Jim Tan Quotes & Sayings

Because your master doesn't control you anymore. He hasn't for years. You're a free bird, Lucky. You are responsible for all your actions now. — Jim Tan

I discovered that without a method or a system, there is often chaos and confusion and nothing gets done. In fact, I'm of the opinion that in any endeavour, an imperfect system is better than no system. I believe this is a universal principle of governance. — Jim Tan

Anywhere where there are humans around is bound for destruction at some point in time, even paradise. — Jim Tan

Does the Chinese national behind the Ban Mian counter, who holds a two-year work permit, appreciate the National Day songs that he has been listening to day in and day out for the past few months? I have a feeling that he is homesick to the bones and longs to be reunited with his family and loved ones back in Heilongjiang. He cannot wait for his son to grow up so that he himself can return to the peace and tranquility of his beloved village. In the meantime, he will bear the hardship and loneliness of staying in a foreign land. — Jim Tan

To ensure the survival of Payoh, we must first understand the reason for its existence in the first place. If you think Payoh exists because of us, the resident birds, you're wrong. This may surprise you, but this sanctuary is really meant for the migrants from the north who make it their winter feeding ground. And, if you believe that the greedy local authorities give a hoot about our friends from the north, you couldn't be more mistaken. The truth is that they are pressured by powerful international environmentalists. — Jim Tan

As a prisoner, I'm denied my sense of identity. I have no personality. I'm just a number. I have no rights. I have no say. I'm nobody. — Jim Tan

Yes, I know most of you can tell the difference between the truth and a lie, but a lie repeated often enough is easily mistaken for the truth. A falsehood left unrefuted in time becomes a fact. I tell you, the tongue is mightier than the sharpest talon. — Jim Tan