--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m not intellectually convinced that…" description: "\"I’m not intellectually convinced that one-man, one-vote is the best. We practise it because that’s what the British bequeathed us\" — Lee Kuan Yew" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/lee-kuan-yew-3939_british_i-m-not-intellectually-convinced-that-on_2838103.jpg" --- # I’m not intellectually convinced that one-man, one-vote is… ![“I’m not intellectually convinced that one-man, one-vote is the best. We practise it because that’s what the British bequeathed us” quote by Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/lee-kuan-yew-3939_british_i-m-not-intellectually-convinced-that-on_2838103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/lee-kuan-yew-3939_british_i-m-not-intellectually-convinced-that-on_2838103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/lee-kuan-yew-3939_british_i-m-not-intellectually-convinced-that-on_2838103.jpg) > “I’m not intellectually convinced that one-man, one-vote is the best. We practise it because that’s what the British bequeathed us” [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. Questions one‑person‑one‑vote as ideal, noting its British origins. **In simple terms:** Democracy isn’t perfect, inherited from Britain. Key Takeaway Critically assess democratic systems. Themes democracy history politics Mood analytical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting systems - civic education - policy reform Key Concepts political theory colonial legacy Questions to Reflect On - What are the limits of one‑person‑one‑vote? - How can democracy evolve? A Different Perspective May overlook alternative models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British Bequeathed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-bequeathed-3705426/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intellectually Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectually-convinced-3705425/) [Man Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-vote-430238/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [One man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-man/) [Practise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practise/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-best-763230/) ## Related quotes > [I think in Singapore, we stand a chance of making the one-man-one-vote system work. With amendments as we have done, you know, like GRCs..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-think-in-singapore-we-stand-a-chance-of-making-the-one-man-one-vote/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I'm scared of one man, one vote because it suggests that everybody has an equal ability at making decisions, and I think that's dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-m-scared-of-one-man-one-vote-because-it-suggests-that-everybody-has/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [ \[T\]he democratic principle of "one man, one vote," viewed against a background of voting masses numbering several millions, only serves to demonstrate the pitiful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/t-he-democratic-principle-of-one-man-one-vote-viewed-against-a/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [One-man-one-vote is a most difficult form of government.. Results can be erratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/one-man-one-vote-is-a-most-difficult-form-of-government-results-can/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [And they'll vote for me because I'm the best liar, because I do it honestly, with a certain finesse. They know that lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/and-they-ll-vote-for-me-because-i-m-the-best-liar-because-i-do-it/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [Never vote for the best candidate, vote for the one who will do the least harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-dane/never-vote-for-the-best-candidate-vote-for-the-one-who-will-do-the/) [Frank Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-dane/) > [“We don’t dwell on the weaknesses of each one of us…I am not asking you to vote for me, vote for the best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dida-mohamed/we-don-t-dwell-on-the-weaknesses-of-each-one-of-us-i-am-not-asking/) [Dida Mohamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dida-mohamed/) > [We would all like to vote for the best man but he is never a candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/we-would-all-like-to-vote-for-the-best-man-but-he-is-never-a-candidate/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [I don't vote party lines. Never have. I vote for the best candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-schilling/i-don-t-vote-party-lines-never-have-i-vote-for-the-best-candidate/) [Curt Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-schilling/) > [Everyone wants to vote for the best and most qualified man, but he never runs for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/everyone-wants-to-vote-for-the-best-and-most-qualified-man-but-he/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Persuading the people to vote against their own best interests has been the awesome genius of the American political elite from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/persuading-the-people-to-vote-against-their-own-best-interests-has/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [VOTE FOR THE BEST AND FORGET THE REST:-)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darinesha-white/vote-for-the-best-and-forget-the-rest/) [Darinesha White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darinesha-white/) > [I think that we vote, not to get the best party in, but to keep the worst party out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-think-that-we-vote-not-to-get-the-best-party-in-but-to-keep-the/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [The only true infidelity is for a live man to vote himself dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-true-infidelity-is-for-a-live-man-to-vote-himself-dead/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let the black man vote when he is fit to vote; prohibit the white man voting when he is unfit to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-harding/let-the-black-man-vote-when-he-is-fit-to-vote-prohibit-the-white-man/) [Warren G. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-harding/) ## 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 British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I’m not intellectually convinced that one-man, one-vote is the best. 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