Lee Kuan 我经常被指控干涉公民的私生活

李光耀 > 语录 > 名言
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/526078-i-am-often-accused-of-interfering-in-the-private-lives
李光耀

“我经常被指控干涉公民的私生活。是的，如果我没有这样做，如果我没有这样做，我们今天就不会在这里。我毫不后悔地说，如果我们没有干预非常个人的事务——你的邻居是谁、你如何生活、你发出的噪音、你如何生活，我们就不会在这里，我们就不会取得经济进步。吐口水，或者你使用什么语言。我们决定什么是正确的。别管人们怎么想。”
——李光耀

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/526078-i-am-often-accused-of-interfering-in-the-private-lives
Lee Kuan Yew

“I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn't be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn't be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters - who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think.”
- Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew on "interfering" in the private lives of Singaporeans | From the archives

I am accused often of interfering in
private
lives of citizens
if I did not had I not done that we
wouldn't be here today
would be the old Singapore
speaking four languages
not interacting we wouldn't have them
all living in the same New Towns
learning to be good neighbors
I don't
think we would be here
everybody thought
Saturday last week
was a great success
what made it possible
because a one after
27 years
since 59
the compare the announcements could be
in English and the whole stadium
understood
and they responded as one
they could sing together
you know we couldn't sing together
we sang different songs in different
languages
and it is
it was almost immutable unchangeable
we had to change it very carefully
gradually
we did not laugh at the same jokes
because you can crack a joke
in hokkien
40 percent of the population won't
follow you
you crack a joke in Malay if it is very
low ludiment rudimentary Bazaar Malay
maybe 50 will laugh with you
some of our speakers were quite good at
that
but maximum 50 60 percent
we did not even get angry at the same
jobs because we didn't know people were
taking
jibes at us
we intervene with mandarin
it's promoted it and asked people to
drop dialects
pick up Raw
it was the right decision right
if we had not done that then the
teaching of Mandarin in schools must
fail
because we know they can't cope so why
are you teaching a language which they
will not use
it was interference in a personal
preserve intervention
but it was necessary intervention
1980 we stopped all television
broadcasts in dialects
Brave unhappiness
many MPS told me why not relent have a
little bit
I said no we've waited so long let's try
1986 all the old folk now can understand
Mandarin
they may not be able to speak it but
they watch the programs and they
understand what's going on
let me just recite briefly the other
things we intervene in spitting
we started in 1958
and we have changed
for the better healthier
littering we started in 1968
not so personal but nevertheless
courtesy we started in 1979
now
kill a litter should we intervene
we can just look the other way and
occasionally some people die or get
mailed or injured can't be helped
well there are two approaches
I think as we I believe as singaporeans
become more westernized in their values
and attitudes they believe they got to
have all the rights and privileges
I said right
this is a new phase
give them the option
you decide
you make up your mind
you exercise the choice you pay the
price
and I say without the slightest remorse
that we wouldn't be here we would not
have made the economic progress
if we had not intervened
on very personal matters
who your neighbor is
how you live the noise you make how you
spit or where you spit
or what language you use
had we not done that and done it
effectively we would not be here today

Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was a man equally at home whipping up a crowd at a rally or commanding attention on the international stage. Known for his acumen, foresight and wit, he held his own with the brightest minds and most powerful leaders and laid the foundation for the country's success.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth on Sep 16, CNA looks back at 10 of his more memorable quotes that were synonymous with the country's milestones and development.

1 On separating from Malaysia

“For me, it is a moment of anguish because all my life ... You see, the whole of my adult life ... I have believed in Malaysian merger and the unity of these two territories. You know, it's a people, connected by geography, economics, and ties of kinship.”

Breaking the news that Singapore would separate from Malaysia after an uneasy union that lasted less than two years, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew addressed a nascent nation in 1965 to explain why the separation was inevitable. He also called on the people to remain firm and calm in an emotionally charged televised message.

2 On taking a long-term view for Singapore

“I am calculating not in terms of the next election ... I am calculating in terms of the next generation; in terms of the next 100 years; in terms of eternity. And believe you me, for the next thousand years, we will be here.”

In this speech in 1965, Mr Lee reassured attendees at the Liquor Retailers' Association anniversary celebrations that his newly formed government and public officers were laying foundations for trade with other markets and asked for patience from the business community. He also called for a multiracial society to be established in Singapore as a model for the rest of the region.

3 On how Singaporeans are not a people who can be bullied

“You know, some people think: Oh well you know, we are a small place - they can put the screws on us. It is not so easy. We are a small place in size yes, geography.

But in the quality of the men, the administration, the organisation, the mettle in a people, the fibre – don’t try. That is why we got booted out, you know.

If they could have just squeezed us like an orange and squeezed the juice out, I think the juice would have been squeezed out of us, and all the goodness would have been sucked away.

But it was a bit harder, wasn’t it? It was more like the durian. You try and squeeze it, your hand gets hurt. And so they say: ‘Right, throw out the durian.’ But inside the durian you know, is a very useful ingredient - high protein.”

At a bursary presentation at the Sree Narayana Mission in Sembawang in 1965, Mr Lee emphasised that Singapore is a multicultural, multi-religious society. He also likened the quality and mettle of its people to the durian - painful for those who tried to squeeze it, but with useful ingredients inside.

4 On how governing Singapore is not simply a game

“Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him, orgive it up. This is not a game of cards. This is your life and mine.

I’ve spent a whole lifetime building this. And as long as I'm in charge, nobody's going to knock it down.”

Mr Lee gave a fiery, passionate speech to a rapt crowd gathered in the rain as part of the 1980 General Election hustings.

His account of his robust, no-nonsense approach used to quell unrest at Singapore Airlines, touched on the type of fortitude he adopted to govern Singapore.

5 On micromanaging people's private lives

"I am accused often of interfering in private lives of citizens …

And I say without the slightest remorse that we wouldn't be here, we would not have made the economic progress if we had not intervened on very personal matters: Who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit or where you spit or what language you use.

Had we not done that and done it effectively, we would not be here today.”

In the 1986 National Day Rally, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, spoke on social and cultural factors that have made Singapore successful - including the micro-managing of Singaporeans' way of life.

In the 1988 National Day Rally, Mr Lee stressed that the second-generation leadership, led by Mr Goh Chok Tong, was the best team available and urged Singaporeans to support them. He outlined the traits that ministers need to have to be effective leaders.

6 On what it takes to be a good minister

“Remember this: Good ministers are not just those who kiss babies and smile and have dialogue sessions; you can have endless sessions, it's very good, you keep on listening and so on.

It means, at the end, taking very tough, very unpleasant, very unpopular decisions - and still smiling and still explaining and finally pointing out: ‘See, we're turning the corner. The figures prove it!’ That's what government is about.”

7 On how political leaders are judged

“Political leaders are judged, first, by how effectively they have exercised their authority in the interests of their people.
Second, by the way in which they have provided for continuity so that a successor government will continue to protect and advance the interests of their people.
Third, by the grace with which they leave office and hand over to their successors.”

In 1988, as Mr Lee was sworn in as Prime Minister for the eighth time, he declared it would be his last. Using the analogy of becoming the chairman of the Singapore Corporation, he said Mr Goh Chok Tong and his team were, in effect, in charge while his own role was to make sure everything goes well before handing the reins over in two years.

8 On being an ardent advocate for Singapore's success

“Even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up.

Those who believe that when I have left the government as prime minister, that I've gone into permanent retirement, really should have their heads examined.”

One of Mr Lee's most quoted quotes, it was delivered during his 1988 National Day Rally speech.

Two years later, he would step down as Prime Minister for Mr Goh Chok Tong to take over.

9 On saving and investing for a rainy day

“They say we got enormous reserves. Yes, we do. But, you know, a few years of a recession, an economic setback, and all that will suddenly be depleted. Our savings could be wiped out in about five, six years if you say, world recession like the last Great Depression in the 1930s.”

As Senior Minister in 1996, Mr Lee spoke at a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) dialogue also attended by representatives from the National University of Singapore.

He used the example of Singapore's reserves to make the point that the country needs to invest in raising the quality of its people.

10 On what he cherished most

“I cannot say I planned my life. That's why I feel life is a great adventure - exciting, unpredictable, and at times exhilarating and sometimes excruciating.
To make life worthwhile, never lose that joie de vivre, that zest for life. To watch the sun go down, and wake up to a new day, rested and refreshed after a good night.
At the end of the day, what I cherished most are human relationships.”

Speaking at his 80th birthday dinner in 2003, as Singapore was just emerging from the deadly SARS virus, then-Senior Minister Lee struck a defiant, upbeat note about the country's future, saying "present pessimism ... that Singapore has seen its best days, that the music has stopped and the party is over, is totally unfounded". He also looked back on his life and spoke about what he cherished most.

Watch I Remember Lee Kuan Yew, a collection of personal stories about Singapore's first Prime Minister, told by individuals whose lives he touched.

an Yew: In His Own Words.

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