China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
I started off believing all men were equal. I now know that's the most unlikely thing ever to have been, because millions of years have passed over evolution, people have scattered across the face of this earth, been isolated from each other, developed independently, had different intermixtures between races, peoples, climates, soils... I didn't start off with that knowledge. But by observation, reading, watching, arguing, asking, that is the conclusion I've come to.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the complexity of human evolution and societal development, suggesting that equality is an illusion shaped by various factors over time.
Lee Kuan Yew expresses a profound understanding of human complexity, moving from a belief in inherent human equality to recognizing how historical, environmental, and social factors have shaped diverse societies and cultures. He highlights the importance of observation and learning in forming one’s understanding of the world, suggesting that true knowledge is acquired through experience and inquiry rather than acceptance of initial beliefs.
Themes
EqualityHumanityEvolutionUnderstandingKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about cultural diversity, this quote can emphasize the importance of understanding different backgrounds.
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.
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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.
Lee Kuan YewRead
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