China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
They say people can think for themselves? Do you honestly believe that the chap who can’t pass primary six knows the consequence of his choice when he answers a question viscerally, on language, culture and religion? But we knew the consequences. We would starve, we would have race riots. We would disintegrate.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the complexity of decision-making and the socio-political consequences that often go unnoticed by those who are less informed.
Lee Kuan Yew's quote poignantly illustrates the challenges faced by individuals in society when it comes to making informed choices, particularly in areas such as language, culture, and religion. He points out that not everyone possesses the necessary knowledge or understanding to appreciate the ramifications of their decisions, which can lead to significant societal repercussions such as starvation and racial discord. This highlights the importance of education and critical thinking in nurturing an informed citizenry capable of making decisions that affect the broader community.
Themes
Decision MakingEducationConsequencesSocietyAwareness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of education in democracy.
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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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