China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
We have over a hundred political detainees, men against whom we are unable to prove anything in a court of law. Nearly 50 of them are men who gave us a great deal of anxiety during the years of Confrontation because they were Malay extremists. Your life and this dinner would not be what it is if my colleagues and I had decided to play it according to the rules of the game.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote underscores the moral dilemmas and difficult decisions faced by leaders in dealing with political unrest and extremism.
In this quote, Lee Kuan Yew reflects on the challenges of governance, particularly when it comes to political extremism and the limitations of the legal system in addressing such threats. He suggests that in order to maintain order and stability, sometimes difficult choices have to be made that may not strictly adhere to legal norms, emphasizing the tension between justice, security, and practical governance.
Themes
PoliticsDetaineesGovernanceExtremismJusticeLeadership
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on national security, this quote can illustrate the complexities leaders face in ensuring safety.
More from Lee Kuan Yew
All quotes →I can feel the gradual decline of energy and vitality. And I mean generally, every year, when you know you are not on the same level as last year. But that's life.
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Political reform need not go hand in hand with economic liberalization.. I hold unconventional views about this.. I do not believe if you are a libertarian, full of diverse opinions, full of competing ideas in the market place, full of sound and fury, therefore you will succeed.
Lee Kuan YewRead
The human being is an unequal creature. That is a fact. And we start off with the proposition. All the great religions, all the great movements, all the great political ideology, say let us make the human being as equal as possible. In fact, he is not equal, never will be.
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They say, oh, let’s have multiparty politics. Let’s have different parties change and be in charge of the Government. Is it that simple? You vote in a Division Three government, not a Division One government, and the whole economy will just subside within three, four years. Finished.
Lee Kuan YewRead
America's greatest long-term influence on China comes from playing host to the thousands of students who come from China each year, some of the ablest Chinese scholars and scientists. They will be the most powerful agents for change in China.
Lee Kuan YewRead
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