bill gates

As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.

At Microsoft there are lots of brilliant ideas but the image is that they all come from the top - I'm afraid that's not quite right.

Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

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

I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the fact that I had a chance to read a lot.

If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1000 MPG.

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

Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.

It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.

Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself.

Life is not fair; get used to it.

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

Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Until we're educating every kid in a fantastic way, until every inner city is cleaned up, there is no shortage of things to do.

We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don't let yourself be lulled into inaction.


We've got to put a lot of money into changing behavior.

Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.