Lee Kuan Yew
The Founding Father of Singapore
1923-2015
Singaporean statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. Transformed Singapore from a third-world country to one of the world's wealthiest nations.
12 quotes
On Leadership
"If Singapore is a nanny state, then I am proud to have fostered one."Interview with BBC
"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 honorable place in history."From Third World to First
"We have to lock up people, without trial, whether they are communists, whether they are language chauvinists, whether they are religious extremists. If you don't do that, the country would be in ruins."Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going
"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."From Third World to First
"I ignore polling as a method of government. I think that shows a certain weakness of character."Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going
"Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I'm meaningless."Interview with The New York Times
On Thinking
On Character
On Strategy
"We are pragmatists. We don't stick to any ideology. Does it work? Let's try it, and if it does work, fine, let's continue it. If it doesn't work, toss it out, try another one."The Singapore Story
"You take a poll of any people. What do they want? The right to write an editorial as you like? They want homes, medicine, jobs, schools."Interview with The New York Times
"What I fear is complacency. When things always become better, people tend to want more for less work."From Third World to First