--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we're going to make progress on this…" description: "\"If we're going to make progress on this issue [of contraception], we have to be really clear about what our agenda is. We're not talking about abortion..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/melinda-gates-3776_abortion_if-we-re-going-to-make-progress-on-this_2621229.jpg" --- # If we're going to make progress on this issue \[of… ![“If we're going to make progress on this issue [of contraception], we have to be really clear about what our agenda is. We're not talking about abortion. We're not talking about population control. What I'm talking about is giving women the power to save their lives, to save their children's lives…” quote by Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/melinda-gates-3776_abortion_if-we-re-going-to-make-progress-on-this_2621229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/melinda-gates-3776_abortion_if-we-re-going-to-make-progress-on-this_2621229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/melinda-gates-3776_abortion_if-we-re-going-to-make-progress-on-this_2621229.jpg) > “If we're going to make progress on this issue \[of contraception\], we have to be really clear about what our agenda is. We're not talking about abortion. We're not talking about population control. What I'm talking about is giving women the power to save their lives, to save their children's lives and to give their families the best possible future.” [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes that contraception is about empowering women to protect their own and their families' lives, not about abortion or population control. **In simple terms:** Contraception saves lives and futures. Key Takeaway Support women's reproductive autonomy. Themes health gender equality human rights Mood empathetic determined Type advocacy educational When to use this quote - public health policy - community education - family counseling - NGO programs Key Concepts reproductive health empowerment family planning Questions to Reflect On - How can we address cultural barriers? - What policies best support women's health choices? A Different Perspective Cultural resistance can limit access. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Agendas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas/) [Birth control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth-control/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Contraception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contraception/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Healthcare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthcare/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Not talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-talking/) [Population control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population-control/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) ## Related quotes > [Contraception really shouldn't be all that controversial because it's a tool a woman can use to delay her first birth until she's, say, 18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/contraception-really-shouldn-t-be-all-that-controversial-because-it-s/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We must speak more clearly about sexuality, contraception, about abortion, about values that control population, because the ecological crisis, in short, is the population…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/we-must-speak-more-clearly-about-sexuality-contraception-about/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [“Dedicated to the memory of MY FATHER. For if I had not believed that he would have wished me to give such help as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-darwin/dedicated-to-the-memory-of-my-father-for-if-i-had-not-believed-that/) Leonard Darwin > [There is a single theme behind all our work-we must reduce population levels,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ferguson/there-is-a-single-theme-behind-all-our-work-we-must-reduce-population/) [Thomas Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ferguson/) > [“The world has a very serious problem, my friend' Shiva went on. 'Poor children still die by their millions. Westerners and the global rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/the-world-has-a-very-serious-problem-my-friend-shiva-went-on-poor/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) > [This planet might be able to support perhaps as many as half a billion people who could live a sustainable life in relative comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-pianka/this-planet-might-be-able-to-support-perhaps-as-many-as-half-a/) Eric Pianka > [“The only thing religion is good for is population control”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moore/the-only-thing-religion-is-good-for-is-population-control/) Dylan Moore > [If a Black Death could be spread throughout the world once in every generation survivors could procreate freely without making the world too full.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-a-black-death-could-be-spread-throughout-the-world-once-in-every/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“The obvious pollution occurring in many places - worst of all, in the planned societies- has encouraged the growth of the environmental movement, which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-kasun/the-obvious-pollution-occurring-in-many-places-worst-of-all-in-the/) Jacqueline Kasun > [Solving the population problem is not going to solve the problems of racism, of sexism, of religious intolerance, of war, of gross economic inequality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/solving-the-population-problem-is-not-going-to-solve-the-problems-of/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [“Of course, the methods for human population control are enormously controversial. One contraceptive measure seems to be humane and acceptable: If you teach calculus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/of-course-the-methods-for-human-population-control-are-enormously/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [“...the PRC's stringent population control program has divided children into two opposing categories based on their perceived level of 'quality.' Although urban little emperors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-k-wang/the-prc-s-stringent-population-control-program-has-divided-children/) Leslie K. Wang > [The progressive Left can be in favor of Big Government or population control but not both. The mutual incompatibility is about to plunge Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/the-progressive-left-can-be-in-favor-of-big-government-or-population/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [Hitler was about population control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/hitler-was-about-population-control/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If there were a button I could press, I would sacrifice myself without hesitating, if it meant millions of people would die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pentti-linkola/if-there-were-a-button-i-could-press-i-would-sacrifice-myself-without/) [Pentti Linkola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pentti-linkola/) ## More by Melinda Gates > [I've travelled extensively in the last 16 years - to slums in Bangladesh, to townships in South Africa, to all kinds of places in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/i-ve-travelled-extensively-in-the-last-16-years-to-slums-in/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [I think it's very important that we instill in our kids that it has nothing to do with their name or their situation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/i-think-it-s-very-important-that-we-instill-in-our-kids-that-it-has/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/a-woman-with-a-voice-is-by-definition-a-strong-woman-but-the-search/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Abortion has become a very politicised issue that I think countries have to work out themselves. In a lot of countries, people can't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/abortion-has-become-a-very-politicised-issue-that-i-think-countries/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Men make different investments than women do. Women tend to invest more of their earnings than men do in their family's well-being - as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/men-make-different-investments-than-women-do-women-tend-to-invest/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Contraceptives unlock one of the most dormant, but potentially powerful assets in development: women as decision-makers. 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When women have a voice, they raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/when-girls-are-educated-and-free-to-pursue-their-passions-they/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [You are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/you-are-indebted-to-life-until-you-help-some-less-fortunate-person/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/philanthropy-is-not-about-the-money-it-s-about-using-whatever/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [In different places you run into myths around vaccination or around family planning. In the United States, one of the myths that existed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/in-different-places-you-run-into-myths-around-vaccination-or-around/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [“Anyone can be made to feel like an outsider. It’s up to the people who have the power to exclude. Often it’s on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/anyone-can-be-made-to-feel-like-an-outsider-it-s-up-to-the-people-who/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Having children made us look differently at all these things that we take for granted, like taking your child to get a vaccine against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/having-children-made-us-look-differently-at-all-these-things-that-we/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Now we just really need to do the work, which we're doing, to get contraceptives out to women worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/now-we-just-really-need-to-do-the-work-which-we-re-doing-to-get/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) [Explore all 122 Melinda Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. 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Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we're going to make progress on this issue [of contraception], we have to be really clear about what our agenda is. We're not talking about abortion. We're not talking about population control. 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