David Livingstone Quotes

The world is full of miserable places. One way of living comfortably is not to think about them or, when you do, to send money

At least once a year, I meet with a group called the Giving Pledge. It's a group of billionaires - including me, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Ted Turner - who have pledged to give away most of their money to charity. We meet for three days to talk about what we're doing to help make the planet a better place to live.

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.

Wealthy people in Australia tend to give, and give very quietly.

People should focus on my foundation, my projects, and everything positive and important that I am doing in Latin America and the around the world.

I'm not a philanthropist. While I care about the poor, the issue of local or global poverty doesn't keep me up at night.

Philanthropy is lost. The human spirit is suppressed. Most people want a legacy; they want to give something back, a library, a hospital wing, a donation to their church. This is a form of socialism that must go.

Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.

Philanthropy can take the risks that others cannot or will not.

I'm like Robin Hood. I rob the rich to make these projects come alive... not really rob. It's done with a smile.

I have drifted away from thinking about these philanthropic things. And it was only as the wealth got large enough and Melinda and I had talked about the view that wealth wasn't something that would be good to just pass to the children.

I don't think there's anything exceptional or noble in being philanthropic. It's the other attitude that confuses me.

I do not know how wicked American millionaires are, but as I travel about and see the results of their generosity in the form of hospitals, churches, public libraries, universities, parks, recreation grounds, art museums and theatres I wonder what on earth we should do without them.

I will give away at least half my wealth during my lifetime and after my death. In the meantime, I'll continue to grow my wealth as much as possible so that the amount I bequeath to charities and worthy causes can be as substantial as possible.

Nonprofits are the intermediaries between generosity and social change.

Generous people can become more generous as they become richer, giving away vast fortunes to worthwhile causes as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are doing.

It's an irony that growing inequality could mean more money for philanthropy. In the U.S., quite a few of the ultra-rich have taken to heart the 19th century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie's comment that it's a disgrace to die wealthy.

Today, we don't blink an eye when the world's wealthiest individuals donate enormous sums of money to charitable causes. In fact, we expect them to do so.

I launched Chefs for Humanity, a national nonprofit, with my voice, heart and money from my own pocket. Money gives you the ability to make a difference in the world and, when used in a positive way, is a lot of fun.

I believe in two things: One, Andrew Carnegie said, 'He who dies with wealth dies in shame.' And someone once said, 'He who gives while he lives also knows where it goes.'

I think that people who make a lot of money - and I do - should certainly give a considerable amount of it away.

The world needs a person like me so that many other rich people will be able to follow my role model. If they do, many poor people will be helped.

You can spend your money on art works and sit down and look at them. Or you can use your money to help people.

Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community.

If you are wealthy enough, use part or all of your Social Security proceeds to invest in a favorite cause or two. Invest 10 percent or 100 percent of your monthly Social Security check in your favorite charity, foundation, think tank, church or synagogue, or other good cause.