--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humanity's greatest advances are not in…" description: "\"Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity\" — Bill Gates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/bill-gates-137_discovery_humanity-s-greatest-advances-are-not-in_1438179.jpg" --- # Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries… ![“Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/bill-gates-137_discovery_humanity-s-greatest-advances-are-not-in_1438179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/bill-gates-137_discovery_humanity-s-greatest-advances-are-not-in_1438179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/bill-gates-137_discovery_humanity-s-greatest-advances-are-not-in_1438179.jpg) > “Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity” [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress is measured not by inventions alone but by how they are used to create fairness and reduce inequality. **In simple terms:** Impact matters more than discovery. Key Takeaway Focus on equitable application. Themes innovation equity social responsibility Mood optimistic concerned Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - NGO work - business strategy - education reform Key Concepts technology diffusion ethical impact Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to apply your ideas for fairness? - How do we ensure technology reaches the marginalized? A Different Perspective Implementation can be hindered by systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Disparity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disparity/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Inequity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequity/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) ## Related quotes > [If we can find approaches that meet the needs of the poor in ways that generate profits for business and votes for politicians, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-we-can-find-approaches-that-meet-the-needs-of-the-poor-in-ways/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I've been very lucky, and therefore I owe it to try and reduce the inequity in the world. And that's kind of a religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-ve-been-very-lucky-and-therefore-i-owe-it-to-try-and-reduce-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Humanity’s greatest advances are not in its discoveries – but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity. Whether through democracy, strong public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/humanity-s-greatest-advances-are-not-in-its-discoveries-but-in-how-2/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I'm interested in illuminating the enormous disparity between vast poverty and the tiny upper class... This vast inequity is unfair by definition, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-mcdonell/i-m-interested-in-illuminating-the-enormous-disparity-between-vast/) [Nick McDonell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-mcdonell/) > [Taking a look back, one big reqret is, I left Harvard with no real awareness of the awful inequities in the world. The appalling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/taking-a-look-back-one-big-reqret-is-i-left-harvard-with-no-real/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [...In a world riven by inequity, medicine could be viewed as social justice work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/in-a-world-riven-by-inequity-medicine-could-be-viewed-as-social/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/) > [Inequity solace in your driven state sieze your right to earn the same she wants it, how long must we wait till they take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quicksand/inequity-solace-in-your-driven-state-sieze-your-right-to-earn-the/) [Quicksand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quicksand/) > [“Justice is the state that exists when there is equity, balance, and harmony in relationships and in society. Injustice is the state that exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wytsma/justice-is-the-state-that-exists-when-there-is-equity-balance-and/) [Ken Wytsma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wytsma/) > [“As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the assumption is the foundation stone of Letherii society, perhaps all societies the world over. The notion of inequity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumption-is-the-foundation-stone-of/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“In the days approaching Christmas, she always reminds me of the previous year: 'Jane crocheted you an entire poncho, and all you gave her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-baume/in-the-days-approaching-christmas-she-always-reminds-me-of-the/) [Sara Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-baume/) > [Income inequity has to be addressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/income-inequity-has-to-be-addressed/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [One of the things I understood from early on was that art was a symbol of systemic inequity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/one-of-the-things-i-understood-from-early-on-was-that-art-was-a/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [While progress has been made, there is still more work to do to root out systemic racism and inequity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/while-progress-has-been-made-there-is-still-more-work-to-do-to-root/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [“You know we’re not the enemy. We’re part of this city, like you, trying to survive in a world that isn’t fair. We shouldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-said/you-know-we-re-not-the-enemy-we-re-part-of-this-city-like-you-trying/) S.F. Said > [I was always clear that I didn't want to just do pure charity. My thinking was definitely about looking at the levers in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/i-was-always-clear-that-i-didn-t-want-to-just-do-pure-charity-my/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) ## More by Bill Gates > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-really-had-a-lot-of-dreams-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-think-a-great/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Understanding science and pushing the boundaries of science is what makes me immensely satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/understanding-science-and-pushing-the-boundaries-of-science-is-what/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Paper is no longer a big part of my day. I get 90% of my news online, and when I go to a meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/paper-is-no-longer-a-big-part-of-my-day-i-get-90-of-my-news-online/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software will get to be somewhat more mature, ah, but it will never be as predictable as most areas of engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-will-get-to-be-somewhat-more-mature-ah-but-it-will-never-be/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Students deserve great teachers. And teachers deserve the support they need to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/students-deserve-great-teachers-and-teachers-deserve-the-support-they/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The machines need to get faster. They need to get cheaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-machines-need-to-get-faster-they-need-to-get-cheaper/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Over time, yes, countries will need to look at specific GMO products like they look at drugs today, where they don't approve them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/over-time-yes-countries-will-need-to-look-at-specific-gmo-products/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry is intensely competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/competition-is-always-a-fantastic-thing-and-the-computer-industry-is/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't think there's anything unique about human intellience. All the nuerons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-unique-about-human-intellience-all-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [At every juncture, advanced tools have been the key to a new wave of applications, and each wave of applications has been key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/at-every-juncture-advanced-tools-have-been-the-key-to-a-new-wave-of/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software is more important than hardware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-is-more-important-than-hardware/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Talking to mothers, always brings it home because they're so anxious to do everything they can for their kids and so tragic for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/talking-to-mothers-always-brings-it-home-because-they-re-so-anxious/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) [Explore all 1,165 Bill Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More Discovery quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Throughout my work, I have assumed that the standard model is correct, and hence, the Higgs boson should be found. Although this is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashoke-sen/throughout-my-work-i-have-assumed-that-the-standard-model-is-correct/) [Ashoke Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashoke-sen/) > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. He wanders in a vast garden, lost in wonder, unable to decide often between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/there-is-usually-no-dreamer-so-unworldly-as-the-anthologist-he/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The discovery that heartbreak is indeed heartbreaking consoles us about our humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/the-discovery-that-heartbreak-is-indeed-heartbreaking-consoles-us/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [We cannot predict the new forces, powers, and discoveries that will be disclosed to us when we reach the other planets and set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/we-cannot-predict-the-new-forces-powers-and-discoveries-that-will-be/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [ That has been another interesting discovery: that basically a city \[Lagos\] could recover from a really deep, deep, deep pit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/that-has-been-another-interesting-discovery-that-basically-a-city/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Every fact of science was once Damned. Every invention was considered impossible. Every discovery was a nervous shock to some orthodoxy. Every artistic innovation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/every-fact-of-science-was-once-damned-every-invention-was-considered/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“In December of 2007 human bones including skulls, which have been radiocarbon dated back to between 1304 and 1424, were found in a museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/in-december-of-2007-human-bones-including-skulls-which-have-been/) Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/education-is-a-progressive-discovery-of-our-own-ignorance/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. 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