Rohini Nilekani Quotes

Throwing more science at things isn't always the answer.

I believe the only way we'll be able to solve infant mortality - and other huge social problems - is by designing solutions for those with the greatest intent to carry it out.

At this very moment enormous numbers of intelligent men and women of goodwill are trying to build a better world. But problems are born faster than they can be solved.

One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships are the key to solving broad challenges. When governments, the United Nations, businesses, philanthropies and civil society work hand-in-hand, we can achieve great things.

It's very difficult to solve a lot of problems from the top down.

If the political will is there, we can solve anything.

However much a president wishes it, a national problem cannot be knocked out with a single punch. A president must work with the problem as much as against it, turn it into a solution if she can.

There is nothing here that's broken that can't be fixed, but it won't happen on its own. It's going to require a huge lift by the entire country of the United States of America and people on the ground taking personal responsibility for themselves. You cannot take it as a fait accompli that the city's going to come back.

You can be a catalyst for change but change never really entirely happens just because of one guy.

It is not one government or another that can solve all of the problems. It's you.

I'd like people to be more aware of the benefits of communities. Lots of problems could be solved that way.

Neither the writer nor the reader can save the world by themselves. Or escape it entirely.

Not everybody has to work on the big problems, but if nobody does, they don't get solved.

When you've wised up enough, there is a very clear conclusion that you have to reach after a while, which is, at the end of the day, it is really impossible for one person to make a difference.

I think any show has the potential to bring about social change. I do not think any one show in isolation can do it. I think it is a groundswell that needs to continue to be bolstered from all ends.

Every problem that the country faces is being solved in some community by some group or some individual. The question is how to get connected so that the whole nation can solve problems. A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens - citizens in the fullest sense; partners in civilization.

We have to abandon the conceit that isolated personal actions are going to solve this crisis. Our policies have to shift.

When many little people in many little places do many little things, then the whole world changes.

There's no expert on this planet who says that the government telling people what to do actually does any good with this issue, this is going to require an effort on everyone's part.

We are moving from sharing to cooperation to collective action.

People ask me a lot, 'what can one person do,' and I say 'I'm not really sure what one person can due except come together with other people.'

I think the world is going to be saved by millions of small things.

None of us alone can save the nation or the world. But each of us can make a positive difference if we commit ourselves to do so. (p. 109)

Be assured that our individual actions, collectively, make a huge difference.

Despite current ads and slogans, the world doesn't change one person at a time. It changes when networks of relationships form among people who share a common cause and vision of what's possible. This is good news for those of us intent on creating a positive future. Rather than worry about critical mass, our work is to foster critical connections. We don't need to convince large numbers of people to change; instead, we need to connect with kindred spirits. Through these relationships, we will develop the new knowledge, practices, courage and commitment that lead to broad-based change.