China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that the fear of authority can sometimes be more powerful than love or admiration in terms of influence.
Lee Kuan Yew's quote reflects a belief that in positions of leadership, the ability to instill fear can be more consequential than being loved or respected. This perspective aligns with Machiavelli's ideas on power, suggesting that leaders may find meaning and purpose through fear, as it commands respect and authority, even if it lacks the warmth of love.
Themes
LeadershipFearPowerInfluenceAuthority
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a leadership seminar to discuss the dynamics of power.
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.
Lee Kuan YewRead
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.
Lee Kuan YewRead
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
Similar quotes
If you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu.
Elizabeth WarrenRead
I don't think that there's a hard-and-fast deadline. . . .What we have said all along is that this is not an open-ended process, we are not in this just to talk for talk's sake. . . . We expect prompt, concrete steps to be taken over the next couple of weeks.
Barack ObamaRead
Outsiders have the intuitive ability to continually view problems in fresh ways and to identify ineffective practices and traditions.
John P. KotterRead
I think if you have any desire to be a leading man or to really carry some of these stories, there's this relationship that has to be cultivated with an audience. People have to be able to say your name.
Mahershala AliRead
Holding individuals accountable for corporate wrongdoing isn't ideological; it's good law enforcement.
Sally YatesRead
I am here by the will of the Great Spirit, and by his will I am chief.
Sitting BullRead