--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never been over concerned or…" description: "\"I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. Between being loved and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/lee-kuan-yew-3939_catching_i-have-never-been-over-concerned-or-obse_459548.jpg" --- # I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion… ![“I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I'm meaningless.” quote by Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/lee-kuan-yew-3939_catching_i-have-never-been-over-concerned-or-obse_459548.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/lee-kuan-yew-3939_catching_i-have-never-been-over-concerned-or-obse_459548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/lee-kuan-yew-3939_catching_i-have-never-been-over-concerned-or-obse_459548.jpg) > “I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I'm meaningless.” [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that a leader must inspire fear rather than love, echoing Machiavellian ideas that power without intimidation is ineffective. **In simple terms:** Leaders need to be feared to be effective. Key Takeaway Balance authority with respect. Themes leadership power politics Mood critical thought‑provoking Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government - corporate management - social movements Key Concepts Machiavellianism authority legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - Is fear a sustainable leadership strategy? - Can authority be earned without fear? A Different Perspective Fear can erode trust and long‑term stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believed Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed-machiavelli-3994833/) [Catching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catching/) [Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavelli/) [Machiavelli Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavelli-right-604830/) [Obsessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed/) [Obsessed Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed-opinion-3994834/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion polls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-polls/) [Polls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polls/) [Popularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popularity/) [Rating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rating/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Weak Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-leader-2747727/) [Weak leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-leaders/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/between-being-loved-and-being-feared-i-have-always-believed/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [A strong leader accepts blame and gives the credit. A weak leader gives blame and accepts the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/a-strong-leader-accepts-blame-and-gives-the-credit-a-weak-leader/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Machiavelli is right: one always must live with one's friends with the idea that they may turn into one's enemies. He should have said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/machiavelli-is-right-one-always-must-live-with-one-s-friends-with-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Be a Strong Leader, Even If You Follow a Weak Leader”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-anthony-smith/be-a-strong-leader-even-if-you-follow-a-weak-leader/) [Miles Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-anthony-smith/) > [Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy; forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/weak-leadership-can-wreck-the-soundest-strategy-forceful-execution-of/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not-allowed-to-feel-sorry-for/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/weak-leadership-can-wreck-the-soundest-strategy/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [ This president \[Barack Obama\] has had weak leadership, which has led to bad choices. We have got to stop worrying about being loved and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/this-president-barack-obama-has-had-weak-leadership-which-has-led-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [“Great leadership produces great success. Weak leadership produces failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/great-leadership-produces-great-success-weak-leadership-produces/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [Misfortunes, untoward events, lay open, disclose the skill of a general, while success conceals his weakness, his weak points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/misfortunes-untoward-events-lay-open-disclose-the-skill-of-a-general/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The lesson must be learned that American leadership matters, and weak leaders leave our friends and allies more vulnerable against violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/the-lesson-must-be-learned-that-american-leadership-matters-and-weak/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [Strong leaders cannot tolerate weak leaders above them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/strong-leaders-cannot-tolerate-weak-leaders-above-them/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [“Weak leaders are the ones who only extend the benefits of the Circle of Safety to their fellow senior executives and a chosen few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/weak-leaders-are-the-ones-who-only-extend-the-benefits-of-the-circle/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Weak leaders of churches blame people and circumstances. Breakout church leaders accept responsibility and see God's possibilities in even difficult situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-s-rainer/weak-leaders-of-churches-blame-people-and-circumstances-breakout/) [Thom S. Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-s-rainer/) ## More by Lee Kuan Yew > [“You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government. You get that alternative and you'll never put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/you-know-the-cure-for-all-this-talk-is-really-a-good-dose-of/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I'm not saying that everything I did was right, but everything I did was for an honourable purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-m-not-saying-that-everything-i-did-was-right-but-everything-i-did/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [If, for instance, you put in a Malay officer who's very religious and who has family ties in Malaysia in charge of a machine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/if-for-instance-you-put-in-a-malay-officer-who-s-very-religious-and/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Supposing Catherine Lim was writing about me and not the prime minister...She would not dare, right? Because my posture, my response has been such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/supposing-catherine-lim-was-writing-about-me-and-not-the-prime/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [You marry a non-graduate, then you are going to worry if your son or daughter is going to make it to the university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/you-marry-a-non-graduate-then-you-are-going-to-worry-if-your-son-or/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [That was the year the British decided to get out and sell everything. So I immediately held an election. I knew the people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/that-was-the-year-the-british-decided-to-get-out-and-sell-everything/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [A leader without the vision, to strive to improve things, is no good. Then you will just stay put, you won't progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/a-leader-without-the-vision-to-strive-to-improve-things-is-no-good/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [India is scared of the competition... because Chinese goods will go into India and compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/india-is-scared-of-the-competition-because-chinese-goods-will-go-into/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I was a product of the times, the war, the occupation, the reoccupation, my 4 years in Britain, admiring but at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-was-a-product-of-the-times-the-war-the-occupation-the-reoccupation/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Three women were brought to the Singapore General Hospital, each in the same condition and needing a blood transfusion. The first, a Southeast Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/three-women-were-brought-to-the-singapore-general-hospital-each-in/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [What I fear is complacency. When things always become better, people tend to want more for less work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/what-i-fear-is-complacency-when-things-always-become-better-people/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I have said this on many a previous occasion: that had the mix in Singapore been different, had it been 75% Indians, 15% Malays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-have-said-this-on-many-a-previous-occasion-that-had-the-mix-in/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I have decided that we shall make and build and never give way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-have-decided-that-we-shall-make-and-build-and-never-give-way/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Nine holes of golf will take you one-and-a-half, two hours. I run in 20 minutes, I feel better off. So the cost benefit made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/nine-holes-of-golf-will-take-you-one-and-a-half-two-hours-i-run-in-20/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) [Explore all 119 Lee Kuan Yew quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) ## More Catching quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [ When they \[people with insomnia\] start worrying about not sleeping, I'll say, "Say the mantra to myself; if I don't sleep tonight, I'll likely… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-harris/when-they-people-with-insomnia-start-worrying-about-not-sleeping-i-ll/) [Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-harris/) > [Discovering witnesses is just as important as catching criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/discovering-witnesses-is-just-as-important-as-catching-criminals/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [When you mention to people growing up in Cleveland they bring up the river catching on fire, or LeBron James leaving, they have these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/when-you-mention-to-people-growing-up-in-cleveland-they-bring-up-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [I'll just do a round around of the house and make sure the rest of the family are fast asleep. We don't want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/i-ll-just-do-a-round-around-of-the-house-and-make-sure-the-rest-of/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [Conversation, n.: A vocal competition in which the one who is catching his breath is called the listener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/conversation-n-a-vocal-competition-in-which-the-one-who-is-catching/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Some kids win the lottery at birth; far too many don't - and most people have a hard time catching up over the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/some-kids-win-the-lottery-at-birth-far-too-many-don-t-and-most-people/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [Bird taxonomy is a difficult field because of the severe anatomical constraints imposed by flight. There are only so many ways to design a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/bird-taxonomy-is-a-difficult-field-because-of-the-severe-anatomical/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [For some people, getting pregnant is as easy as catching cold." And there certainly was an analogy there: Colds and babies were both caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/for-some-people-getting-pregnant-is-as-easy-as-catching-cold-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Attitudes truly are contagious, and from time to time we need to ask ourselves, 'Is mine worth catching?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/attitudes-truly-are-contagious-and-from-time-to-time-we-need-to-ask/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [I love enemies, though not in the Christian way. They amuse me, excite my blood. 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You know marriage is between a man and a woman, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/you-know-for-many-elected-officials-they-all-started-in-the-same/) [James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/) > [Young people today seem to be coming around to the idea it really doesn’t matter which politician or political party you vote for; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/young-people-today-seem-to-be-coming-around-to-the-idea-it-really/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [I'd wanted to be a writer my whole life. But when I finally made it, I felt like a greyhound catching the mechanical rabbit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-d-wanted-to-be-a-writer-my-whole-life-but-when-i-finally-made-it-i/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) [Browse all 487 Catching quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catching/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. 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