Miriam Defensor Santiago > Quotes

“A smart wife is one who makes sure she spends so much that her husband can't afford another woman.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago

“What is the meaning of life? This meaning is not for you to find, but for you to define. The meaning of life is found in the purposes that we pursue as we grow older.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“Dare beyond your strength, hazard beyond your judgment, and in extremities, proceed in excellent hope. Bare the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“Hindi lahat ng sweet ay loyal sa'yo. Tandaan, sweet nga ang candy, pero nakabalot naman sa plastic.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago

“In my approaching old age, I am now supposed to share with you what life has taught me, and in the end to encapsulate for you what is the meaning of life. From where I am now, I find that these conundrums are easily answered. First, life teaches us that, whether we perceive it as predestined or as random, it is beyond any person's control. Second, there is no template for the meaning of life. Instead, the meaning of life is what you choose to make it mean. In making your choice, when you reach my age, your journey becomes an affirmation of the warning that life is a consequence of our moral choices.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago

“In my view, leadership is the courage to take risks in defense of a position that is both legal and moral. The politician who tries to become a wise guy by becoming friends to everybody - corrupt or not - is not a leader.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“I have no illusions about myself, about my life, about leaving a legacy, or making a mark in people's lives. We are so insignificant. We are only here for a blink.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“Life is a consequence of our moral choices.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago

“I guess it's the expectation that something will happen - something bright and shimmering, that has touched you life before, and will descend on you again, when you turn a corner.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“Await occasions and never hurry.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“A true teacher does not terrorize ignorant students. A true teacher knows that it is his job to cure ignorance.”
― Miriam Defensor-Santiago

“What is the meaning of life? This meaning is not for you to find, but for you to define.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“Leadership is not about personality; it's about behaviour - an observable set of skills and abilities.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“Ignorance can be cured but stupid is forever.”
― Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Stupid is Forever

“In a corrupt country, if you want to succeed in politics, you must keep your conscience under control.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago

“Life is not a race among the vain.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“Before I formulate an opinion, I try as a scholar and as an academician to read entire libraries on the topic and to listen to as many people as possible, regardless of whether they are savants or plain fools. However, once I have formed an opinion, I no longer want to change it. Only experience can tell me whether I'm right or I'm wrong. If I'm right, I will gloat a little bit about it. If I'm wrong, then I will excoriate myself, I will apologize publicly.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago

“It is wrong to think that happiness is a series of unrelated experiences. On the contrary, happiness is an ordered whole characterizing an entire life.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid is Forevermore

“God help us all”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“Like Voltiare, I believe that the ideal form of government is democracy tampered with assassination.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago

“I sponsored and defended the Reproductive Health Law, although I am a Catholic. In the Catholic church, a woman to avoid pregnancy is allowed to resort to mathematics. Thank God, now Catholic women are allowed to resort to physics and chemistry.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“ang love parang sports. Kaya mo bang ipanalo ang isang laro kung reserba ka lang?”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“marriage is not a word. It is a sentence – a life sentence.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“The meaning of life is what you choose to make it mean.”
― Miriam Defensor-Santiago

“taken ka nga, for granted naman.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“if you are in a relationship, stop trying to figure out who wears the pants between the two of you. Relationships work best when both of you are not wearing pants.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“aanhin pa natin ang april fool’s day? Araw-araw ka namang niloloko.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“A smart wife is one who makes sure she spends so much that her husband can’t afford another woman.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever

“The Napoles scandal showed that some politicians are the same all over the country. They promise to build bridges when there are no rivers.”
― Miriam Defensor-Santiago

“pahingi naman ako ng papel – papel sa buhay mo.”
― Miriam Defensor Santiago, Stupid Is Forever