When it comes to taking business advice — especially anything technology related — there’s no one better than billionaire founder of Microsoft and philanthropist, Bill Gates. The good thing about Gates’ advice is that, even when it has business undertones, it can still be applied to your everyday life or relatable no matter what field you’re in. As such, Gates, who’s donated nearly half of his net worth to charitable organizations, is someone whose advice you should heed.

The following Bill Gates quotes, whether straight-forward or a little more interpretive, are some you should live by and think about.

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”

Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.”

If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.”

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.”

People always fear change. People feared electricity when it was invented, didn’t they? People feared coal, they feared gas-powered engines… There will always be ignorance, and ignorance leads to fear. But with time, people will come to accept their silicon masters.”

In this business, by the time you realize you’re in trouble, it’s too late to save yourself. Unless you’re running scared all the time, you’re gone.”

Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.”

I studied every thing but never topped…. But today the toppers of the best universities are my employees.”

I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning.”

If you are born poor its not your mistake, But if you die poor its your mistake.”

Of my mental cycles, I devote maybe ten percent to business thinking. Business isn’t that complicated. I wouldn’t want to put it on my business card.”

If I think something’s a waste of time or inappropriate I don’t wait to point it out. I say it right away. It’s real time. So you might hear me say ‘That’s the dumbest idea I have ever heard’ many times during a meeting.”

Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.”