More from Biz Stone

There is compound interest in altruism — the earlier you get started helping others, the more impact you will have over time.

BS

Biz Stone

Babson College Commencement 2011, 2011

The Story Behind This Quote

In his fourth and final story about empathy, Stone challenged the common approach of waiting until after achieving financial success to consider altruism. He and his wife had been supporting teachers and students through Donors Choose for years, receiving envelopes full of handwritten thank-you letters from schoolchildren that were 'simultaneously heartbreaking and hilarious.' He also pointed to Product RED's demonstration that two pills a day can bring people from death's door to health. For Stone, the lesson was clear: helping others should start now, not later, because small consistent contributions compound into enormous impact.

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