Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew would have turned 100 years old today. Known as a powerful orater and deft statesmen, Lee Kuan Yew has made his thoughts known on a broad number of topics, from governance and leadership, to love and life. On the anniversary of his birth, we take a look back at some of his most inspiring and memorable quotes. Maybe like us, you’ll learn something from his words too.

Lee Kuan Yew’s best quotes

1. On his entry into politics

Photograph: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, via National Archives of Singapore

“I was a product of the times, the war, the occupation, the reoccupation, my four years in Britain, admiring but at the same time questioning whether they are able to do a better job than we can.”

– In ‘Lee Kuan Yew: The Crucial Years’ by Alex Josey

2. On the split with Malaysia

“There is nothing to be worried about it. Many things will go on just as usual. But be firm, be calm. We are going to have a multi-racial nation in Singapore… Everybody will have his place: equal; language, culture, religion.”

– At a press conference on August 9, 1965

3. On what it takes to govern Singapore

“Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him. Or give it up. This is not a game of cards! This is your life and mine! I’ve spent a whole lifetime building this and as long as I’m in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.”

– At a PAP rally during the 1980 General Election

4. On integrity

“I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.”

— From ‘Third World to First: The Singapore Story’

5. On Singaporeans

“You know the Singaporean. He is a hard-working, industrious, rugged individual. Or we would not have made the grade. But let us also recognize that he is a champion grumbler.”

– From a 1977 Parliament speech

6. On his commitment to Singapore

“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.”

– At the National Day Rally speech in 1988

7. On a life well lived

Photograph: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

“Life 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.”

– From ‘Lee Kuan Yew: The Unofficial Biography’ by Ethan Ang

8. On Kwa Geok Choo, his wife of 63 years

“We have never allowed the other to feel abandoned and alone in any moment of crisis. Quite the contrary, we have faced all major crises in our lives together, sharing our fears and hopes, and our subsequent grief and exultation. These moments of crisis have bonded us closer together. With the years, the number of special ties which we two have shared have increased.”

– Advice to his son Lee Hsien Yang

9. On relationships

“At the end of the day, what I cherish most are the human relationships. With the unfailing support of my wife and partner I have lived my life to the fullest. It is the friendships I made and the close family ties I nurtured that have provided me with that sense of satisfaction at a life well lived, and have made me what I am.”

– At his 80th birthday dinner in 2003