Everything in politics is politically motivated, didn't you

In the words of Miriam Defensor-Santiago, “Everything in politics is politically motivated, didn’t you know?” we hear both sharp wit and piercing wisdom. Santiago, the “Iron Lady of Asia,” was famed for her fearless tongue and unflinching honesty in the treacherous world of Philippine politics. This quote, though seemingly cynical, is in truth a revelation of how deeply woven ambition and interest are into the fabric of governance. She speaks as one who had walked the halls of power, witnessed the masks and maneuvers of men and women in office, and come to declare that beneath the lofty speeches and noble justifications lies the eternal force of motivation—the pursuit of power, influence, and advantage.

The origin of this statement lies in Santiago’s long career as a senator, judge, and reformer. She was a voice of fiery integrity in a system riddled with corruption, and yet she knew that politics is never pure. Every alliance struck, every law passed, every declaration made before the people carries with it a hidden calculation. It is not that politicians never care for justice or the common good, but that even their pursuit of these ideals is interwoven with strategy. Santiago’s words strip away illusion: in politics, there is no action without intent, no gesture without consequence.

History itself bears witness to this truth. Consider the tale of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon. He declared it an act for the salvation of Rome, to protect the republic from corruption. And yet, beneath the banner of noble rhetoric, it was also the act of a man seizing power for himself, ensuring that his enemies would never try him in court. Was it for Rome? Was it for Caesar? It was for both—and therein lies Santiago’s wisdom. Politics is rarely about one pure motive, but about layered motives, political motives, always in play.

The deeper meaning of her words is not to breed despair, but to awaken discernment. Too often, citizens listen to the speeches of leaders and believe them at face value. They hear promises of reform, cries of patriotism, or prayers to the divine, and they forget to ask: what lies beneath these words? Santiago reminds us that every move in the political arena has a reason beyond what is spoken, and that the wise citizen must look not only at the words of leaders, but at their interests, their alliances, their hidden goals.

Yet, do not mistake this truth as condemnation of all politics. For even if all politics is motivated, it does not mean it is all corrupt. Motivation can serve justice as well as ambition. Abraham Lincoln, in signing the Emancipation Proclamation, knew well that it would weaken the Confederacy and strengthen the Union. Yet his political motivation also brought freedom to millions. So too, political calculation, when harnessed for the common good, can produce deeds of lasting greatness. The challenge is not to escape political motivation—it cannot be escaped—but to direct it toward justice.

The lesson for us, O listener, is this: never be naïve about politics. When you hear promises, ask what is gained; when you see alliances, ask what is exchanged; when you watch a leader’s rise, ask whose hands lifted them up. Train your eyes to see the motives beneath the motions, for only then will you be a free citizen, not a captive of illusion. But do not fall into despair—remember that motives, though self-serving, can still align with the needs of the people, if the people are wise enough to demand accountability.

As for practical action: learn the patterns of power. Read history not as a tale of noble ideals alone, but as a map of strategies, ambitions, and motives. Hold your leaders to account—not merely for their words, but for the interests they serve. And in your own life, when you act, be honest about your own motives, and strive to align them with truth, justice, and compassion. For though “everything in politics is politically motivated,” there is power in choosing what kind of motivation you will serve.

Thus, let Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s words resound as both warning and guide. Politics is a game of motives, a dance of ambitions, a ceaseless struggle of interests. Do not be blinded by the masks of rhetoric. Learn to see beyond the surface, and demand from your leaders that their motivations, though political, bend toward the good of all. In this way, the people themselves become wise—and the wise people are the greatest check against corruption and the strongest guardians of freedom.