That's universal — we all want to bring every good thing to our children. But what's not universal is our ability to provide every good thing.

Gates contrasts a near-universal parental impulse—wanting the best for one’s children—with the unequal realities that determine whether families can actually deliver on that desire. The first sentence emphasizes shared humanity and common love; the second introduces structural constraint: income, health systems, education, safety, and social support. The quote’s moral force comes from separating intention from capacity, implying that compassion and policy should focus less on judging parents and more on expanding opportunity so that “good things” (nutrition, schooling, healthcare, stability) are not contingent on luck or wealth. It aligns with Gates’s broader philanthropic emphasis on reducing inequities affecting women, children, and families.