Some memorable quotes from former Singaporean PM Lee Kuan Yew:
On Japan defeating colonial power Britain to occupy Singapore in 1942:
"The dark ages had descended on us. It was brutal, cruel. In looking back, I think it was the biggest single political education of my life because, for three and a half years, I saw the meaning of power and how power and politics and government went together."
On the British were trying to re-establish control after WWII:
"The old mechanisms had gone and the old habits of obedience and respect had also gone because people had seen them run away ... the local population was supposed to panic when the bombs fell, but we found they panicked more than we did."
On opinion polls:
"I have never been overconcerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader."
On popularity:
"Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I'm meaningless."
On his style of rule:
"Anybody who decides to take me on needs to put on knuckledusters. If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try."
On the political fight:
"Everybody knows that in my bag I have a hatchet, and a very sharp one. You take me on, I take my hatchet, we meet in the cul-de-sac."
On justice:
"We have to lock up people, without trial, whether they are communists, whether they are language chauvinists, whether they are religious extremists. If you don't do that, the country would be in ruins."
On the death of wife Kwa Geok Choo in October 2010:
"Without her, I would be a different man, with a different life ... I should find solace in her 89 years of a life well lived. But at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and grief."
On death:
"Even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me to the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up."
