Top 410 Quotes & Sayings by Singaporean Authors - Page 4

I moved to New York and went to art school at Parsons School of Design. Became a photographer. Became a creative consultant.

I think it's quite good to spend some family time.

The first play I did was a funny one called 'The School for Wives', by Moliere. We were wearing the ugliest wigs and the worst costumes you can ever imagine to try to recreate 17th-century France in Singapore. But I got my first real pay cheque from that. I was very happy taking that cheque to the bank.

The Chinese are quite clear what their interests are and very consistent on pushing their interests.

I sort of wanted to reveal this other side of Asia: Southeast Asia, where the Chinese have been wealthy for generations and have different ways of relating to money. I wanted to sort of reveal this world to readers.

My mind is always focused on the country.

I opposed the NMP scheme very, very strongly and I stated my case in Parliament, objected to it and voted against it. That has been my stand.

In life you cannot be captured by the past. If you're not prepared to change for the future, you will stagnate.

I have a photographic memory.

At 18, they're old enough to drive. The girls enter university, and the boys enter into National Service. Since they have a duty to defend our country, these 18-year-olds should also have the right to elect their leaders. They are mature enough.

When people say they don't want a nanny state, they are, in fact, in a conflicted state of mind. On the one hand, they want to do whatever they want and not be stopped. On the other hand, if something goes wrong, they want to be rescued.

For the past 20 years, the PAP has had a strong monopoly. However, prosperity has not flowed to all Singaporeans.

The WP now is not like the WP of the past. Especially after Aljunied, Hougang and Punggol East, I think we are appealing to a very broad section of Singapore society, as any party that is establishing itself at the national level has to do.

Growing up in Singapore, I wasn't allowed to visit China. So when I was finally able to go there after the country began opening up to tourism in the 1990s, I found it to be utterly astounding.

I think we have a good foundation which Mr. Lee Kuan Yew laid down, but you have to move forward. Now the question is what can Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and his team, and all our younger ministers can do now to build on the foundation which Mr. Lee Kuan Yew has built.

It is never helpful to point at sticking points, but it is always helpful to encourage one's partners to take a more active and forward-looking approach.

There is a real risk of a parliament dominated completely by elected PAP MPs. Is that a good outcome for Singapore? I would suggest it's not.

I was drawn to the ethos of WP, which believes in building a strong and reasonable opposition that contributes to our political landscape in Singapore in a constructive manner. It's a party that does not oppose for the sake of opposing.

I think, at least for me, I'm so impressed by Shanghai and how all of China continues to evolve. On a style level, you're seeing this increased sophistication and brand awareness.

With Singaporeans, you speak English, you're well-educated, the doors open everywhere.

One of my key areas of unification is to champion multiracialism. Multiracialism is vital to unity.

I've always been drawn to the Edwardian period in England. To me, it seems like such a fascinating time, when the British Empire was at the height of its powers and the strict mores of the Victorian age were dissipating into the decadence of King Edward's reign.

One of the reasons America is welcome in Asia is because with America... there is a certain idealism and a certain bigness of soul. You want the region to prosper; you want countries to do well, and you are prepared to help them.

I want to be a president and I will not change my thinking.

We are all in favor of the U.S. taking an active and constructive interest in Asia.

The characters that populate my books are global nomads in their own right, keeping multiple homes around the world and constantly jet-setting to new places.

You have to make your vote count. You can't rely on somebody else to cast the vote for the opposition.

Ask yourself, have you ever heard any of your PAP MPs ask the hard questions? As a Singaporean, you have a right to information that the Government is refusing to answer.

When I was shooting 'The Dark Knight,' I always felt like I was shooting an intimate drama for some reason. The scenes were all intimate, and they were always between a few individuals.

I think you can fool people once but you can't fool the people all the time.

As a child, I could bike down the hill from my house and grab an ice-cold bottle of soda from the neighborhood grocer, which was nothing more than a corrugated metal shack run by two Indian men clad in sarongs.

There is always competition for influence, but there are also opportunities for cooperation.

I want to make sure my candidates have my support. We are a family, we always go together.

No country can be an island unto itself or world unto itself. Not even the biggest country.

It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China' growing up because there were so many Asian people in it! The same with 'Year of the Dragon' or 'The Last Emperor'. It was just so great to see so many Asian actors working.

Addressing racism requires constant attention and an acknowledgement that strengthening the Singapore core is a collective responsibility, with every race an important part of the conversation.

I was previously the chairman of the Jurong East Town Council and South West CDC.

You'll be able to find many unemployed actors, you know? I've been gifted a wonderful career, and to now be able to find myself in a place where someone can look at the course I've charted and say, 'I can do that,' or 'I can do even better!' is a privileged position to be in.

Where patient needs are complex, we should provide greater support in the community so that patients can cut down on trips to the tertiary hospital.

Wisdom would dictate that a sense of proportion, empathy and balance should drive how the Workers' Party approaches Singapore politics.

Singapore needs to be able to continue to add value to China in order for the relationship to be worthwhile for both sides.

An audit of the courses our people are taking up, particularly younger and middle-aged Singaporeans must be reviewed every so often in consultation with input from the Industry Transformation Maps stakeholders so as to even as the best outcomes possible for our workers in the medium term.

Our nation needs protection against complete dominance of Parliament by one party, which could allow a tiny number of people to control everything.

China is a very big and complicated country; it's not easy to govern. But with courage and unity, China will certainly overcome all difficulties and continue to develop and move forward.

If you strongly believe something is wrong, you must speak up and stand by what you say.

If we stand together as Singaporeans, there is not a force in this world that can tear us apart.

I'm not about hurting the person I'm with.

The political outcome that is desired is one which makes any government sensitive to the pulse of the people and their welfare, allowing any ruling party to govern without gridlock while promoting the political openness that so many of us yearn for in Singapore.

I'm not revealing any deep, hidden secret that there are wealthy people in Asia.

The U.S. is not a claimant state in the South China Sea or in the China-Japan dispute over the Senkaku Islands. But, of course, the 7th Fleet has been a presence in the region since the Second World War, and it is the most powerful fleet in the region.

My father grew up in a life of extreme privilege.

We are not in a situation where the minorities are demanding something and the majorities are pushing back saying 'We don't want it.'

I've always had an uneasy relationship with technology and how it insinuates itself into our lives: for example. I always prefer talking face-to-face with friends than texting or calling, and if I want to get updates on their lives, I don't go to Facebook but meet them in person.

The opposition's role is meaningful when voters elect an opposition with an elected mandate to speak for Singaporeans.

I was born on the island of Singapore, and I grew up there until I was 11 years old, when I was forcibly removed by my dad and planted into suburban Houston. I was in shock for the first year and then began to really love it - but didn't love it quite enough to stay.

I'm glad that Singaporeans were receptive to my message and have elected me to serve as their president.

I got to act with my childhood film idol, Robert Redford, and that's a gift in itself.

The old model for India was to be self-sufficient. It was the ideal India became independent with, that you spin your own thread, make your own clothes.

At the end of the day, I connect very closely with the youth. I love the youth. I love the young people.

When I was asked to manage some issues in Europe for the government, I didn't go to Parliament and just make a great speech and impress them. Instead, I will go down and discuss with those people about certain issues that we don't agree, and over a glass of wine we talk about it and they say 'okay, let's forget it.'