“A nation is great not by its size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders which ensure it an honorable place in history.”

“I mean, it's because of globalization that we've got investment from around the world; we've got tourists from around the world. We export one and a half times our GDP every year in goods and services … Without [globalization] we wouldn't exist.”

“We in Singapore believe in hard work. We believe that enterprise should be rewarded …and not penalized. We [also] believe … in seizing economic opportunities and not let them go past us. Finally, we believe in self-reliance ... These are [the] human qualities that have helped to transform an island swamp into a thriving metropolis.

“If Singapore has one thing to teach America, it is about taking governing seriously, [and] relentlessly asking: What world are we living in and how do we adapt to thrive?”

Singapore has … prioritized social and economic equity while achieving very high rates of growth over the past 30 years—an example par excellence that inequality is not just a matter of social justice but of economic performance. Societies with fewer economic disparities perform better—not just for those at the bottom or the middle, but overall.”