I have no regrets. I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There's nothing more that I need to do. At the end of the day, what have I got? A successful Singapore. What have I given up? My life.

Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him. Or give it up. This is not a game of cards.

I don't believe in love at first sight. I think it's a grave mistake.

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

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 after I have left the government as prime minister, I will go into a permanent retirement, really should have their heads examined.

If you can't force or are unwilling to force your people to follow you, with or without threats, you are not a leader.

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.