Speeches from Film: Henry V

William Shakespeare wrote many inspirational speeches for his different characters. One of the best known is the St. Crispin’s Day speech delivered by King Henry to his troops in the classic Henry V. To set the stage, prior to the epic battle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415, Henry V had led his army across northern France, seizing Harfleur, Calais […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 58) – Robert Orben

Every speaker has a mouth;An arrangment rather neat.Sometimes it’s filled with wisdom;Sometimes it’s filled with feet. Robert Orben
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 57) – Norman Vincent Peale

“Be interesting, be enthusiastic … and don’t talk too much.” Norman Vincent Peale
Analysis of a Speech by Elizabeth Gilbert

One of my favourite TED Talks is the one given by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the international bestseller Eat Pray Love. In her talk, Gilbert speaks about the fears and frustrations of those who pursue a creative life, especially during those moments of angst when the creative juices are not flowing, and offers some advice and […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 56) – Cicero

“In an orator … we demand the acuteness of a logician, the profundity of a philosopher, the diction of a poet, the memory of a lawyer, the voice of a performer in tragic drama, the gestures, you might almost say, of an actor at the very top of his profession. Here, then, are some of […]
Preparation vs Procrastination

In this blog post from 6 September 2010, Seth Godin raises a question that all public speakers face at one time or another. Am I ready? It’s a fair question. But it can lead to procrastination. Being prepared is one of the most important things that a speaker can do. It helps a presentation run smoothly […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 54) – Keith Hancock

“Oratory is dying; a calculating age has stabbed it to the heart with innumerable dagger-thrusts of statistics.” Keith Hancock
Analysis of a Speech by Phil Davison

The video below has been spreading like wildfire on the Internet. It is a short speech by Phil Davison, a Republican candidate for the position of Treasurer in Stark County, Ohio. Davison’s speech, which was given to about 100 people, is, to say the least, memorable. In his blog, my friend Max Atkinson states that in over […]
A Public Speaking Alphabet

Audience alphabet Fitting that it comes first. The most important part of any speech. A speech is for the audience and about the audience. Always. alphabet Books alphabet There are so many resources available these days for public speakers. Invest a small amount of money in yourself and pick some up. Here are three of […]
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