When I first went to Africa, I thought that I was personally going to save the continent, if not the world.

1.5 billion people lack proper access to electricity. Many buy kerosene, which can cost 30 percent of their income. It sends millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. And often the lamp will fall over and catch the house on fire. So mothers hate it, but it's their only option.

Things are always harder than you think they're going to be.

Listening is not only about waiting, but it's also learning how better to ask questions.

We can send people to the Moon; we can see if there's life on Mars - why can't we get $5 [mosquito] nets to 500 million people?

Nothing important happens in life without a cost.

How you see where you are always depends on where you've been.