China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
It is essential to rear a generation at the very top of society that has all the qualities needed to lead and give the people the inspiration and the drive to make it succeed. In short, the elite.. Every society tries to produce this type. The British have special schools for them: the gifted and talented are sent to Eton and Harrow.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of nurturing a capable leadership class within society to inspire progress and success.
Lee Kuan Yew highlights the critical need for societies to cultivate a generation of leaders equipped with the necessary qualities to inspire and drive their communities toward success. He points out that elite educational institutions, like Eton and Harrow in Britain, are specifically designed to identify and develop gifted individuals who possess the potential to lead. This underscores the idea that effective leadership is integral to societal advancement and the fulfillment of collective aspirations.
Themes
LeadershipEducationInspirationEliteSociety
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of educational reform.
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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.
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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.
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