You can't trust politicians. It doesn't matter who makes a

The words of Bob Geldof strike like a hammer upon the illusions of men: “You can’t trust politicians. It doesn’t matter who makes a political speech. It’s all lies – and it applies to any rock star who wants to make a political speech as well.” These words, though harsh and uncompromising, are spoken not from disdain, but from a deep recognition of the frailty of human ambition. They remind us that the tongue of power, whether it belongs to the statesman or the singer, is easily bent by vanity, by pride, and by the desire for influence. In the marketplace of words, truth is often the first sacrifice.

To understand Geldof’s teaching, we must look at the essence of politicians. Throughout history, rulers and leaders have risen with promises bright as dawn, swearing that they shall lift their people into justice, prosperity, and peace. Yet too often, when the weight of power presses upon their shoulders, their words dissolve like mist. The Roman poet Juvenal asked long ago, “Who watches the watchmen?” For he knew that power corrupts not only deeds, but also speech. Promises become instruments of control, speeches become theater, and the people are lulled by honeyed words while the machinery of ambition grinds onward.

Yet Geldof, in his wisdom, warns us not only of the politician, but also of the rock star, the voice of culture and rebellion who, when given the stage of politics, may also fall into deception. This is no dismissal of music’s power to inspire, for music can indeed stir the soul and rouse nations. But Geldof reminds us that charisma and applause are not substitutes for truth. The singer who steps into politics may easily mirror the politician: eager for cheers, intoxicated by attention, swept away in the performance of righteousness rather than the hard labor of justice.

History offers us many examples. Recall the promises of Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose in France declaring liberty and the defense of the revolution, only to crown himself emperor and drench Europe in blood. Or think of leaders in more recent times, who declared wars for peace, or vowed prosperity while enriching only the few. Even in the realm of art, we remember how voices that once sang of freedom sometimes lent themselves to propaganda when seduced by power. In these stories, Geldof’s warning rings true: words alone cannot be trusted; they must be tested by deeds.

And yet, we must not fall into despair or cynicism. To say that speeches are lies is not to declare truth extinct. Rather, it is to remind us that truth lives not in rhetoric, but in action. The people must learn to weigh words against deeds, to look past the clamor of applause, and to judge not by promises but by fruits. Just as the farmer trusts not the seed until he sees the harvest, so must the citizen trust not the speech until he sees the justice it has borne.

The lesson for us, children of the present age, is clear. Do not surrender your discernment. Do not give your soul away to those who speak most loudly, whether clothed in the robes of government or the glamour of celebrity. Question, test, and measure every word against reality. When you hear a promise, ask: has this one fulfilled promises before? When you hear a call to action, ask: is this sacrifice shared, or demanded only of others? In this way, you guard your heart from deception, and you walk in wisdom.

Practically, this means cultivating vigilance. Read widely, so you are not chained to the words of a single speaker. Watch what leaders do, not merely what they say. Support not the loudest voice, but the one whose works endure. And above all, build your own integrity, so that your speech and your deeds are one, for the world is healed not by grand promises, but by honest labor faithfully done.

Thus, Geldof’s words resound across the generations: “Trust not the speech, but the deed. Trust not the promise, but the proof.” Let this wisdom be a shield against falsehood, whether it comes from the throne, the stage, or the crowd. For in this way, you shall walk as one who cannot be deceived, and you shall leave behind a legacy of truth in a world too often enthralled by lies.