Quotes Lee Kuan Yew

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Lee Kuan Yew — Statesman born on September 16, 1923, Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH, SPMJ, informally known by his initials LKY, was the first Prime Minister of Singapore, governing for more than three decades from 1959 to 1990, including through Singapore's independence from Malaysia in 1965. Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015) was a Singaporean political leader and one of the great statesmen of the post World War II-era. He was Singapore’s first prime minister and the architect of the small Southeast Asian city-state’s spectacular ascent from a British tropical outpost with no natural resources to a global trade and financial center, and one of the world’s wealthiest countries on a. 'To the young and to the not so old, I say, look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it'. It is a quote that received much attention againafter it was shown in a tribute programme Lee. Apr 3, 2015 - Explore Serving Joy with Jeremiah Say's board 'Lee Kuan Yew Quotes' on Pinterest. See more ideas about Important life lessons, Churchill quotes, Life lessons.

There are some flaws in the assumptions made for democracy. It is assumed that all men and women are equal or should be equal. Hence, one-man-one-vote. But is equality realistic? If it is not, to insist on equality must lead to regression.
With few exceptions, democracy has not brought good government to new developing countries... What Asians value may not necessarily be what Americans or Europeans value. Westerners value the freedoms and liberties of the individual. As an Asian of Chinese cultural backround, my values are for a government which is honest, effective and efficient.
LeeKuanQuotesLee
But we either believe in democracy or we don't. If we do, then, we must say categorically, without qualification, that no restraint from the any democratic processes, other than by the ordinary law of the land, should be allowed... If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, no law should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought, and no excuse, whether of security, should allow a government to be deterred from doing what it knows to be right, and what it must know to be right...
If we say that we believe in democracy, if we say that the fabric of a democratic society is one which allows for the free play of idea... then, in the name of all the gods, give that free play a chance to work within the constitutional framework.
If it is not totalitarian to arrest a man and detain him, when you cannot charge him with any offence against any written law - if that is not what we have always cried out against in Fascist states - then what is it?… If we are to survive as a free democracy, then we must be prepared, in principle, to concede to our enemies - even those who do not subscribe to our views - as much constitutional rights as you concede yourself.

I have never been overconcerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. If you are concerned with whether your rating will go up or down, then you are not a leader. You are just catching the wind … you will go where the wind is blowing. And that’s not what I am in this for.
—Lee Kuan Yew

It is impossible to read the daily press without being diverted from reality. You are full of enthusiasm for the eternal verities — life is worth living, and then out of sinful curiosity you open a newspaper. You are disillusioned and wrecked.
—Lee Kuan Yew
Topics: Media

Lee Kuan Yew Quotes On Democracy

Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.
—Lee Kuan Yew

I’m not interested in changing either my suit or my car or whatever with every change in fashion. That’s irrelevant. I don’t judge myself or my friends by their fashions. Of course, I don’t approve of people who are sloppy and unnecessarily shabby or dishevelled… But I’m not impressed by a $5,000 or $10,000 Armani suit.
—Lee Kuan Yew

A nation is great not by its size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders, which ensure it an honourable place in history.
—Lee Kuan Yew

If you want to be popular all the time, you will misgovern.
—Lee Kuan Yew

I believe that life is a process of continuous change and a constant struggle to make that change one for the better.
—Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew Singapore Story

A society to be successful must maintain a balance between nurturing excellence and encouraging the average to improve.
—Lee Kuan Yew

It is possible to create a society in which everybody is given not equal rewards, but equal opportunities, and where rewards vary not in accordance with the ownership of property, but with the worth of a person’s contribution to that society. In other words, society should make it worth people’s while to give their best to the country. This is the way to progress.
—Lee Kuan Yew

If you are a troublemaker… it’s our job to politically destroy you… Everybody knows that in my bag I have a hatchet, and a very sharp one. You take me on, I take my hatchet, we meet in the cul-de-sac.
—Lee Kuan Yew

Life is not just eating, drinking, television and cinema. The human mind must be creative, must be self-generating; it cannot depend on just gadgets to amuse itself.
—Lee Kuan Yew

That which is written without much effort is seldom read with much pleasure.
—Lee Kuan Yew

There is a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of that rainbow. To the young and the not too old, I say look at the horizon, find that rainbow, go ride it. Not all will be rich; quite a few will find a vein of gold; but all who pursue that rainbow will have a joyous and exhilarating ride and some profit.
—Lee Kuan Yew

Even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me to the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up.
—Lee Kuan Yew

The task of the leaders must be to provide or create for them a strong framework within which they can learn, work hard, be productive and be rewarded accordingly. And this is not easy to achieve.
—Lee Kuan Yew

I don’t believe in love at first sight. I think it’s a grave mistake. You’re attracted by physical characteristics, and you will regret it.
—Lee Kuan Yew

No, your job as a leader is to inspire and to galvanize, not to share your distraught thoughts. You make your people dispirited.
—Lee Kuan Yew

History does not repeat itself in the same way each time, but certain trends and consequences are constants. If you do not know history, you think short term. If you know history, you think medium and long term.
—Lee Kuan Yew
Topics: History

You need, besides determination, all the other attributes that will push a project along. You must have application, you must be prepared to work hard, you must be prepared to get people to work with you.
—Lee Kuan Yew

What I fear is complacency. When things always become better, people tend to want more for less work.
—Lee Kuan Yew

I do not yet know of a man who became a leader as a result of having undergone a leadership course.
—Lee Kuan Yew

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