The Wit & Wisdom of Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew played the pivotal role in Singapore’s transition from British Crown Colony to independent developing nation, and on to the economically powerful and diplomatically influential city-state it is today. Throughout this surprising and at times painful journey, he has proved a charismatic and occasionally controversial leader. Lee is a conviction politician whose speeches are unambiguous, characterful and eminently quotable; this collection of almost 600 short quotations provides a compelling summary of his views on a wide range of topics from Singapore’s past, present and future. In Lee's own words: "I have been accused of many things in my lfe, but not even my worst enemy has ever accused me of being afraid to speak my mind." |
Contents
Publishers Note | 8 |
On Singapore | 9 |
On Singaporeans | 17 |
On Colonialism | 22 |
On Merger and Separation with Malaysia | 28 |
On the Future | 33 |
On the Greening of Singapore | 36 |
On Arts and Heritage | 37 |
On International Relations | 91 |
On Security | 100 |
On Communism | 105 |
On China | 109 |
On Economics and Development | 113 |
On Prosperity | 118 |
On Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 122 |
On the Workplace | 125 |
On Politics | 39 |
On Democracy | 45 |
On the PAP | 50 |
On Leadership | 54 |
On Corruption | 61 |
On His Critics | 64 |
On the Media | 67 |
On Equality | 70 |
On Immigration and Emigration | 73 |
On Language | 78 |
On Race | 84 |
On Religion | 89 |
On the Welfare State | 131 |
On Life | 135 |
On Asian Values | 137 |
On the Family | 141 |
On the Generations | 146 |
On Education | 150 |
On Discipline | 154 |
On Himself and his Family | 157 |
Chronology | 162 |
Endnotes | 164 |
Publishers Acknowledgements | 165 |
Common terms and phrases
able achieve allow asian values become believe better british china chinese chinese singaporeans citizens civilisation clean colonial communist competitive confucian corruption culture democracy democratic developing countries discipline east asia economic election equal fight freedom future give goh chok Tong growth honest hong Kong human immigrants independence indian industrial Japanese Kwa geok Kwa geok choo language leaders Lee hsien Loong Lee Kuan Yew less living majority malay malaya malaysia man’s mandarin means multiracial nation never nurture organisation ourselves Parliament of singapore party people’s person political population Prime minister problems prosperity race religion schools singapore singaporeans singlish skills social society southeast asia standards survival talent Tanjong Pagar things traditions understand vote wealth welfare Western workers wrong young