Valorous Visitation of a by-gone Vexation

"Repression, Sir, is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love - it is always easier the second time! The first time, there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition, you get more and more brazen in the attack. All you have to do is banish and detain the key political workers in this society. Then an intimidated press and the government-controlled radio can regularly sing your praises, and slowly and steadily the people are made to forget the evil things that have already been done, or if these things are referred to again, they are conveniently distorted and distorted with impunity, because there will be no opposition to contradict."

- Opposition Leader Lee Kuan Yew to then Chief Minister David Marshall, 1956



"If I were in authority in Singapore indefinitely without having to ask those who are governed whether they like what is being done, then I would not have the slightest doubt that I could govern much more effectively in their interests."

- Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, 1962



"I make no apologies that PAP is the government and the government is the PAP."

- Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, 1982



"Now if democracy will not work for the Russians, a white Christian people, can we assume that it will naturally work for Asians?"

- Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Asahai Shimbun symposium, 1991



“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.”

- Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, The Man and His Ideas, 1997



"If I have to shoot 200,000 students to save China from another 100 years of disorder, so be it."

- Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew endorsing the Tiananmen Massacre, 2004



"Please do not assume that you can change governments. Young people do not understand this."

- Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on the results of the 2006 election

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Powerful words by the Godfather of Singapore. But through it all, a mere example of the following, ultimate quote from the legendary Boss.