Question: Your Top 20 Speeches of All Time?

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Question: Your Top 20 Speeches of All Time?

As we research for the next book, we’re putting together an analysis of the Top 20 speeches. It’s easy to identify political speeches but we’re looking for a variety. They can be political, but we’d also like any other types, too. They can be closing arguments, speeches in movies, lectures, sermons, Nobel Prize speeches…anything. Submit your favorites in the comments.

04.13.2009 / Nancy Duarte

Delivery / Question

http://blog.jeromytimmer.com Jeromy Timmer

Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture is already widely known, but in many ways his Time management lecture is even better (This was given after his Last Lecture). It is smart, entertaining, and specific in how you can improve your life today. Excellent.

http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/Randy/
http://daveferrick.com Dave Ferrick

Not to instantly got to this well but Benjamin Zander’s 2008 TED talk is remarkable. http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/286
http://betterposters.blogspot.com Zen Faulkes

From film, the closing monologue of Klaatu (played by Michael Rennie) in The Day The Earth Stood Still is no doubt one of the major reasons why the 1951 film is considered a classic.

“…This Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCFsUHaRVHA
http://nwlink.com/~donclark/ Donald Clark

Steve Job’s Speech to Stanford’s 2005 graduating class:
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/grad-061505.html
Laurence Musgrove

Henry Fonda in Young Mr. Lincoln talking down a lynch mob.
Justin Eagle

Mike Rowe at TED: Celebrating work — all kinds of work
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html
Luis Iturriaga

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? at TEDTalks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY
http://seylewords.com Bill Seyle

Everett Dirksen’s speech in favor of making the marigold the national flower.
Here:
books.google.com/books?id=EKkO4JBxtVkC&pg=PA565&lpg=PA565&dq=everett+dirksen+marigold&source=bl&ots=MDo9xgI1Am&sig=JmzRBu5lF-2IHKXWzNadixKDIrw&hl=en&ei=WqDjSdXaGqTlnQew_5mnCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5
http://seylewords.com Bill Seyle

J. Krishnamurti’s speech “Truth is a Pathless Land.” Here: http://bernie.cncfamily.com/k_pathless.htm
http://freelunchforlife.com Angel Gonzalez

Malcolm Gladwell’s TED talk in 2006 was great.”What we can learn from spaghetti sauce.”
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html
Phraktyl

Alan Alda’s speech to the P&S graduating class if 1979. I read it years and years ago, but I still remember the message:

http://nectarfizz.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/alan-alda-ps-graduating-class-of-1979/
http://cs.uni-salzburg.at/~bkast/ Bernhard Kast

well, there are a lot …

one of the most inspiring:
Guy Kawasaki – The Art of Start
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3755718939216161559

one of the best business presentations:
Steve Jobs – MacWorld 2007 (iPhone)
(if you take that one, drop me a mail, I wrote my second Masters Thesis about it, I would gladly share it)

from desperate to berserk in a few minutes:
Al Pacino – Any Given Sunday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4tIrjBDkk
(my rhetorical analysis: http://modernrhetoricalrolemodels.blogspot.com/)

funny & scientific:
Daniel Gilbert at TED – why are we happy
(although he “loses” the end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTO_dZUvbJA

best political short speech
Obama – We are not Quitters
damn… the link is no longer valid and I can’t find it anymore…
maybe this one (can’t be played over here in Europe…)
http://beta.sling.com/video/show/123414/01/We-Are-Not-Quitters

Tony Robbins at TED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpc-t-Uwv1I

Short Speech – Tony Robbines inspired a pimp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8KQ7egNyYU

mentioned above already:
Zander, Pausch, Steve Jobs – Stanford
http://twitter.com/KeiTakahashi Kei Takahashi

Andre Agassi’s farewell speech at US open in 2006. Maybe because I have played tennis for long time, and it was given at my birthda:). This speech is short like 1 or 2 minutes, He could connect with the audience and me. While he was talking, I could not prevent the tears from flowing. He showed his love to his fans and he was respected from them.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/andreagassifarewelltotennis.htm
http://stevesabol.com Steve Sabol

Alec Baldwin’s speech from Glengarry Glen Ross

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WCcKIkMp8Y

(some language NSFW)
B. Figueiredo

It’s not my favorite, but its undoubtedly one of the best:
Jesus’ speech in the “last supper”.
Remarkable. Ask Leonardo Da Vinci…
Christophe

Martin Luther King – I’ve been to the mountain top
This speech is extremely creative.

Jesse Jackson – 1984 Democratic National Convention Address
http://carstenhp.com Carsten Pihl

Maybe not a speech, but Adlai Stevensons speech in UNs Security Concil during the Cuban Missile Crisis is very good. Especially the catchfrase: “dont wait for the translation”!

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis_speech_to_the_United_Nations_Security_Council
Jim

Bobby Kennedy’s speech on death of MLK.

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/rfk.htm
Blaise Douros

My number 1 speech of all time: the “St. Crispin’s Day” speech from Henry V. My personal favorite version, by Kenneth Branagh, is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM

Two speeches in the film “V For Vendetta” stand out to me–though the film is full of fantastic speeches–the first is when V introduces himself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OB6EsUP4tU&feature=channel_page

The second, when he broadcasts his message about the 5th of November: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chqi8m4CEEY
Erica Wang

Definitely Gregory Peck’s performance and closing argument in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Jon Faucette

Winston Churchill’s “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat” address to the House of Commons:
http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=391
http://www.pauldeegan.com Paul Deegan

Gene Krantz’ “Failure Is Not An Option” speech, either from the Apollo 13 movie, or straight from the horse’s mouth at:

http://www.tinyurl.com/genekrantz

(timecode 04:10 – 05:30)
http://dahlecommunication.typepad.com Travis Dahle

I would say William Jennings Bryan’s Cross of Gold speech is one of my favorites…almost as true today as it was in 1896. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_gold_speech
David Jaques

GEN Douglas A. MacArthur’s Duty Honor Country speech at West Point. It is said he delivered this extemporaneously which would be all the more amazing if true. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html
Dean

Everyone in the Garr-osphere probably thinks that Obama is beyond comparison, but for mine Bill Clinton was untouchable.

If you can find on YouTube his SotU speech where he has Rosa Parks in the audience, it is unbelievable … the whole speech is a master class. In fact I know it is because several professional presentation trainers have had me cut clips for their training courses
http://www.ppmanifesto.com Olle Bergman

Princess Diana Funeral Eulogy by Earl Charles Spencer
http://m2mp.wordpress.com Milind Paranjape

Besides names already mentioned here like Steve Jobs, Randy Pausch, Sir Ken Robinson, and Benjamin Zander at TED my other favorites are:

• My Stroke of Insight at TED by Dr.Jim Bolte Taylor – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229
• Story of stuff by Annie Leonard – http://www.storyofstuff.com/
• Dr.Hans Rosling at TED – http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/92
• Flight of Conchords – Jenny – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlYkIJVguCU
David Lewis

George C. Scott as George S. Patton in the opening of the movie Patton.

And I second Ken Robinson’s “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” at TED.

And certainly Daniel Pink’s 2008 commencement speech at Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
Denny Atkinson

Mary Fisher’s “A Whisper of Aids” speech from the 1992 Republican National Convention is my favorite.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/maryfisher1992rnc.html

From my second least favorite president, I’d have to select the Checkers speech by Richard Nixon.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/richardnixoncheckers.html
Christian Beasley

Keith Drury, an Associate Professor of Religion at Indiana Wesleyan University has listed 21 skills of great preachers – based on 40 years of taken notes, based on the speaker’s content and communication skills:
http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/preacher.htm
Di Schuler

This speech is not politically or socially relevant, but it is a work of art. See V’s introduction to Evey Hammond in the film “V for Vendetta”. This speech of “v-words” reveals much about the character “V” and the plot of the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW6HbZXI9Y0
Jonas

Very simple and convincing, Michael Douglas has a very strong nonverbal presence as well. “Greed is good” from the Movie Wall Street can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JZp215Bgyk
Alex Nikolopoulos

Al Pacino for me is one of the great linguists of our time. His ability to deliver riveting speeches in movie after movie sets him apart in Hollywood. One of my favorites is from the movie The Devils Advocate. It highlights how well he uses voice tonality, facial expressions, hand gestures and even emotional shifts to emphasis his points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGR4SFOimlk
Udi

Al Pacino has a special talent for speeches. The one I always remember is from Scent of a Woman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH4p9BQ3V9o&feature=related
http://www.dcf.ca/en/mouseland.htm RJ Wilman

A comment on the workings of goverment from a Canadian. Keifer Sutherlands grandfather
http://presentationhacker.com Felix Pizarro

For me it has to be “I Have a Dream” from Martin Luther King. I have head it like 50 times and still moves me. I have memorize like half of it!
http://www.deanchiropractic.com Christophe Dean, DC

This commencement address to Harvard 2008 by JK Rowlings is well crafted, funny without being trivial, moving without being maudlin. I have never recalled any commencement address I have ever heard. I will remember this one. http://harvardmagazine.com/commencement/the-fringe-benefits-failure-the-importance-imagination
http://www.anthonycoletraining.com tony cole

Marianne Williamson Poem toward the end of the movie Coach Carter: “our greatest fear isn’t that we are inadequate our greatest fear is that we are… I forget the rest.
My second nomine is kevin costner in Bull Durham
http://www.duarte.com/#doug Doug Neff

Hi Tony,

Williamson’s quote is also one of my favorites:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson
from “A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles”

(And so is Kevin Costner’s!)
Jamal Haider

I have a dream speech by Martin Luther King. The other by Malcolm X “The Ballot or the Bullet” is also very inspiring.
Attila Emam

JFK’s “New Frontier” speech in the 1960 United States presidential election to the Democratic National Convention at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the Democratic nominee.

And also Russell Crowe’s speech to the troops as General Maximus Decimus Meridius just before he leads the Roman Army to victory against Germanic barbarians in the year 180AD, ending a prolonged war.
ray griffin

John Quincy Adams closing argument before the Supreme Court (from the movie Amistad):
“Now, gentlemen, I must say I differ with the keen minds of the South, and with our president, who apparently shares their views, offering that the natural state of mankind is instead — and I know this is a controversial idea — is freedom.”
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechamistadjqadams.html
Stanley Schubert

One great communicator wrote a wonderful touching speech “St. Crispens Day Speech” by William Shakespeare in Henry V.
David Phillips

Mad Men’s Don Draper makes his pitch to Kodak. Great use of “story” to convey a message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bLNkCqpuY

Closing argument in “A Time to Kill.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7f-BgDgpmE

James Earl Jones’ speech at the end of “Field of Dreams.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDyM4CfExXU
Jeff B

Wow, how could we miss Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, JFK’s Inaugural Address or Man on the Moon speeches, and Churchills Sinews of Peace.
http://www.DynamicallyVersed.com Dekeither

The speech at the end of JFK was a great one that doesn’t get alot of attention. Event the one at the end of 13 days. Iike them both.
Terry Irwin

Colonel Tim Collins Speech to the Royal Irish Regiment – “Magnanimous in victory” – is the clear winner.

We go to liberate, not to conquer.
We will not fly our flags in their country
We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag which will be flown in that ancient land is their own.
Show respect for them.

There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly.
Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send.
As for the others, I expect you to rock their world.
Wipe them out if that is what they choose.
But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory.

Iraq is steeped in history.
It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham.
Tread lightly there.

You will see things that no man could pay to see
– and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis.
You will be embarrassed by their hospitality even though they have nothing.

Don’t treat them as refugees for they are in their own country.
Their children will be poor, in years to come they will know that the light of liberation in their lives was brought by you.

If there are casualties of war then remember that when they woke up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day.
Allow them dignity in death.
Bury them properly and mark their graves.

It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you out alive.
But there may be people among us who will not see the end of this campaign.
We will put them in their sleeping bags and send them back.
There will be no time for sorrow.

The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we are bringing about his rightful destruction.
There are many regional commanders who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for Saddam.
He and his forces will be destroyed by this coalition for what they have done.
As they die they will know their deeds have brought them to this place. Show them no pity.

It is a big step to take another human life.
It is not to be done lightly.
I know of men who have taken life needlessly in other conflicts.
I can assure you they live with the mark of Cain upon them.

If someone surrenders to you then remember they have that right in international law and ensure that one day they go home to their family.
The ones who wish to fight, well, we aim to please.

If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer.
You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest — for your deeds will follow you down through history.
We will bring shame on neither our uniform or our nation.

It is not a question of if, it’s a question of when.
We know he has already devolved the decision to lower commanders, and that means he has already taken the decision himself.
If we survive the first strike we will survive the attack.

As for ourselves, let’s bring everyone home and leave Iraq a better place for us having been there.

Our business now is North.
http://www.hero-inc.com Tim Springer

I agree with Jeff B
How can we not include Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address – called a sacred effort. Some consider it his greatest speech. But Gettysburg was 2 minutes, 256 words. How much better can one get?

More recently Dick Hardt’s keynote at OSCON 2005 on Identity 2.0 – building on Larry Lessig’s approach Hardt changed the paradigm.
http://identity20.com/media/OSCON2005/
http://ted-talks.ning.com/ Ralph Oei

I like “What teachers make” by Taylor Mali:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

More performance art than a regular speech, but what a great delivery!
Chris Failla

Rob Bell’s “The God’s Aren’t Angry” message was powerful: 90 minutes, no notes, no slides, and only one prop, yet I was fully attentive for the whole thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SygrK4QV2TY
http://notabob.blogspot.com Bob Blakley

Chief Seattle’s speech upon receiving the treaty of 1854 (“in all the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude”.)

http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/chiefsea.html
http://www.velocitypartners.co.uk Doug – Velocity, B2B Marketing Agency

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural.
His First is also ace as is, of course, the Gettysburg Address. Short, eloquent, moving, inspiring…

Also Obama’s campaign speech about race after the Wright affair. Stunning. The first time in my lifetime I heard a politician handle a tricky issue without condescension or slippery spin.
http://www.mointernational.com/ mointernational

Winston Churchill’s Blood Sweat and Tears speech inspired so much hope for England at a time of great sorrow

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Resonate, Slide:ology, Nancy Duarte, Giraffe, Wizard

Question: Your Top 20 Speeches of All Time?

04.13.2009 / Nancy Duarte

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