We have to lock up people, without trial, whether they are communists, whether they are language chauvinists, whether they are religious extremists. If you donโt do that, the country would be in ruins.
Lee Kuan YewIf it is not totalitarian to arrest a man and detain him, when you cannot charge him with any offence against any written law โ if that is not what we have always cried out against in Fascist states โ then what is it?โฆ If we are to survive as a free democracy, then we must be prepared, in principle, to concede to our enemies โ even those who do not subscribe to our views โ as much constitutional rights as you concede yourself.
Lee Kuan YewLife is not just eating, drinking, television and cinema...The human mind must be creative, must be self-generating ; it cannot depend on just gadgets to amuse itself.
Lee Kuan YewI knew that my niece was working nearby with some bank, so my wife rang up the mother and the mother called back to say that shes just called up to say she was alright.
Lee Kuan YewI am ... a realist. The magnitude of what one terms license or civil liberties or personal freedom has got to be adjusted to the circumstances.
Lee Kuan YewI 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