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На пути из третьего мира в первый: Взгляды и убеждения Ли Куан Ю
Эта книга — сборник ярких высказываний одного из самых видных политических деятелей XX века, первого премьер-министра Республики Сингапур Ли Куан Ю. Представленные здесь цитаты отражают его отношение к различным аспектам общественно-политической и социальной жизни, раскрывают его политические взгляды и помогают понять, как стал возможен такой грандиозный скачок из третьего мира в первый.
Для политиков, начинающих и «продвинутых» предпринимателей, а также для всех, кому интересны мудрые мысли великих людей.
Для политиков, начинающих и «продвинутых» предпринимателей, а также для всех, кому интересны мудрые мысли великих людей.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2013
About the author
Lee Kuan Yew
37 books662 followersLee Kuan Yew was born in Singapore in 1923. He was educated at Raffles College, Singapore and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, England. He was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, London, in 1950 and practised law in Singapore. He became advisor to several trade unions.
In 1954, he was a founder of the People's Action Party and was Secretary General up to 1992.
Mr Lee became Singapore's Prime Minister in 1959, serving successive terms until he resigned in November 1990, when he was appointed Senior Minister by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He was re-appointed again after the 1991, 1997 and 2001 general elections.
In August 2004, Mr Lee was appointed Minister Mentor by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and was reappointed again after the 2006 general elections. He stepped down as Minister Mentor in May 2011, and was appointed Senior Advisor to the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation.
In 1954, he was a founder of the People's Action Party and was Secretary General up to 1992.
Mr Lee became Singapore's Prime Minister in 1959, serving successive terms until he resigned in November 1990, when he was appointed Senior Minister by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He was re-appointed again after the 1991, 1997 and 2001 general elections.
In August 2004, Mr Lee was appointed Minister Mentor by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and was reappointed again after the 2006 general elections. He stepped down as Minister Mentor in May 2011, and was appointed Senior Advisor to the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 11, 2019
Basically a selection of LKY's quotes on a wide range of topics. Not utterly insightful and probably not the best compendium out there.
A somewhat similar book - "Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World", which is curated in part by Graham Allison and which features a foreword by Henry Kissinger himself - is much, much better.
A somewhat similar book - "Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World", which is curated in part by Graham Allison and which features a foreword by Henry Kissinger himself - is much, much better.
September 24, 2021
“I do not want a suppliant, an inert society where people just say, ‘yes’ to everything I say because that means it is a society with no verve, no vitality. But, at the same time, I expect you to start thinking; not just to mouth old slogans which are no longer relevant. Start thinking.” - Lee Kuan Yew, 1966
August 21, 2020
A quick way to understand how the Singapore system came to be, through learning about LKY’s philosophies and guiding principles
April 6, 2026
Откъсите от официалните речи на Лий Куан Ю могат да се нарекат духовити и мъдри само при най-добро благоразположение. Жанрът "политически речи" не предполага нито особен хумор, нито особено задълбаване в който и да е въпрос.
Все пак, тематично подбраните цитати дават някаква представа за насоката на управление на Сингапур от неговия създател, ако не ви се четат дългите му автобиографии, които обаче са доста по-интересни и съдържат доста повече от личните му възгледи и ако не духовитост, то определено мъдрост.
Все пак, тематично подбраните цитати дават някаква представа за насоката на управление на Сингапур от неговия създател, ако не ви се четат дългите му автобиографии, които обаче са доста по-интересни и съдържат доста повече от личните му възгледи и ако не духовитост, то определено мъдрост.
February 29, 2020
An assorted collection of LKY quotes arranged by loose sections. Helps the reader get a good grasp of LKY's political and economic leanings throughout the years. How he turns from socialism to free market/mixed economy, etc. Enjoyable read.
January 6, 2026
আধুনিক সিঙ্গাপুরের রূপকার লি কুয়ান ইউয়ের মনোজগৎ বুঝতে বইটা দরকারি। তার চিন্তাভাবনা উপলব্ধি করতে পারলে সিঙ্গাপুরের অসামান্য ও চোখধাঁধানো সাফল্যের পটভূমি জানা যাবে। জনাব ইউয়ের বাণী সংকলন বলা যেতে পারে বইটিকে। যা যে কোনো পাঠককে ভাবনার খোরাক দেবে।
আমার ভালো লেগেছে, এমন বাণী সেখানে কমসেকম এক শ। এর মধ্য থেকে মাত্র দশটি উল্লেখ করছি:
1. We cannot measure our happiness just by our GDP growth. It is how our families and friends care for each other, how we look after our old and nurture our young, they are what make for a closely knit society, one we can be proud to belong to.
2. A nation is great not by its size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders which ensure it an honourable place in history.
3. As a nation, we must have other goals. Economic growth is not the end itself. After the success of the economy, you want to translate it into high standards of living, high quality of life, with recreation, the arts, spiritual fulfilment, and intellectual fulfilment. So, we are also spending considerable sums for the arts, which will create a more gracious society.
4.If you want to be popular, do not try to be popular all the time. Popular government does not mean that you do popular things all the time. We do not want to be unpopular or to do unpopular things. But when they are necessary, they will be done.
5. Just honour your promises, do not corrupt and debauch your party and you will find that the people believe you, when you go back to ask them to renew the mandate.
6. From 23 years of experience in government, I have learned that one high-calibre mind in charge of a ministry, or a statutory board, makes the difference between success and failure of a major project. A top mind, given a task, brings together a group of other able men, organises them into a cohesive team, and away the project goes.
7.Great leaders mirror the qualities of the nations they lead.
8. A good administration is essential but in a developing country, let me add, a good political leadership is critical. It is life and death. In a developed society, you can have mediocre, indifferent ministers and the country will get by.
9. No army, however brave, can win when its generals are weak.
10. I have never believed those who advocate a soft approach to crime and punishment, claiming that punishment does not reduce crime. That was not my experience in Singapore before the war, during the Japanese occupation or subsequently.
আমার ভালো লেগেছে, এমন বাণী সেখানে কমসেকম এক শ। এর মধ্য থেকে মাত্র দশটি উল্লেখ করছি:
1. We cannot measure our happiness just by our GDP growth. It is how our families and friends care for each other, how we look after our old and nurture our young, they are what make for a closely knit society, one we can be proud to belong to.
2. A nation is great not by its size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders which ensure it an honourable place in history.
3. As a nation, we must have other goals. Economic growth is not the end itself. After the success of the economy, you want to translate it into high standards of living, high quality of life, with recreation, the arts, spiritual fulfilment, and intellectual fulfilment. So, we are also spending considerable sums for the arts, which will create a more gracious society.
4.If you want to be popular, do not try to be popular all the time. Popular government does not mean that you do popular things all the time. We do not want to be unpopular or to do unpopular things. But when they are necessary, they will be done.
5. Just honour your promises, do not corrupt and debauch your party and you will find that the people believe you, when you go back to ask them to renew the mandate.
6. From 23 years of experience in government, I have learned that one high-calibre mind in charge of a ministry, or a statutory board, makes the difference between success and failure of a major project. A top mind, given a task, brings together a group of other able men, organises them into a cohesive team, and away the project goes.
7.Great leaders mirror the qualities of the nations they lead.
8. A good administration is essential but in a developing country, let me add, a good political leadership is critical. It is life and death. In a developed society, you can have mediocre, indifferent ministers and the country will get by.
9. No army, however brave, can win when its generals are weak.
10. I have never believed those who advocate a soft approach to crime and punishment, claiming that punishment does not reduce crime. That was not my experience in Singapore before the war, during the Japanese occupation or subsequently.
April 17, 2018
I remember clearly the year I had my training on LEAN. Because that is the date Lee passed away. The trainer is a Singaporean. He started his class by paying his best wishes to their founding father who was in hospital at the time of the class. The trainer spoke excellent English with a tiny accent. He did a great job in the two days training. In fact I learned from the organiser that a couple of other trainers from abroad were tried but found unsatisfactory. I cannot help but thinking he is representative of Lee Kuan Yew’s singapore - well educated Chinese with excellent command of English and knowledge of international standard.
“I have been accused of many things in my life, but not even my worst enemy has ever accused me of being afraid to speak my mind”. And he indeed is a straight talker. The book is full of his quotes on various topics ranging from democracy to China. It is refreshing to read from someone who speaks his mind and whose accomplishments are proven.
“I have been accused of many things in my life, but not even my worst enemy has ever accused me of being afraid to speak my mind”. And he indeed is a straight talker. The book is full of his quotes on various topics ranging from democracy to China. It is refreshing to read from someone who speaks his mind and whose accomplishments are proven.
May 1, 2019
“The Dutch, the British, the French never gave us any technology. They built our universities, but they never taught us engineering. They taught us medicine, law, history, culture. They withheld the modern part of the industrial society.”
September 13, 2019
Интересно, но местами нудновато. Не жалею что прочитал.
August 17, 2026
A serviceable primer to the organizing principles and ideas of Lee Kuan Yew (and by proxy, the foundations of Singaporean governance), compiled into a chronologically organized collection of quotes sorted by topic. Sorely lacking in necessary situational context, but insightful nonetheless.
Below are some quotes that jumped out at me:
Below are some quotes that jumped out at me:
I do not want a suppliant, an inert society where people just say, ‘yes’ to everything I say because that means it is a society with no verve, no vitality. But, at the same time, I expect you to start thinking; not just to mouth old slogans which are no longer relevant. Start thinking. 1966
Go to English schools, learn English. But, at the same time, never forget that you are not an Englishman, and I am not an Englishman. English is a language we learn and we use it. But we must keep a part of ourselves – the part that leads us back to our histories, to our cultures, to our civilisations from whence we came and out of that, the past, we will together create a present and a future worthy of a people that have come from very ancient cultures and civilisations. 1967
Every time I think of people whom I have met and known as friends in school or in college, I think of those who became too de-culturalised too quickly. I had a friend who was a Sikh. He threw his past away: he shaved his beard; he threw away his turban; he had a haircut. No harm at all. But something happened to him and in next to no time, he was doing foolish things. He lost his anchorage. You know, it gets very difficult for a ship without an anchor in a harbour when it gets stormy. I want you therefore, to have your anchorage. But slowly, we must begin to learn to have the same basic points of anchorage. It may take a hundred years. 1967
June 2, 2023
This is a collection of quotes by Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore. The quotes were good and well-organized, but most of them didn’t interest me as much as I had hoped.
Home Ownership
“We have made home ownership the cornerstone of Singapore’s public housing policy – the vast majority of the population own, not rent, their homes. Ownership is critical because we were an immigrant community with no common history. Our peoples came from many different parts of Asia. Home ownership helped to quickly forge a sense of rootedness in Singapore. It is the foundation upon which nationhood was forged. The pride people have in their homes prevents our estates from turning into slums, which is the fate for public housing in other countries.”
The Internet
“This is a highly competitive world. We survive by being competitive. If we don’t do the internet better than our neighbours, we’ll be out of business. But if we allow it to make our people permissive, promiscuous, relaxed and it unravels the family and the extended family, then I say we are undone and finished, because family strength and social cohesion were the basis on which we built Singapore.
Measuring Happiness
“We cannot measure our happiness just by our GDP growth. It is how our families and friends care for each other, how we look after our old and nurture our young, they are what make for a closely knit society, one we can be proud to belong to.”
Home Ownership
“We have made home ownership the cornerstone of Singapore’s public housing policy – the vast majority of the population own, not rent, their homes. Ownership is critical because we were an immigrant community with no common history. Our peoples came from many different parts of Asia. Home ownership helped to quickly forge a sense of rootedness in Singapore. It is the foundation upon which nationhood was forged. The pride people have in their homes prevents our estates from turning into slums, which is the fate for public housing in other countries.”
The Internet
“This is a highly competitive world. We survive by being competitive. If we don’t do the internet better than our neighbours, we’ll be out of business. But if we allow it to make our people permissive, promiscuous, relaxed and it unravels the family and the extended family, then I say we are undone and finished, because family strength and social cohesion were the basis on which we built Singapore.
Measuring Happiness
“We cannot measure our happiness just by our GDP growth. It is how our families and friends care for each other, how we look after our old and nurture our young, they are what make for a closely knit society, one we can be proud to belong to.”
November 29, 2020
"If the power of the State which we now control is used not to enrich the lives of many of its people but to line the pockets of a few of the ruling hierarchy, then verily we shall all perish."
"I do not yet know of a man who became a leader as a result of having undergone a leadership course"
"The weakness of democracy is that the assumption that all men are equal and capable of equal contribution to the common good is flawed."
"There is a hallmark of whether a country is developed or underdeveloped. If the people do not understand why they are poor and they believe that either you have a messiah who makes a speech or an army general with a gun, who looks efficient, military-like, business-like and that he can cure problems of poverty, unemployment and development, then I say you are underdeveloped, because it is only in an underdeveloped situation that such a thing can happen."
"Imparting knowledge to pass examinations and later to do a job, these are important. However, the litmus test of a good education is whether it nurtures citizens who can live, work, contend and cooperate in a civilized way. Is he loyal and patriotic? Is he, when the need arises, a good soldier, ready to defend his country, and so protect his wife and children, and his fellow citizens?"
Lee Kuan Yew
"I do not yet know of a man who became a leader as a result of having undergone a leadership course"
"The weakness of democracy is that the assumption that all men are equal and capable of equal contribution to the common good is flawed."
"There is a hallmark of whether a country is developed or underdeveloped. If the people do not understand why they are poor and they believe that either you have a messiah who makes a speech or an army general with a gun, who looks efficient, military-like, business-like and that he can cure problems of poverty, unemployment and development, then I say you are underdeveloped, because it is only in an underdeveloped situation that such a thing can happen."
"Imparting knowledge to pass examinations and later to do a job, these are important. However, the litmus test of a good education is whether it nurtures citizens who can live, work, contend and cooperate in a civilized way. Is he loyal and patriotic? Is he, when the need arises, a good soldier, ready to defend his country, and so protect his wife and children, and his fellow citizens?"
Lee Kuan Yew
October 20, 2026
The Wit and Wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew is a collection of quotes by Singapore's late founding Prime Minister.
As someone who is usually uninterested in politics, I picked up this book out of curiosity about Mr Lee's thoughts and perspectives, and why he remains such a controversial figure in Singapore.
Regardless of political affiliation, the book gave me a greater appreciation of the challenges, sacrifices, and difficult decisions involved in leading Singapore through such tumultuous times.
One of my favourite quotes was, “I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.” To me, this reflects his conviction that leadership sometimes means making difficult decisions based on what one believes is right for the country, even when those decisions are unpopular.
This was an easy and thought-provoking read. I highly recommend it to anyone curious about the man who played such a significant role in transforming Singapore from a developing nation into the country we know today.
As someone who is usually uninterested in politics, I picked up this book out of curiosity about Mr Lee's thoughts and perspectives, and why he remains such a controversial figure in Singapore.
Regardless of political affiliation, the book gave me a greater appreciation of the challenges, sacrifices, and difficult decisions involved in leading Singapore through such tumultuous times.
One of my favourite quotes was, “I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.” To me, this reflects his conviction that leadership sometimes means making difficult decisions based on what one believes is right for the country, even when those decisions are unpopular.
This was an easy and thought-provoking read. I highly recommend it to anyone curious about the man who played such a significant role in transforming Singapore from a developing nation into the country we know today.
September 21, 2019
Singapore is one the most well-off countries in Asia, particularly in the Southeast Asian region. I have learnt to understand how Lee Kuan Yew established a fully functional, self-governing state that has the Asian and diverse cultures as its foundation. His wisdom is insurmountable as well as his efforts into bringing in foreign investors and talents to forge the economy that is efficient and sustainable for its peoples.
by allowing the country to adapt to contemporary changes and financial challenges, Singapore has emerge to be at par with its western counterparts such as Portugal and Spain. It is a relatively new country but the three decade leadership of Lee Kuan Yes has created a man-made state with the great appreciation for education and the advancement of technology.
by allowing the country to adapt to contemporary changes and financial challenges, Singapore has emerge to be at par with its western counterparts such as Portugal and Spain. It is a relatively new country but the three decade leadership of Lee Kuan Yes has created a man-made state with the great appreciation for education and the advancement of technology.
July 11, 2026
I’ll be honest when I picked this up in a Singaporean bookstore I did not realise it was a book of quotes, and I would have grabbed something else if I knew that.
That being said, for what it is, I still enjoyed it. You get a good sense of who Lee Kuan Yew is across so many topics. Being a book of quotes made it easy to pick up, put down and pick up again whilst poolside.
Truly one of the most impressive statesmen of the 20th century.
That being said, for what it is, I still enjoyed it. You get a good sense of who Lee Kuan Yew is across so many topics. Being a book of quotes made it easy to pick up, put down and pick up again whilst poolside.
Truly one of the most impressive statesmen of the 20th century.
March 12, 2022
The book is a collection of quotes by Lee Kuan Yew divided into chapters by theme.
Besides the usual wisdom, the book is a very interesting read because the quotes inside a chapter are sorted chronologically, with the year next to each quote, so the reader can really see how LKY's political stances have changed from his start in politics in 1950s up to his retirement in 2010s.
Besides the usual wisdom, the book is a very interesting read because the quotes inside a chapter are sorted chronologically, with the year next to each quote, so the reader can really see how LKY's political stances have changed from his start in politics in 1950s up to his retirement in 2010s.
October 17, 2023
Devotional bite-sized quotes of LKY categorised accordingly to various themes. Probably a good easy read to get a broad overview of the man’s thoughts before embarking in-depth on his memoirs, which is what I intend to do next!
August 20, 2025
This book gives me insights on how LKY thought and made decisions, especially in policy and determining the early stage of The now-Great Singapore. Definitely another reference needed to be read, especially more into his biography and life as the public servant.
May 8, 2017
قرأت هذا الكتاب بعد زيارتي لسنغافورة. وجدته قصة سنغافورة ودليلا ملهما لمن اراد تغيير امته للافضل.
May 25, 2017
Boring, just a compilation of quotes.
January 1, 2018
A fascinating book of quotes. It didn't feel so much like a book - more like sitting down and having a chat with the man himself. A good read :)
April 9, 2018
A decently organized (first by subject, then chronologically) collection of quotes.
December 31, 2018
It’s a good read of a vigorous, ambitious, methodical man. Great book of quotes.
May 23, 2020
Lee Kuan Yew transformed Singapore from a poor British colony to a wealthy developed Nation .The wisdom is inspiring.
Read
March 2, 2021Bedtime
March 29, 2021
Thank God for Mr Lee Kuan Yew!
Read
April 13, 2021MUY BUENO
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2025
"Even after I die, I will come back and haunt you if you do not do what is right for Singapore.”
February 10, 2025
3.5
A collection of quotes which give an insight into Lee's thoughts and philosophies.
He is clearly an interesting politician and this book made me keen to read a more in depth biography of him.
A collection of quotes which give an insight into Lee's thoughts and philosophies.
He is clearly an interesting politician and this book made me keen to read a more in depth biography of him.
June 14, 2025
2/5
This is basically a collection of LKY’s quotes, organized by topics. It isn’t arranged very intuitively and lacks necessary context for the political environments in which he uttered them.
If you want an answer to “What might LKY think about XYZ,” there’s another book called “LKY: The Grand Master’s Insights” which is better organized.
This is basically a collection of LKY’s quotes, organized by topics. It isn’t arranged very intuitively and lacks necessary context for the political environments in which he uttered them.
If you want an answer to “What might LKY think about XYZ,” there’s another book called “LKY: The Grand Master’s Insights” which is better organized.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews