The first-ever Prime Minister of Singapore, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, is one of the longest-serving ministers in history and has continued to rule behind the scenes, despite having stepped down as Prime Minister in 1990. Many have claimed that Singapore is a modern police state, but despite this, under Lee's leadership, the tiny Southeast Asian island nation has achieved a great deal in the last 50 years, growing from a colonial port backwater to a powerful economic superpower that holds its own—not just in Asia, but also in the world.

　　新加坡史上首任总理，内阁资政李光耀，是史上在位最久的总理之一，且持续在幕后主政，尽管他在 1990 年已卸下总理位置。许多人声称新加坡是个现代的极权国家，但即便如此，在李光耀的领导下，这个小小的东南亚岛国在过去五十年来取得许多成就，从一个殖民港口的落后状态成长为一个不被击败的有力经济强权--不仅在亚洲，还在全世界。

　　From a country weakened by the Second World War, overrun by communists, and experiencing numerous racial riots, after a much-anticipated merger with Malaysia failed, Lee succeeded in building up the nation, calming down racial tensions, and driving investment into Singapore by inviting foreign companies in. Today, Singapore's GDP represents 0.48 percent of the world's economy, and is much higher than the other nations in Asia. In fact, the country is considered to be one of the most expensive places to live in the world.

　　始于一个被二次世界大战削弱的国家、被共产主义者侵扰，且经历许多次种族暴动的国家，在一次和马来西亚备受期待的合并失败后，李光耀成功壮大国家、稳定种族紧张情势，并借由吸引外商进入来驱使投资进到新加坡。如今，新加坡的国内生产总值相当于全球经济的百分之零点四八，比其他亚洲国家高出许多。事实上，这国家被认为是全世界最贵的居住地之一。

　　While Lee has been criticized as being authoritarian and intolerant of dissent, and Singapore being more prone to nepotism rather than meritocracy, it cannot be denied that Lee is a remarkable statesman, and his governance has brought Singapore into an era of power and wealth many countries can only envy at.

　　虽然李光耀被批评是独裁主义者而且不容异议，且新加坡政治偏向裙带关系而非功绩主义，不可否认李光耀是个出色的政治家，而他的统治将新加坡带领到一个许多国家只能眼红的权力和富裕时代。

　　Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him—or give it up! This is not a game of cards. This is your life and mine. I've spent a whole lifetime building this, and as long as I am in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.

　　不管是谁治理新加坡，在他心中一定要拥有那铁的意志--不然就放弃!这可不是纸牌游戏。这是你我的生命。我花了一辈子打造这一切，只要是我在管，就没人能将它毁掉。

　　And even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I'll get up.

　　即便是从我的病榻，就算是你们即将把我放进坟墓里，如果我感觉到有什么事出错了，我就会爬起来。