Speaking in public is both a fun and serious business. When there comes a time in which speakers are disheartened, the quotes in this article have given them food for thought and spirit.
As a point of reference, there are three components to public speaking: The speaker, the speech, and the audience. Take away one of these, and nothing is learned by either the speaker or the audience.
The quotes below are divided according to the category they are most suited for. Reflect on these quotes and maybe you will have the honor of eventually adding an immortal quote of your own to the mix.
The Speaker
“The highest reward for man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it.” – John Ruskin
“Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to carry on with dignity in spite of it.” – Scott Turow
“First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak” – Epictetus
“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.” – John Ford
“”Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners.” – Dale Carnegie
The Speech
“Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent” – Dionysius the Elder
“Once you get people laughing, they’re listening and you can tell them almost anything” – Herbert Gardner
“Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” – D.H. Lawrence
The Audience
“Bear in mind that the consumer is not a moron. She is your wife. Don’t insult her intelligence.” – David Ogilvy
“The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in the arena are the doers. They make mistakes because they try many things. The person who makes no mistakes lacks boldness and the spirit of adventure. He is the one who never tries anything. His is the brake on the wheel of progress. And yet it cannot be truly said he makes no mistakes, because his biggest mistake is the very fact that he tries nothing, does nothing, except criticize those who do things.” – General David Shoup
“”The audience is the best judge of anything. They cannot be lied to. Truth brings them closer. A moment that lags – they’re gonna cough.” – Barbara Streisand
“”It is simplicity that makes the uneducated more effective than the educated when addressing popular audiences.” – Aristotle