Philanthropist

We'll be investing in basic science research with the goal of curing disease.

I think it's a shame when people don't see the funny, thoughtful Mark that I know. He is incredibly sensitive and really cares about what other people need and want and really wants to be able to make someone else's day. And that's the Mark that I see.

If bad things happen to you as a kid, it's hard for you to succeed as an adult.

My public school teachers did a great job of saying, 'Check this out. You're qualified for this. You should explore these opportunities.' They're the ones who said, 'You know, apply to Harvard. You might be a good fit here.'

My identity, I felt, was so distinct. I felt very much like an outsider. My family didn't have the same rituals that everyone else seemed to have.

We hope that others will also commit to giving generously and starting young.

We - the current generation - have a moral responsibility to make the world better for future generations.

We live in Palo Alto, which has, fortunately, one of the greatest school districts in the country.

Whatever you want to do, do it now.

I just think that philanthropy is a fancy way to say that you care about others and that you want to serve others. And that's been a part of me for as long as I can remember.

Luck is not scalable. Luck is not a national strategy.

When I began my practice, I said I'm going to be a pediatrician that really thinks about and understands a child's educational trajectory.

Teach for America has helped us understand what works and what doesn't.

I bossed my middle sister around all the time.

It takes a long time to get good at something, so it's important to begin as early as possible so that we can improve and begin to see the compounding benefits of the work over time.

Mama showed me that I didn't have to change just because someone else saw things differently. She showed me that having differences is normal and that I didn't have to be afraid of the differences in all of us.

I am a simple creature.

I actually had a lot of very smart peers.

We have Beast, our Hungarian sheep dog. And he is so talented. He's so smart. He knows his daily schedule. He has an extracurricular activity. He goes herding. He herds sheep. And we've been told that he's quite gifted.

You - and I have to remind myself of this - are capable beyond your wildest imagination.