China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
Any time, every time, you can damn the Prime Minister and so long as it is not a lie and a criminal lie, nothing happens to you. You can say a lot of things. You can write books about him, damning him. So long as it is not a libel, go ahead.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the freedom of expression in criticizing leadership, as long as it's truthful.
Lee Kuan Yew's quote highlights the importance of the freedom of speech and the ability to express dissenting opinions about those in power, specifically the Prime Minister. He underscores that as long as the criticism is based on truth and does not constitute libel, individuals can freely voice their concerns or negative views without fear of repercussions, thereby advocating for a society where accountability is paramount.
Themes
FreedomExpressionCriticismPoliticsTruth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a political debate to emphasize the importance of accountability.
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.
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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.
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
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