SELECTION OF "GREAT" SPEECHES

I hope you enjoy this section of my website. In positioning myself as a Humorous, Motivational, Inspirational, Business Keynote Speaker I find it essential to study speech, speechcraft and "great" speeches. I classify these speeches as "great" for headline purposes. A truly great speech requires great context e.g. war, assassination, civil rights movement. It also requires great passion. It might surprise some, but a great speech does not necessarily require great wordcraft. True, it is better if the words and phrasing are powerful, evocative and inspirational - as with Dr. Martin Luther King's great speeches and of course Winston Churchill. Robert Kennedy's speech announcing the death of Dr. King is very simple, but effective because it is heartfelt and obviously so full of sadness.

Eyebrows have been raised that I include a speech from Adolph Hitler here. It is beyond dispute that this abominable man was a superb orator. Indeed he is living proof of Winston Churchill's comment "Of all the gifts bestowed upon men, none is so powerful as the gift of oratory." 

Some of this selection are simply my favorite pieces from people who never set out to be inspirational and motivational speakers. The speeches from Chief Joseph and The Earl of Spencer fall into this category.

I hope you enjoy the selection.

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