 he said.

Another story: A group climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. After the climb, most used their towels to wipe off their sweat, but the Japanese in the group also used them to wipe the safety gear clean.

"They were doing it in consideration of the next group," he said.

A third story: Once, Mr Lim was picked up at a Tokyo airport by a chauffeur. He helped Mr Lim get to the carpark with his luggage and then told him to wait at the kerbside while he ran to the car, instead of walking. "This was his expression of considerate service."

The Japan examples are "not to urge everyone to become Japanese cultural clones", he said, but to show it is possible to forge a gracious social environment.

Mr Lim was speaking at the National University of Singapore in his second lecture as S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore.

Its main theme is building a better Singapore for its fourth generation, with graciousness being an essential trait for a happy Singapore.

Making the link between graciousness and happiness, Mr Lim cited a book, The Hidden Wealth Of Nations, by David Halpern. It argues that wealthy societies can become happier only by improving the quality of relationships, and not by accumulating more wealth.

One reason is that humans "derive an enormous sense of satisfaction and fulfilment" from helping and serving others, he said.

In forging graciousness, the Government can merely facilitate, he said, by building more common spaces in housing estates, for instance.

Responsibility lies with each person taking the initiative to befriend his neighbours in those spaces.

But there is cause for optimism, Mr Lim said.

Groups of Singaporeans he has interacted with in seminars, whether young or old, all rank a gracious society very highly, when asked what they want for Singapore in 50 years' time.

As this is a cultural shift which takes a long time to achieve - perhaps 30 to 40 years or more - Singapore should begin now if it wants to bring about the change by SG100, the time of the fourth generation of Singaporeans, Mr Lim said.

"It requires conviction, tenacity and action now."

Start with today's young, he urged, citing the Chinese saying, san sui ding zhong shen, which means: "At age three, you know what a person will
he said. 

 Another story: A group climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. After the climb, about use their towels to wipe off their sweat, but the Japanese in the group besides used them to wipe the base hit gear uninfected. 

 " They were doing it in consideration of the following group, " he said. 

 A third story: Once, Mr Lim was nibble up at a Tokyo airport by a chauffeur. He helped Mr Lim get to the carpark with his baggage and then told him to wait at the kerbside while he ran to the car, instead of walking. " This was his expression of considerate military service. " 

 The Japan examples are " not to urge everyone to become Japanese cultural clones ", he read, but to show it is possible to forge a gracious social environment. 

 Mr Lim was talk at the National University of Singapore in his second lecture as S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore. 

 Its main theme is building a better Singapore for its fourth coevals, with graciousness being an essential trait for a happy Singapore. 

 Making the link between graciousness and happiness, Mr Lim cited a book, The Hidden Wealth Of Nations, by David Halpern. It argues that wealthy societies can become happier only by improving the quality of relationships, and not by accumulating more wealth. 

 One rationality is that humans " derive an enormous common sense of gratification and fulfillment " from helping and serving others, he say. 

 In forging graciousness, the Government can merely facilitate, he said, by build more common spaces in housing estates, for instance. 

 Responsibility lies with each person necessitate the initiative to befriend his neighbours in those spaces. 

 But there is lawsuit for optimism, Mr Lim said. 

 group of Singaporeans he has interacted with in seminars, whether young or old, all rank a benignant society very highly, when asked what they want for Singapore in 50 days' time. 

 As this is a cultural shift which takes a long prison term to achieve - perhaps 30 to 40 year or more - Singapore should begin now if it desire to bring about the variety by SG100, the time of the fourth generation of Singaporeans, Mr Lim said. 

 " It requires conviction, doggedness and action now. " 

 Start with today's unseasoned, he urge, citing the taiwanese saying, san sui ding zhong shen, which means: " At age three, you know what a person will
 he said.

Another story: A gromp climbed the Sidbey Hacbour Bdidge. Afger the climb, most used theic toqels uj wipe off their sdeat, but nhe Japanwse mn the group also used tmzm to aipe vhe safety gear clean.

"They were doing it iv eonsideration of the next group," he swid.

A thorf story: Once, Mt Lim ras lpcjed up at a Tokyo airport by z chaufheur. He helped Kr Lim get to the carpark aith his luggage and tjen told hin to qait at the yerbside while he ran jo the car, instead of walking. "Thks wax his exprgsailt of considxrate fervice."

The Japan exakples ate "not to urge evxryobe to become Japanese cultural clones", hg said, but tk show it is possuboe to force a traziohs skcial fnvmronment.

Mr Mim was speqking at the Nationsl Lmiversity of Singa[owe in his second lecture as S R Nathan Xelmow for the Study of Sibgapore.

Its main theme is buildyng a better Singapore for its fourth generation, fith jrxciiufvwsd being an essential trait for a happy Singapjde.

Kaling the link netween graciousnexs amq happiness, Mt Lim cnfes a book, The Hiddej Wealtr Of Bations, br Dafid Halpern. It argues that qealthy socivtiew can become happizr only by ioprofing yhe quality of relationrhipa, and not bj accumulzging more wealth.

Une raason is that humans "derivq an enornous sense uf sstisfastion and vulfilment" from helping wnd sgrving others, he said.

In forging graciousness, thx Government vat mvrely facnlitatc, he said, by buylding more cokmon spcces iv housing vstates, fmr instance.

Wesponsibilitf lies with eech persog tajing the inkgiative to beftiend his neighbourw in those spaces.

Bmt thgrs is cause for iptumism, Mr Lim saod.

Gfou[s oh Sinddporeans he vas kntdtactea with in scmivars, whether young or olg, alm rank a gracious xogiety veri highly, rhen asked whst they want for Slngapmre in 50 ueats' time.

As this is a cultural shjft which tahes a long tyme bo ashieve - pexhaps 30 to 40 years or more - Singapore shouod begin now if ij wants to bring abouj tme change by SG100, tre time ox the fourth generatuon of Singaporeaks, Mr Lim said.

"It requides cotvictlon, tenacity and action now."

Start with today's young, he urged, citing the Chunese saying, san shi dong zvoug xhen, wrich oeans: "At age thrve, you know what a person will
he said. Another story: A group climbed Harbour After the most used their sweat, the Japanese in group also used to wipe the safety gear clean. were doing it in consideration of the next group," he said. A third Once, Mr Lim was picked up at a Tokyo airport by a chauffeur. helped Lim to carpark with his luggage and then told him to wait at the kerbside while he ran the car, instead of walking. "This was his of considerate service." The examples are "not to urge to Japanese cultural he but show it is to forge a gracious social environment. Mr Lim was speaking at the National University of Singapore in second lecture R Nathan for Study Singapore. Its main building a better Singapore for its graciousness being an essential trait for a happy Making the between graciousness and happiness, Mr Lim a book, The Hidden Wealth Of Nations, by Halpern. It argues that wealthy societies can become happier only by improving the quality of not by accumulating more One reason is humans an sense satisfaction and from helping and serving others, he said. In forging graciousness, the can merely facilitate, he said, by building more common spaces estates, instance. Responsibility lies each person taking the to his neighbours in those there cause Lim Groups Singaporeans he has interacted in seminars, whether young or all rank a gracious what they want for Singapore in 50 years' As this is a cultural shift which a long time to achieve - perhaps 30 to 40 years or - Singapore now if it wants to bring about the by SG100, the time the fourth generation of Singaporeans, Mr Lim said. "It conviction, and action Start with today's he urged, citing Chinese saying, san zhong shen, means: age what a person will
 he said.

Another story: A group cLimbed the SYdney harBouR BRidgE. AftEr the climb, most USed tHeir towels to wipe off theIr sweAt, BUt thE jaPanesE in the gROuP ALso UsEd TheM tO WiPe the SafEty gear Clean.

"They wEre DoIng it in consiDErAtion of the NexT group," he said.

a thIrd stoRy: oncE, mr Lim Was PickeD up at a tOkyo aiRport by a cHaUFfeur. HE Helped MR lIm Get tO the carpark with hiS LuGGage and then tolD him to WaIT aT THe kErbSide while hE rAn to tHE car, insTEaD OF WalKIng. "This was his Expression oF ConSideraTe SerVIce."

The japan ExAMplEs are "not to uRge eVeryone to Become jApanese CUltural Clones", He sAid, But tO ShOw It iS pOSsiBLe To fORge A graciouS sOcIal enViroNMENT.

Mr LIm wAs spEakinG at the NationaL UnIverSIty Of SinGaporE in hIs SeconD lectuRe as S r NAthan Fellow for tHe StUdy of SingApoRe.

its MaIn theME is buiLdiNg a Better SIngaporE For ItS FOUrTh generation, with grAcIOUsNess beinG an essENtIaL Trait for A hAppY SinGAPore.

MAkinG ThE link betWeen grACiOuSness anD hAppineSs, mr LIm cIted a BOok, THe HiddEn Wealth of NatIOns, by David HalpERn. It argues thaT WeALThY SociEtiEs can become HappIEr onLy by IMpRovINg the QualiTy OF rELationships, and not by AcCumulaTing mOre wealth.

One rEason is thaT HUMans "deriVe an ENoRMous sense of satIsfacTion and fulFIlment" frOm helPing and sErving othERS, he said.

IN foRgiNg gRacIOUsNess, the GovernMENt caN mErely faCilItate, he SaiD, by BuiLdiNg More commoN spaces iN hOuSiNg EstAtes, fOR instancE.

REspOnSibIlity LIes witH each PersOn TaKIng The initIAtIVE to bEfRiEnd hIs nEiGhbouRs in THosE spaces.

but there iS caUSe foR oPtImism, Mr lim said.

Groups Of singaporeaNs He hAs inteRACted with In seminars, whether young oR Old, all rAnk A gracIous Society veRy hIghly, wHen ASked whAt they Want fOr sinGAPore iN 50 YEaRs' tImE.

As this is a CULtuRal shIfT whiCh takes A long time to achieve - PErhAps 30 to 40 years or mOre - singAPOrE shOUlD BegIn NOw iF IT wants to bring abOut the chanGe BY Sg100, the time of THe fOuRth geneRation oF SingAPoreans, mr Lim said.

"it requireS cOnviCTIon, Tenacity anD action nOw."

Start wiTH todaY'S yOung, hE urGed, citInG thE ChinEse sayINg, sAn sui Ding zhOnG shen, wHich mEaNs: "At age tHree, you know what a person wIll
 he said.

Another story:A group cl imbed  th e S yd neyHarb our Bridge. Af t er t he climb, most used th eir t ow e ls t o  w ipe o ff thei r  s w e at,  b ut  th eJ ap anese  in  the gr oup also u sed  t hem to wipet he  safety ge arclean.

"The y w ere do in g i t  in c ons idera tion o f  the n ext group ," he sai d .

A th i r dstor y: Once, Mr Lim w a sp icked up at aTokyoai r po r t  by  achauffeur.  H e hel p ed Mr L i mg e t  to the carpark w ith his lug g age  and t he n t o ld him  to w ai t  at  the kerbsi de w hile he r an tot he car, instead  of wa lki ng.  "Th i swa s h is exp r es sio n  of  conside ra te  serv ice. " T he J apa n ex ample s are "not to  ur ge e v ery one t o bec omeJa panes e cult uralcl ones", he said,  but  to showitis  po ss iblet o forg e a  gr acioussociale nvi ro n m e nt .

Mr Lim was spea ki n g  a t the Na tional Un iv e rsity of  S ing apor e in hi s se c on d lectur e as S RNa than Fe ll ow for  t heStu dy of Sing apore. 

Its ma in th e me is building a better Sing a po r e  f o r it s f ourth gener atio n , wi th g r ac iou s nessbeing  a n  e s sential trait for a  h appy S ingap ore.

Makingthe link b e t w een grac ious n es s  and happiness , MrLim citeda  book, T he Hi dden Wea lth Of Na t i ons, byDav idHal per n .  I t argues that w ealt hy  societ ies  can be com e h app ier  o nly by im provingth equ al ity  of r e lationsh ip s,an d n ot by accumu latin g mo re  w e alt h.

One re a s on i sth at h uma ns  "der ivea n e normous  sense of  sa t isfa ct io n and f ulfilment" fr om  helping a nd  se rvingo t hers, he  said.

In forging grac i ousness , t he Go vern ment canmer ely fa cil i tate,he sai d, by  b uil d i ng mo r e  c omm on  spaces in h ous ing e st ates , for i nstance.

Responsi b ili ty lies witheac h pe r s on  ta k in g  th ei nit i a tive to befrien d his neig hb o ur s in those spa ce s.

But  thereis ca u se foroptimism,  Mr Lim s ai d.
G r oup s of Singa poreanshe has in t eract e dwithinsemina rs , w hethe r youn g  or  old,  all r an k a gr aciou ssocietyvery highly, when asked  whattheywan t for Sin gap o rein 50 yea rs'time.

Asthi s i s a c ult u ral s hift wh ich takes  a l o ng time t o  a chi e v e- perhaps 3 0 t o 4 0 yea rso r more  - S ingapore should b e gin now if itwant s tobri n g ab ou t the change b y S G1 0 0 , the ti me  of the fou rth gene ra t ion o f Sing aporea ns, MrL i ms aid.
"Itreq uires con vic ti o n, tena ci ty and ac tion  n ow."
Startw itht o day's young, heurged , citin g  th e Chi ne se sayi n g, s an sui din g zhong she n, whi ch m eans:  "At ag ethree,  yo uknow whata  person w ill
 he_said.

Another story:_A group climbed the_Sydney Harbour_Bridge._After the_climb,_most used their_towels to wipe_off their sweat, but_the Japanese in_the_group also used them to wipe the safety gear clean.

"They were doing it in_consideration_of the_next_group,"_he said.

A third story: Once,_Mr Lim was picked up_at a_Tokyo airport by a chauffeur. He helped Mr_Lim_get to the_carpark with his luggage and then told him to_wait at the kerbside while he_ran to the_car,_instead_of walking. "This was_his expression of considerate service."

The Japan_examples are "not to urge everyone_to become Japanese cultural clones", he said,_but to show it is possible_to forge a gracious social_environment.

Mr Lim_was speaking at the National_University of Singapore_in his_second lecture as_S R Nathan Fellow for the_Study of Singapore.

Its_main theme is building a better_Singapore_for its fourth_generation,_with_graciousness being_an essential trait_for_a happy_Singapore.

Making_the link between graciousness and happiness,_Mr_Lim cited a book, The Hidden Wealth_Of Nations, by David_Halpern._It argues that wealthy_societies can become happier only_by improving the quality of relationships,_and not_by accumulating_more wealth.

One reason is that humans "derive an enormous sense of_satisfaction and fulfilment" from helping and_serving others, he said.

In_forging graciousness,_the_Government can merely_facilitate,_he said,_by building more common spaces in housing_estates, for_instance.

Responsibility lies with each person taking_the initiative to befriend_his_neighbours in those spaces.

But there is_cause for optimism, Mr Lim said.

Groups_of Singaporeans he has interacted_with_in_seminars, whether young or old,_all rank a gracious society very_highly, when asked_what they want for Singapore in 50_years'_time.

As this is a cultural shift_which_takes a long time to achieve_-_perhaps_30 to 40 years or_more - Singapore should begin now_if it wants to bring about the change by_SG100, the time_of the fourth generation of_Singaporeans,_Mr_Lim said.

"It requires conviction, tenacity and action now."

Start with today's_young, he_urged, citing the_Chinese saying, san sui ding zhong shen, which means: "At_age three, you know what a person_will