I’m not intellectually convinced that one-man, one-vote is the best. We practise it because that’s what the British bequeathed us

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.

If you want to reach your goals and dreams, you cannot do it without discipline

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?

There is nothing to prevent you from pushing your propaganda, to push your programme out to the students or with the public at large…and if you can carry the ground, if you are right, you win. That’s democracy.

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.