that'll get people realizing how lucky we are to have vaccines."

Melinda Gates

Categorized in : Differences Vaccines Always Trying

When we invest in women and girls, we are investing in the people who invest in everyone else.

Melinda Gates

investing girl people

If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction. Remember also that you are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.

Melinda Gates

inspiration success positive

A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.

Melinda Gates

strong-women independent-women inspirational

Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.

Melinda Gates

fingertips philanthropy world

Connect deeply with others. Our humanity is the one thing that we all have in common.

Melinda Gates

one-thing humanity common

Women speaking up for themselves and for those around them is the strongest force we have to change the world.

Melinda Gates

success positive life

All women, everywhere, have the same hopes: we want to be self-sufficient and create better lives for ourselves and our loved ones.

Melinda Gates

loved-ones self want

We started our foundation because we believe we have a real opportunity to help advance equity around the world, to help make sure that, no matter where a person is born, he or she has the chance to live a healthy, productive life.

Melinda Gates

real life believe

The world is full of what seem like intractable problems. Often we let that paralyze us. Instead, let is spur you to action. There are some people in the world that we can't help, but there are so many more that we can. So when you see a mother and her children suffering in another part of the world, don't look away. Look right at them. Let them break your heart, then let your empathy and your talents help you make a difference in the lives of others. Whether you volunteer every week or just a few times a year, your time and unique skills are invaluable.

Melinda Gates

mother heart children

When we invest in women, we invest in a powerful source of global development

Melinda Gates

source powerful development

If we don't empower women, we don't allow them to unlock the potential of themselves and their children.

Melinda Gates

empowering-women empowering children

Make sure you continue to trust what you know now about yourself and stay true to what you believe in

Melinda Gates

stay-true about-yourself believe

Deep human connection is ... the purpose and the result of a meaningful life - and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity.

Melinda Gates

generosity meaningful inspire

Women and girls should be able to determine their own future, no matter where they're born.

Melinda Gates

able girl matter

You are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.

Melinda Gates

inspirational-women empowering-women helping

We have to be careful in how we use this light shined on us.

Melinda Gates

be-careful light use

Sometimes it's the people you can't help who inspire you the most.

Melinda Gates

helping inspire people

If you don't invest in the woman, empower her, give her the things she needs to lift her family up, you're just not going to make the progress that you want to make. But if you put her at the centre, you can change a lot for that family, and it has ripple effects through the economy.

Melinda Gates

empowering progress giving

When were you born, who are your parents, where did you grow up? None of us earns these things. These things were given to us. So when we strip away all of our luck and our privilege, and we consider where we'd be without them, it becomes much easier to see someone who's poor and say, "That could be me." And that's empathy.

Melinda Gates

empathy growing-up parent

If you don't have an effective teacher in front of the classroom, you won't change the trajectory for students.

Melinda Gates

classroom students teacher