Painterly green seedling growing through a cracked rectangular stone slab in warm light.

Original artwork, not a still

Bill Gates

We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

This observation warns against two opposite mistakes: expecting dramatic change too soon and then giving up, or dismissing long-term possibilities because they seem too far off to matter. It urges sustained effort by pointing out how easily people misjudge the actual pace of real transformation.

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