More from Bill Gates

Optimism is often dismissed as false hope. But there is also false hopelessness. That's the attitude that says we can't defeat poverty and disease. We absolutely can.

BG

Bill Gates

Stanford University Commencement 2014, 2014

10:27

Video starts at 10:27 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Bill Gates shared this insight after describing a visit to a South African hospital for patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis — a place he called 'hell with a waiting list.' Rather than being defeated by the suffering he witnessed, the experience channeled his optimism into action. He told the doctor they must do something, and by the time of the speech, a new drug regime was achieving an 80% cure rate after six months for under $100, compared to the previous 50% rate after 18 months for $2,000.

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