Quote by Lee Kuan Yew: “We decided that we must be exceptional. We had no choice.”

Lee Kuan Yew articulated Singapore’s existential necessity to achieve extraordinary success due to its small size and lack of natural resources. This quote captures the relentless drive behind its development.

Reflecting on Singapore's early vulnerable years after independence, Lee Kuan Yew often stressed that only by being outstanding could the city-state survive and thrive amidst larger, often hostile, neighbors. This appeared in his memoir.

First Prime Minister of Singapore, serving from 1959 to 1990, widely credited with transforming Singapore from a developing city-state into one of the world's wealthiest nations. His governance style was pragmatic and authoritarian, combining economic development with strict social controls. His 2011 memoir Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going was among his last major works.