1918 - 2010 Goh Keng Swee - People's Action Party - PAP

Overheard
“I don’t mind a guy making mistakes but I can’t stand idiots and when people
refuse to learn.”
– Goh Keng Swee on learning
“Some of you will discover before long that you have joined a Holy Order that expects total
commitment from you. That will be your moment of truth. You will then regard the present condition of
the Republic not as a pinnacle of achievement but as a base from which to scale new heights.”
– on entering Singapore politics
“Life has been kind to me in that I had this opportunity to
make my contribution to Singapore’s development and to lay a
foundation for the next generation to build on.”
– on retiring from politics
“In advanced societies, it is not so much open nepotism which is
to be feared but the insidious ‘old boy’ type whereby no legalities
are committed but in which the pinnacles of power, influence and
wealth are the reserve of those born into the right families... Thus
many able and aspiring people are denied the opportunity for the
full use of their abilities.”
– on the dangers of power
“You know, as a minister, your work is your life. Even when you
are not working at the desk, you are still thinking of your work.
You’ve got no other life outside your work. But really, there’re
no other interests outside your work. Such other pursuits that
you undertake, such as exercise, golfing, is really to make you
more fit to work. Even listening to music is just to clear your
mind so that you can address your mind to work problems more
effectively. So we just get encapsulated in this business.”
– on being a minister
“We should be prepared to stand Confucius on his head where necessary”.
– on why the law should take precedence over filial piety
“When you have so many things to resolve, you do not worry
about whether the thing will succeed or not.”
– on getting it right
“In working life, first and foremost, what you need to be is a reliable
and responsible person.”
– on working life
PETIR MAY / JUNE 10
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