--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We want to build a compassionate and…" description: "\"We want to build a compassionate and truly democratic Singapore where good values and people matter.\" — Tan Cheng Bock" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/tan-cheng-bock-8629_compassionate_we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-tru_2455031.jpg" --- # We want to build a compassionate and truly democratic… ![“We want to build a compassionate and truly democratic Singapore where good values and people matter.” quote by Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/tan-cheng-bock-8629_compassionate_we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-tru_2455031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/tan-cheng-bock-8629_compassionate_we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-tru_2455031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/tan-cheng-bock-8629_compassionate_we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-tru_2455031.jpg) > “We want to build a compassionate and truly democratic Singapore where good values and people matter.” [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates a society where empathy and democratic participation guide governance, emphasizing moral character over mere achievement. **In simple terms:** Compassion and democracy should shape Singapore, not just success. Key Takeaway Prioritize values and inclusive decision‑making. Themes democracy compassion values citizen engagement Mood hopeful determined Type political visionary When to use this quote - policy making - community projects - education reform - public discourse Key Concepts social contract ethical leadership civic virtue Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure values influence policy? - What mechanisms protect democratic participation? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with entrenched power structures and short‑term interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Singapore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singapore/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [If we can cultivate a concern for others, keeping in mind the oneness of humanity, we can build a more compassionate world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-cultivate-a-concern-for-others-keeping-in-mind-the-oneness/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“It is only when women start to organize in large numbers that we become a political force, and begin to move towards the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/it-is-only-when-women-start-to-organize-in-large-numbers-that-we/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [That's free enterprise, friends: freedom to gamble, freedom to lose. And the great thing - the truly democratic thing about it - is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/that-s-free-enterprise-friends-freedom-to-gamble-freedom-to-lose-and/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [ The \[Oregon\] Journal in its head and heart will stand for the people, be truly Democratic and free from political entanglements and machinations, believing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/the-oregon-journal-in-its-head-and-heart-will-stand-for-the-people-be/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [So, is there hope for a truly democratic Africa? Long answer: Only if continent-wide improvements in education, human rights and public health are coupled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/so-is-there-hope-for-a-truly-democratic-africa-long-answer-only-if/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [What is invaluable about Angela Davis' work is that she does not limit her politics to issues removed from broader social considerations, but connects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/what-is-invaluable-about-angela-davis-work-is-that-she-does-not-limit/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [People realise that if Labour is to fulfil its founding goal of transforming our economic and political system into a more equal, free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/people-realise-that-if-labour-is-to-fulfil-its-founding-goal-of/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [There is room in this great and growing city for a journal that is not only cheap but bright, not only bright but large,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/there-is-room-in-this-great-and-growing-city-for-a-journal-that-is/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [Television is the first truly democratic culture - the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what the people want. The most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barnes/television-is-the-first-truly-democratic-culture-the-first-culture/) [Clive Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barnes/) > [The most important thing for Singapore is stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/the-most-important-thing-for-singapore-is-stability/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [A truly united Singapore means having a Parliament that reflects all views, and not just the PAP view or the group-think of a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/a-truly-united-singapore-means-having-a-parliament-that-reflects-all/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [We must never forget that Singapore is home for all races and this harmonious relationship must not be taken for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-must-never-forget-that-singapore-is-home-for-all-races-and-this/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [It's strange because pandan cake isn't hard to make but yet it can only be bought in Singapore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/it-s-strange-because-pandan-cake-isn-t-hard-to-make-but-yet-it-can/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [Singapore ladies are very beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/singapore-ladies-are-very-beautiful/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) ## More by Tan Cheng Bock > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [I was only a village doctor with a rebellious streak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/i-was-only-a-village-doctor-with-a-rebellious-streak/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [We are not starting a revolution. We are starting an evolution of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-are-not-starting-a-revolution-we-are-starting-an-evolution-of/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [I want to make sure my candidates have my support. We are a family, we always go together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/i-want-to-make-sure-my-candidates-have-my-support-we-are-a-family-we/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [The key message is I'm always trying to hope the Singaporeans will understand, is a question of every government must be... examined based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/the-key-message-is-i-m-always-trying-to-hope-the-singaporeans-will/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/at-18-they-re-old-enough-to-drive-the-girls-enter-university-and-the/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [I think you can fool people once but you can't fool the people all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/i-think-you-can-fool-people-once-but-you-can-t-fool-the-people-all/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [Any of us who wants to go to Parliament must have that responsibility to represent the people who voted us in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/any-of-us-who-wants-to-go-to-parliament-must-have-that-responsibility/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [Timing is very important in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/timing-is-very-important-in-politics/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [If it's of help to my candidates, I would like to go anywhere to give my candidates a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/if-it-s-of-help-to-my-candidates-i-would-like-to-go-anywhere-to-give/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [If the PAP has a two-third majority, they will have the power to change important laws like the Constitution at will, whenever they wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/if-the-pap-has-a-two-third-majority-they-will-have-the-power-to/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [Sometimes I do my walkabouts, all the young fellows will come and call me 'hypebeast Ah Gong.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/sometimes-i-do-my-walkabouts-all-the-young-fellows-will-come-and-call/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [Selling and telling are two different things. In politics, we sell ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/selling-and-telling-are-two-different-things-in-politics-we-sell-ideas/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [I was previously the chairman of the Jurong East Town Council and South West CDC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/i-was-previously-the-chairman-of-the-jurong-east-town-council-and/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [I'm not sponsored by anybody but myself... I'm not sponsored by the PAP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/i-m-not-sponsored-by-anybody-but-myself-i-m-not-sponsored-by-the-pap/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Explore all 79 Tan Cheng Bock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) ## More Compassionate quotes > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A hard heart makes for hard judgments; a compassionate heart understands the humanity of the one we presume to judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/a-hard-heart-makes-for-hard-judgments-a-compassionate-heart/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“Seeing human suffering changes you. It either makes you compassionate or it makes you hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wilson-howarth/seeing-human-suffering-changes-you-it-either-makes-you-compassionate/) [Jane Wilson-Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wilson-howarth/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-enough-to-be-compassionate-we-must-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [ \[Chinese\] are a huge empire now, you'll soon be - in a few years two billion people in the world. So, you should be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/chinese-are-a-huge-empire-now-you-ll-soon-be-in-a-few-years-two/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it's already a lot. The instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/if-the-photographer-is-interested-in-the-people-in-front-of-his-lens/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The logical conclusion to a compassionate and respectful relationship to sentient animals is that we stop eating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-balcombe/the-logical-conclusion-to-a-compassionate-and-respectful-relationship/) [Jonathan Balcombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-balcombe/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“The kindness sent from one compassionate soul to another during the time of loss of one held so dear allows the sorrow-filled heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/the-kindness-sent-from-one-compassionate-soul-to-another-during-the/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [A strong person is not meant to be insensitive. He might be compassionate and loving. But, he relentlessly fights for the things he thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strong-person-is-not-meant-to-be-insensitive-he-might-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,064 Compassionate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We want to build a compassionate and truly democratic Singapore where good values and people matter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tan Cheng Bock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-truly-democratic-singapore-where/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassionate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-truly-democratic-singapore-where/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/tan-cheng-bock-8629_compassionate_we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-tru_2455031.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/tan-cheng-bock-8629_compassionate_we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-tru_2455031.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/tan-cheng-bock-8629_compassionate_we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-tru_2455031.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We want to build a compassionate and truly democratic Singapore where good values and people matter.” — Tan Cheng Bock", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tan Cheng Bock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We want to build a compassionate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-truly-democratic-singapore-where/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-want-to-build-a-compassionate-and-truly-democratic-singapore-where/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```