motivational speech of famous person

10 of the Most Famous and Inspirational Speeches from History

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

What makes a great and iconic speech? There are numerous examples of brilliant orators and speechmakers throughout history, from classical times to the present day. What the best speeches tend to have in common are more than just a solid intellectual argument: they have emotive power, or, for want of a more scholarly word, ‘heart’. Great speeches rouse us to action, or move us to tears – or both.

But of course, historic speeches are often also associated with landmark, or watershed, moments in a nation’s history: when Churchill delivered his series of wartime speeches to Britain in 1940, it was against the backdrop of a war which was still in its early, uncertain stages. And when Martin Luther King stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, he was addressing a crowd who, like him, were marching for justice, freedom, and civil rights for African Americans.

Let’s take a closer look at ten of the best and most famous speeches from great moments in history.

Abraham Lincoln, ‘ Gettysburg Address ’ (1863).

The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history, yet it was extremely short – just 268 words, or less than a page of text – and Abraham Lincoln, who gave the address, wasn’t even the top billing .

The US President Abraham Lincoln gave this short address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 19 November 1863. At the time, the American Civil War was still raging, and the Battle of Gettysburg had been the bloodiest battle in the war, with an estimated 23,000 casualties.

Lincoln’s speech has been remembered while Edward Everett’s – the main speech delivered on that day – has long been forgotten because Lincoln eschewed the high-flown allusions and wordy style of most political orators of the nineteenth century. Instead, he addresses his audience in plain, homespun English that is immediately relatable and accessible.

Sojourner Truth, ‘ Ain’t I a Woman? ’ (1851).

Sometimes known as ‘Ar’n’t I a Woman?’, this is a speech which Sojourner Truth, a freed African slave living in the United States, delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. The women in attendance were being challenged to call for the right to vote.

In her speech, Sojourner Truth attempts to persuade the audience to give women the vote . As both an ex-slave and a woman, Sojourner Truth knew about the plight of both groups of people in the United States. Her speech shows her audience the times: change is coming, and it is time to give women the rights that should be theirs.

John Ball, ‘ Cast off the Yoke of Bondage ’ (1381).

The summer of 1381 was a time of unrest in England. The so-called ‘Peasants’ Revolt’, led by Wat Tyler (in actual fact, many of the leaders of the revolt were more well-to-do than your average peasant), gathered force until the rebels stormed London, executing a number of high-ranking officials, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor, Simon Sudbury.

Alongside Tyler, the priest John Ball was an important leading figure of the rebellion. His famous couplet, ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, / Who was then the gentleman?’ sums up the ethos of the Peasants’ Revolt: social inequality was unheard of until men created it.

Winston Churchill, ‘ We Shall Fight on the Beaches ’ (1940).

Winston Churchill had only recently assumed the role of UK Prime Minister when he gave the trio of wartime speeches which have gone down in history for their rhetorical skill and emotive power. This, for our money, is the best of the three.

Churchill gave this speech in the House of Commons on 4 June 1940. Having brought his listeners up to speed with what has happened, Churchill comes to the peroration of his speech : by far the most famous part. He reassures them that if nothing is neglected and all arrangements are made, he sees no reason why Britain cannot once more defend itself against invasion: something which, as an island nation, it has always been susceptible to by sea, and now by air.

Even if it takes years, and even if Britain must defend itself alone without any help from its allies, this is what must happen. Capitulation to the Nazis is not an option. The line ‘if necessary for years; if necessary, alone’ is sure to send a shiver down the spine, as is the way Churchill barks ‘we shall never surrender!’ in the post-war recording of the speech he made several years later.

William Faulkner, ‘ The Agony and the Sweat ’ (1950).

This is the title sometimes given to one of the most memorable Nobel Prize acceptance speeches: the American novelist William Faulkner’s acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Literature at Stockholm in 1950.

In his speech, Faulkner makes his famous statement about the ‘duty’ of writers: that they should write about ‘the human heart in conflict with itself’, as well as emotions and themes such as compassion, sacrifice, courage, and hope. He also emphasises that being a writer is hard work, and involves understanding human nature in all its complexity. But good writing should also remind readers what humankind is capable of.

Emmeline Pankhurst, ‘ The Plight of Women ’ (1908).

Pankhurst (1858-1928) was the leader of the British suffragettes, campaigning – and protesting – for votes for women. After she realised that Asquith’s Liberal government were unlikely to grand women the vote, the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded by Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel, turned to more militant tactics to shift public and parliamentary opinion.

Her emphasis in this speech is on the unhappy lot most women could face, in marriage and in motherhood. She also shows how ‘man-made’ the laws of England are, when they are biased in favour of men to the detriment of women’s rights.

This speech was given at the Portman Rooms in London in 1908; ten years later, towards the end of the First World War, women over 30 were finally given the vote. But it would be another ten years, in 1928 – the year of Pankhurst’s death – before the voting age for women was equal to that for men (21 years).

Franklin Roosevelt, ‘ The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself ’ (1933).

This is the title by which Roosevelt’s speech at his inauguration in 1933 has commonly become known, and it has attained the status of a proverb. Roosevelt was elected only a few years after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which ushered in the Great Depression.

Roosevelt’s famous line in the speech, which offered hope to millions of Americans dealing with unemployment and poverty, was probably inspired by a line from Henry David Thoreau, a copy of whose writings FDR had been gifted shortly before his inauguration. The line about having nothing to fear except fear itself was, in fact, only added into the speech the day before the inauguration took place, but it ensured that the speech went down in history.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, ‘ Among Us You Can Dwell No Longer ’ (63 BC).

Of all of the great classical orators, perhaps the greatest of all was the Roman statesman, philosopher, and speechmaker, Cicero (whose name literally means ‘chickpea’).

This is probably his best-known speech. At the Temple of Jupiter in Rome, Cicero addressed the crowd, but specifically directed his comments towards Lucius Catiline, who was accused of plotting a conspiracy to set fire to the capital and stage and insurrection. The speech was considered such a fine example of Roman rhetoric that it was a favourite in classrooms for centuries after, as Brian MacArthur notes in The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches .

Queen Elizabeth I, ‘ The Heart and Stomach of a King ’ (1588).

Queen Elizabeth I’s speech to the troops at Tilbury is among the most famous and iconic speeches in English history. On 9 August 1588, Elizabeth addressed the land forces which had been mobilised at the port of Tilbury in Essex, in preparation for the expected invasion of England by the Spanish Armada.

When she gave this speech, Elizabeth was in her mid-fifties and her youthful beauty had faded. But she had learned rhetoric as a young princess, and this training served her well when she wrote and delivered this speech (she was also a fairly accomplished poet ).

She famously tells her troops: ‘I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too’. She acknowledged the fact that her body was naturally less masculine and strong than the average man’s, but it is not mere physical strength that will win the day. It is courage that matters.

Martin Luther King, ‘ I Have a Dream ’ (1963).

Let’s conclude this selection of the best inspirational speeches with the best-known of all of Martin Luther King’s speeches. The occasion for this piece of oratorical grandeur was the march on Washington , which saw some 210,000 men, women, and children gather at the Washington Monument in August 1963, before marching to the Lincoln Memorial. King reportedly stayed up until 4am the night before he was due to give the speech, writing it out.

King’s speech imagines a collective vision of a better and more equal America which is not only shared by many Black Americans, but by anyone who identifies with their fight against racial injustice, segregation, and discrimination.

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Personal Development and Growth

10 "best motivational speeches of all time" that will inspire you to achieve greatness.

Inspiring millions, these 10 iconic motivational speeches will ignite your passion, fuel your ambition, and transform your life forever.

Key Takeaways

• Steve Jobs' iconic Stanford Commencement Address showcases the transformative power of inner strength and determination to pursue dreams.
• Al Pacino's passionate plea in "Any Given Sunday" urges listeners to push themselves to the limit to achieve victory and excellence.
• Nelson Mandela's fight against apartheid inspires individuals to stand up against injustices and fight for equal rights and justice.
• Les Brown's motivational speeches empower individuals to break free from self-doubt and tap into their inner potential to achieve greatness.
• J.K. Rowling's triumph over adversity serves as a testament to the importance of resilience, determination, and perseverance in overcoming obstacles to achieve success.

Unleashing Inner Strength With Steve Jobs

Al Pacino's Passionate Plea

• The significance of every minute and second in overcoming obstacles
• The importance of pushing through challenges to achieve success
• The value of small margins for error in the pursuit of victory

J.K. Rowling's Triumph Over Adversity

Overcoming Rejection and Failure

• Embracing failure as a stepping stone to success : Rowling emphasizes that failure is an essential part of the journey to success, and that it's how we respond to failure that matters.
• The importance of resilience : Rowling's personal struggles with poverty and rejection serve as a proof of the power of resilience in overcoming adversity.
• Learning from setbacks : By sharing her own experiences, Rowling encourages individuals to persist in the face of rejection and failure, and to learn valuable lessons from their setbacks.

Rising From Rock Bottom

Bill gates' call to action.

• Take action and explore opportunities for growth and development
• Embrace innovation and creativity to drive positive change
• Make a meaningful impact on society, using their skills and knowledge to improve the world

Jim Carrey's Quest for Authenticity

Finding Inner Truth

• Embracing authenticity and overcoming fear allows individuals to tap into their true potential.
• Pursuing personal growth and staying true to oneself is essential for finding inner truth.
• Choosing love over fear is a transformative power that can shape one's life journey.

Embracing Vulnerability Fully

Breaking free naturally.

• Getting to know oneself is essential in breaking free from fear and embracing one's true path.
• Embracing love over fear allows individuals to tap into their full potential and live a life true to themselves.
• By choosing to follow their dreams, individuals can break free from the constraints of societal expectations and forge their own paths to greatness.

Will Smith's Pursuit of Happiness

Sheryl Sandberg's Empowering Message

• Embrace the jungle gym : Sandberg encourages graduates to view their career as a jungle gym, where they can climb, jump, and explore different opportunities, rather than a traditional corporate ladder.
• Communicate honestly : She emphasizes the importance of honest communication in all aspects of life, whether personal or professional.
• Embrace change and learning : Sandberg inspires individuals to push boundaries, embrace career changes, and find innovative ways to approach challenges, advocating for a mindset of continuous learning and adapting to new opportunities.

Nelson Mandela's Fight Against Apartheid

Defying Racial Segregation Laws

• Refusing to accept the unjust laws that segregated South Africans based on their race
• Organizing peaceful protests and demonstrations to raise awareness about the injustices of apartheid
• Advocating for the rights of non-white citizens, who were denied basic human rights and dignity

Leading the Anti-Apartheid Fight

Eric thomas' hip-hop preacher.

• Hard work and perseverance are key : Eric Thomas emphasizes the importance of putting in the effort required to achieve success, and persevering through challenges and setbacks.
• Believe in yourself : Eric Thomas' messages often focus on the importance of self-belief and confidence in overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.
• Make sense of your struggles : Eric Thomas encourages his audience to make sense of their struggles and use them as opportunities for growth and learning.

Les Brown's It's Possible Mentality

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most inspiring speech of all time?, who is the world's best motivational speaker?, what are some examples of inspirational speech?, how do you achieve success in life motivational speech?, can south african motivational speakers be included in the list of best motivational speeches.

The 7 "Good TED Talks" That Will Change Your Mindset Forever

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Kathy ireland young – the model's rise to fame.

On a journey from a teenage model to a household name, Kathy Ireland's rise to fame reveals surprising twists that will captivate you.

Kathy Ireland's journey started at a young age when she was discovered by Elite Model Management at 16. Growing up in California, her supportive family nurtured her love for modeling and the arts. She rose to fame after gracing the iconic 1989 cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue , marking the peak of her modeling career . Over the years, she became a household name, appearing on numerous magazine covers. Shifting from modeling to entrepreneurship, Ireland built a successful lifestyle brand , reflecting her evolution from model to business mogul. You'll find more about her fascinating journey and current endeavors ahead.

Background Information

Kathy Ireland's journey began in Glendale, California, where she grew up in a family that valued education.

At just 16, she was discovered by Elite Model Management, launching her into the world of high-profile modeling campaigns and endorsements.

You'll see how her rise from supermodel to successful entrepreneur shaped her remarkable career.

Born in Glendale, California

Born in Glendale, California, Ireland grew up as the middle child in a supportive family that valued education and personal development. With two sisters, Kathy found a nurturing environment where her parents encouraged her interests and aspirations. Her father, John Ireland, was a labor relations executive, and her mother, Barbara, worked as a nurse, offering a balanced blend of professional and caring influences.

As the family relocated to Santa Barbara, Kathy began to explore her passion for modeling and the performing arts. This vibrant setting played a significant role in shaping her future. At just 16 years old, she was discovered by Elite Model Management, marking the start of her remarkable modeling career.

Kathy's talent and determination quickly propelled her into the spotlight, and soon after, she graced the cover of the 1989 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This iconic moment not only defined her early career but also set her on a path to becoming a household name.

Ireland's journey from Glendale to the world of modeling showcases her resilience and the strong family foundation that supported her every step of the way.

Supermodel Turned Successful Entrepreneur

Shifting from the runway to the boardroom, Ireland transformed her modeling success into a thriving entrepreneurial empire . As a prominent supermodel , she captivated audiences and made history with her 1989 cover of Sports Illustrated , which launched her career into the stratosphere. However, Kathy didn't stop there. In 1993, she founded Kathy Ireland Worldwide (kiWW), marking a significant change from modeling to business.

Initially partnering with Kmart, she strategically built her lifestyle brand , which saw exponential growth . By 2019, kiWW had pulled in an astounding $2.6 billion in retail sales , showcasing her acumen as an entrepreneur. Her first product line of socks alone sold over 100 million pairs, laying the groundwork for a diverse portfolio that now includes over 19,000 SKUs across various lifestyle categories.

Kathy's journey hasn't only redefined success for supermodels but also earned her a place among America's most successful self-made women . With a net worth estimated at $360 million, she stands as proof of how passion and determination can lead to extraordinary accomplishments beyond the runway.

Modeling Campaigns and Endorsements

Throughout her modeling career , Ireland landed numerous high-profile campaigns and endorsements that showcased her unique blend of beauty and business savvy. As a supermodel , Kathy Ireland became a household name, gracing the covers of 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues from 1984 to 1996. Her iconic 1989 cover is often celebrated as 'The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Of All Time,' cementing her status in the modeling industry.

Kathy's versatility allowed her to appear on the covers of major fashion magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Harper's Bazaar, illustrating her widespread appeal. Beyond her modeling campaigns, she secured lucrative endorsements , collaborating with brands that aligned with her image and values. These partnerships not only highlighted her professionalism but also set a new standard in the industry.

Despite facing challenges, including inappropriate behavior, Ireland responded assertively, championing respect and professionalism in the modeling world. By raising the bar for aspirational modeling careers, she influenced a generation of models, including stars like Kate Upton and Hannah Jeter.

Kathy Ireland's legacy continues to resonate, showcasing the power of beauty combined with business acumen.

Current Updates or Main Focus

Kathy Ireland's latest focus is on innovative home design initiatives that reflect her commitment to sustainable living .

You'll find her shifting towards eco-friendly decor collections that not only enhance aesthetics but also promote environmental responsibility.

As she continues to evolve in the home design sector, her brand remains a significant player in shaping modern lifestyles.

New Home Design Initiatives

Discover how Kathy Ireland's latest home design initiatives are revolutionizing affordable , stylish living with a strong focus on sustainability and eco-friendly materials .

Through her brand, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, she's expanded her reach into home design, offering a diverse range of stylish home products that cater to various lifestyle needs.

Kathy's commitment to sustainability shines through in every collection, as she prioritizes eco-friendly materials that not only look good but also promote a healthier environment.

You'll find that her furniture, decor, and textiles combine functionality with aesthetic appeal, ensuring they resonate with modern consumers like you.

With significant retail success, Kathy Ireland Worldwide has established itself as a leader in the home products sector.

This success is further amplified by her dedication to social responsibility , as she actively supports charitable initiatives through the sale of her home design products.

By choosing Kathy Ireland's offerings, you're not just enhancing your living space; you're also contributing to a greater cause.

Join the movement toward stylish, affordable, and sustainable home living today!

Transition to Home Design

Shifting her brand to focus on home design , Kathy Ireland Worldwide has quickly become a powerhouse in the industry, offering over 19,000 stylish and affordable SKUs that cater to modern families. In 2019, kiWW achieved an impressive $2.6 billion in retail sales, showcasing how her commitment to quality and affordability resonated with consumers.

The home design line features a wide range of products, including furniture, textiles , and décor, all crafted to meet the needs of busy households . Kathy Ireland Worldwide has strategically formed partnerships with various retailers and specialty stores, boosting visibility and ensuring that her products reach a broader audience.

Moreover, Kathy's dedication to eco-friendly initiatives sets her home design line apart. By integrating sustainable practices into her offerings, she addresses the growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible options without compromising on style or affordability.

This thoughtful approach not only elevates the brand but also aligns with the values of many families seeking both quality and eco-conscious choices in their homes. With this change, Kathy Ireland Worldwide continues to redefine modern living spaces for families everywhere.

Sustainable Home Decor Collections

Sustainable home decor collections are at the forefront of Kathy Ireland Worldwide's mission, showcasing eco-friendly materials and innovative designs that enhance your living spaces while respecting the planet. You'll find a diverse range of products, from furniture to textiles, all designed with environmental responsibility in mind. These collections are crafted to be stylish and functional without breaking the bank, proving that sustainable home decor can be both affordable and high-quality .

Kathy Ireland's commitment to innovative design is evident in every piece, as she integrates eco-friendly practices to reduce waste and promote healthier living environments. By partnering with various manufacturers, she guarantees that sustainable methods are maintained throughout production, reinforcing her brand's dedication to environmental stewardship .

As a result, Kathy Ireland Worldwide stands out as a leader in the sustainable home decor market, appealing to consumers who value both aesthetics and ecological impact . You can confidently choose these products, knowing they reflect a commitment to quality and sustainability, creating a beautiful home that aligns with your values.

With Kathy Ireland's collections, you're not just decorating your space; you're making a positive impact on the planet .

Detailed Analysis

Let's take a closer look at Kathy Ireland's recent home decor launches and how they reflect her brand's recognition in the design world.

You'll see how her design philosophy emphasizes sustainability, setting a new standard in the industry.

This approach not only showcases her creativity but also aligns with current consumer values.

Recent Home Decor Launches

Kathy Ireland's latest home decor launches showcase a blend of stylish design and eco-friendly materials , making them appealing to consumers who value both aesthetics and sustainability. Under the umbrella of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, her home decor line continues to expand, offering over 19,000 SKUs that accommodate diverse tastes and budgets.

You'll find everything from chic furniture to cozy bedding, all characterized by affordability without sacrificing quality. These recent collections reflect Ireland's commitment to sustainable living . By incorporating eco-friendly materials, she aligns her brand with the growing consumer demand for environmentally conscious products.

Since achieving a remarkable $2.6 billion in retail sales by 2019, Kathy Ireland Worldwide has proven its ability to resonate with shoppers globally. With products available in over 50,000 stores across 50 countries, the global reach of her brand is undeniable.

Consumers can easily access stylish and affordable home decor that fits their lifestyles while contributing positively to the environment. Kathy's innovative approach guarantees that her offerings meet the modern consumer's needs, blending fashion and functionality seamlessly in every piece.

Home Design Brand Recognition

Home design brand recognition for Kathy Ireland Worldwide has skyrocketed over the years, thanks to its extensive product range and commitment to quality and affordability .

Since its inception in 1993, kiWW has expanded from a single line of socks to over 19,000 SKUs across various lifestyle categories, including home design products . By 2019, the brand achieved an impressive $2.6 billion in retail sales , solidifying its position as a leader in home products.

Kathy Ireland Worldwide emphasizes affordability and quality, catering primarily to busy moms and families seeking stylish yet practical home solutions. With products available in over 50,000 retail locations across 50 countries, the brand enjoys significant global brand recognition. Effective brand marketing strategies have also played a vital role in promoting kiWW's diverse offerings, allowing it to reach a broad audience.

Additionally, the company's dedication to sustainable practices has resonated with eco-conscious consumers, further enhancing its reputation within the home design industry. This combination of quality, affordability, and responsible practices continues to elevate Kathy Ireland Worldwide as a trusted name in home design products.

Design Philosophy on Sustainability

At the core of Kathy Ireland's design philosophy is a strong commitment to sustainability , prioritizing eco-friendly materials and processes to reduce environmental impact . Her brand, kathy ireland Worldwide, exemplifies this dedication by integrating eco-conscious initiatives that resonate with consumers who are increasingly aware of their environmental footprint.

Ireland actively champions responsible sourcing and ethical sourcing practices , ensuring that her product lines reflect a commitment to the planet's health. A notable example is her Diamonds by Kathy Ireland collection, which launched at the Luxury and JCK Shows in 2017. This collection highlights ethical sourcing, guaranteeing that all materials are conflict-free and responsibly mined.

Kathy's approach demonstrates that sustainability doesn't have to compromise profitability. Through her partnerships and innovative designs, she inspires other businesses to embrace sustainable practices, proving that you can achieve success while being environmentally responsible .

Public Reaction or Expert Opinions

As you explore Kathy Ireland's impact, you'll notice that her commitment to sustainability has earned her significant praise on social media.

Experts highlight her recognition through sustainable design awards , showcasing her influence in the design industry.

This blend of public admiration and professional acknowledgment illustrates how she's reshaping perceptions in both modeling and entrepreneurship .

Social Media Praise for Sustainability

Kathy Ireland's innovative approach to sustainability has garnered widespread praise on social media, with many fans celebrating her commitment to eco-friendly practices in her product lines. By focusing on sustainable business practices , Kathy Ireland Worldwide emphasizes the use of recycled materials and sustainable sourcing, which resonate deeply with her audience.

Experts in the fashion industry commend her for promoting green practices that align perfectly with the growing demand for environmentally friendly products. This positive public reaction is evident in the thriving community of followers she's built on various platforms. Her advocacy for responsible consumerism encourages others to make more conscious choices, further amplifying her impact.

The retail sales of her eco-friendly initiatives speak volumes, with figures reaching an impressive $2.6 billion by 2019. This success showcases not only the market's appetite for sustainable products but also positions Kathy Ireland as a leading figure in the movement toward greener living .

As more consumers prioritize sustainability, Ireland's brand continues to thrive, demonstrating that combining style with environmentally responsible practices can lead to significant growth and support.

Sustainable Design Awards Recognition

Winning the Sustainable Design Award reflects how Kathy Ireland's commitment to eco-friendly practices resonates with both consumers and industry experts alike. As the founder of kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW), she's made sustainable design a core principle in her brand. Experts commend her innovative approach , emphasizing that she balances affordability and quality , making eco-conscious choices accessible for all.

The public reaction to Kathy's sustainable initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive. Consumers increasingly demand environmentally responsible products , and Ireland's brand stands out in the lifestyle product sector . Her dedication to eco-friendly practices hasn't only gained traction with shoppers but has also attracted recognition from environmental organizations , showcasing her influence in the market.

The Sustainable Design Awards elevate discussions around sustainable practices in fashion and home goods, with Kathy Ireland's contributions playing a pivotal role in shaping emerging trends. Her ability to blend style and sustainability has positioned her as a leader in this space, inspiring others to follow suit.

As awareness grows, Kathy's work continues to inspire a shift toward more responsible consumerism , proving that sustainable design can indeed be both beautiful and practical.

Sustainable Design Industry Insights

The positive public reaction to Kathy Ireland's sustainable initiatives underscores her significant impact on the design industry, where eco-friendly practices are increasingly valued by consumers. Your awareness of sustainable materials and ethical sourcing is likely heightened by Ireland's commitment to environmental responsibility . Her brand, kathy ireland Worldwide, has embraced sustainable practices, contributing to a notable shift in consumer trends toward eco-friendly products.

Experts in the design industry recognize Ireland as a pioneer in merging fashion with environmental responsibility. They highlight her ability to influence other brands to adopt corporate social responsibility in their operations. This has led to a ripple effect, encouraging a broader movement within the industry toward greener alternatives.

Consumers appreciate brands that prioritize eco-friendly initiatives, valuing transparency and sustainability in their purchasing decisions. Ireland's initiatives resonate with a growing demographic that demands ethical sourcing and sustainable materials, ultimately shaping the future of design.

As you explore the landscape of sustainable design, you'll find that Ireland's contributions aren't just trends; they represent a fundamental shift toward a more responsible and conscious industry .

Broader Implications

Kathy Ireland's journey shows how fame can spark a shift toward sustainable practices in design.

As you explore her influence, you'll notice emerging eco-friendly design trends that reshape industry standards.

This movement not only highlights the importance of eco-conscious design but also empowers a new generation of entrepreneurs to prioritize sustainability.

Sustainable Practices in Design

Sustainable practices in design not only reflect a commitment to the environment but also resonate with consumers seeking responsible choices in their home products. When you choose eco-friendly product lines , you're not just making a purchase; you're supporting a movement toward sustainability.

Kathy Ireland's brand, kathy ireland Worldwide, exemplifies this shift by integrating sustainable materials into its designs, ensuring that every item contributes to a lower carbon footprint . By focusing on environmentally conscious manufacturing processes , her products stand out in a crowded market. You can feel good knowing that your choices help reduce environmental impact while enhancing your living space.

As you explore options for sustainable home design, consider how these principles can transform your home into a sanctuary that reflects your values. Ireland's commitment to educating consumers about these practices further strengthens her brand.

Emerging Eco-Friendly Design Trends

How are emerging eco-friendly design trends reshaping the way we think about fashion and home products?

You'll notice a significant shift towards sustainability as brands prioritize eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and recycled materials. This change reflects growing consumer preferences for products that not only look good but also adhere to environmental responsibility.

The sustainable fashion market is booming, projected to reach $8.25 billion by the end of 2023, driven by your increasing awareness and demand for green options . Brands are embracing innovative design practices, such as zero-waste patterns and upcycling, which challenge traditional production methods and promote a more sustainable approach.

As you explore these trends, you'll find that they're influencing broader regulatory changes and industry standards, pushing for transparency in sourcing and manufacturing. This shift not only enhances the appeal of eco-friendly products but also encourages a collective commitment to sustainability.

Eco-Conscious Design Influence

Emerging eco-friendly design trends aren't just changing individual brands; they're also prompting a wider shift in the industry, with leaders like Kathy Ireland setting a powerful example of how profitability and environmental responsibility can coexist.

By integrating eco-conscious design into her product lines, Kathy Ireland emphasizes sustainable business practices that resonate with consumers who value environmental stewardship.

Her company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, has adopted eco-friendly initiatives, utilizing organic materials and sustainable manufacturing processes to minimize environmental impact . This commitment not only enhances her brand's appeal but also inspires competitors in the retail sector to embrace similar environmentally responsible practices.

Kathy's influence extends beyond her own products; she's fostering a culture of sustainability across the industry. Through her philanthropic efforts , she supports initiatives that promote environmental health and sustainability within communities, reinforcing the idea that businesses can thrive while giving back.

As more brands follow her lead, the retail sector is witnessing a transformation, where eco-conscious design is becoming a standard rather than an exception. By prioritizing sustainability, Kathy Ireland showcases that you can achieve success while being a responsible steward of the planet.

When Did Kathy Ireland Become Famous?

Kathy Ireland became famous in 1989 when she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her consecutive features in that magazine and others solidified her status as a supermodel in the fashion industry.

Is Kathy Ireland Related to Charles Bronson?

No, Kathy Ireland isn't related to Charles Bronson. They come from different backgrounds and families, with Ireland having Irish and English roots, while Bronson was of Lithuanian descent. Their careers in entertainment are unrelated.

How Much Is Kathy Ireland Worth?

Kathy Ireland's net worth is estimated at around $360 million. Her entrepreneurial ventures, particularly through Kathy Ireland Worldwide, have generated significant retail sales, showcasing her success as one of America's most accomplished self-made women.

What Happened to Kathy Ireland?

Kathy Ireland moved from modeling to entrepreneurship, founding kathy ireland Worldwide. She's become a successful businesswoman, author, and philanthropist, advocating for important causes while maintaining a prominent presence in both the business and philanthropic communities.

Kathy Ireland's journey from a young model to a global brand icon showcases the power of determination and adaptability.

You can see how her early experiences shaped her career, leading to a successful shift into entrepreneurship.

As you reflect on her impact, it's clear that her story inspires many, proving that with hard work and vision, you can redefine your path.

Ultimately, Kathy's legacy encourages you to pursue your passions and embrace new opportunities.

Where Has Gloria Borger Been? – The Journalist's Latest Updates

Find out why Gloria Borger has been absent from CNN and what exciting projects she has in store for the upcoming election season!

Gloria Borger's been making waves in documentary filmmaking while addressing health speculation that caused her absence from CNN. As CNN's Chief Political Analyst, she's known for her sharp insights and storytelling. Recently, she's produced documentaries like "Fight for the White House: Joe Biden's Long Journey" and "All Business: The Essential Donald Trump," bringing complex political narratives to life. While some viewers have expressed concern over her absence, anticipation builds for her return, especially with the 2024 Presidential Election approaching. If you're curious about her upcoming projects and insights, stick around for more updates on her journey.

Gloria Borger's journey began in New Jersey, where she developed a passion for storytelling.

As CNN's first female political analyst , she made significant strides in political coverage, especially during key elections.

Her insights haven't only shaped the network's reputation but also your understanding of U.S. politics .

Born in New Jersey

Born on September 22, 1952, in New Rochelle, New York, just north of New Jersey, Borger's early life laid the groundwork for her future in journalism. Growing up in a vibrant area, Gloria developed a keen interest in storytelling and communication, which would ultimately shape her career. After graduating from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts in English, she dove into the world of journalism in the 1970s.

Her career took off as she covered major political events, allowing her to hone her skills and establish herself as a respected journalist. Before joining CNN in 2007, Gloria made significant contributions to CBS News as a national political correspondent. She also co-anchored CNBC's 'Capital Report,' where her insights and analysis stood out.

Throughout her career, Gloria has been recognized for her dedication to political journalism. In April 2023, she received a Hall of Fame achievement award from Washington Women in Journalism, highlighting her impact on the field. Her New Rochelle roots and commitment to delivering accurate news continue to define her journey as a prominent journalist today.

Cnn's First Female Political Analyst

With a strong foundation in journalism , Borger made history as CNN's first female political analyst , shaping the network's political discourse since her arrival in 2007. You can see how her extensive experience has brought a unique perspective to CNN's political coverage.

Before joining CNN, Gloria Borger honed her skills as a national political correspondent at CBS News and as a columnist for U.S. News & World Report, which laid the groundwork for her insightful analysis.

Since stepping into her role, Borger has become a trusted voice during major elections and significant political events. Her engaging storytelling and sharp insights have resonated with audiences, making complex political dynamics more accessible.

As Chief Political Analyst, she continues to elevate CNN's reputation in political journalism, providing expert commentary that influences public understanding of key issues.

Borger's journey not only highlights her personal achievements but also signifies a broader shift in the media landscape, where female voices are increasingly recognized for their contributions.

Today, you can count on Gloria Borger for thorough, nuanced political coverage that keeps viewers informed and engaged.

CNN Political Coverage Milestones

CNN's political coverage has reached significant milestones, showcasing a commitment to insightful analysis and in-depth reporting during essential events.

You might remember Gloria Borger's impactful role during the 2008 and 2016 Presidential Elections . Her sharp political analysis provided viewers with a deeper understanding of the election landscape, making her a trusted source.

In 2012, Borger was integral to CNN's Emmy award-winning election night coverage , demonstrating her expertise in real-time political analysis . This moment emphasized CNN's dedication to delivering quality journalism during critical political events.

Additionally, Borger has produced several award-winning documentaries that profile major political figures, such as Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which have further solidified CNN's reputation.

Her contributions extend to covering significant events like the RNC and DNC conventions , where her insights have made her a leading voice in political analysis.

Furthermore, Borger's extensive reporting on pivotal Supreme Court rulings and other key political moments reinforces CNN's commitment to thorough coverage .

With milestones like these, CNN continues to be a significant player in the domain of political journalism.

You might be curious about Gloria Borger's current projects, especially as she moves to documentary filmmaking .

Her involvement in a new CNN documentary series showcases her dedication to impactful storytelling .

This change not only highlights her versatility but also keeps her engaged with the political landscape in a fresh way.

New CNN Documentary Series

A new documentary series is in the works that will dive deep into essential political events and figures, showcasing Gloria Borger 's insights and expertise. This series aims to provide an in-depth analysis of key moments from recent election cycles, featuring interviews with significant political players . With Borger's commentary, you'll gain valuable context and clarity on complex issues.

CNN's commitment to thorough political coverage shines through this initiative, as it highlights Borger's notable contributions in research and interviews. You can expect the series to air in the upcoming months, perfectly timed with important political events leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election . This timing is strategic, ensuring that you stay informed and engaged with the unfolding political landscape.

Borger's involvement in this documentary series underscores her ongoing influence as a senior political analyst . Her expertise will help shape public understanding of intricate political narratives, making this series a must-watch for anyone interested in the nuances of politics. As the series unfolds, you'll appreciate how Borger's insights illuminate the ever-evolving world of political discourse.

Transition to Documentary Filmmaking

How has Gloria Borger's change to documentary filmmaking reshaped her approach to storytelling in politics ?

This transformation has allowed her to explore deeper into the lives of political figures, presenting their stories with a fresh perspective. With documentaries like ' Fight for the White House : Joe Biden's Long Journey ' and 'All Business: The Essential Donald Trump,' she showcases her keen ability for political analysis .

Borger's documentaries provide an in-depth look at the complexities surrounding these prominent political figures, reflecting her expertise and commitment to insightful storytelling. By focusing on the narratives behind their public personas , she offers audiences a nuanced understanding of American politics.

This approach not only highlights their journeys but also frames the broader political landscape in a way that traditional news coverage often misses. Moreover, her engagement with current political discourse on CNN enhances her documentaries' impact, blending real-time analysis with her storytelling.

The change to documentary filmmaking has expanded her narrative toolkit, enabling her to connect with viewers on a more personal level while maintaining her journalistic integrity . Ultimately, Borger's work enriches public discourse by illuminating the intricate stories of the political world.

Documentary Filmmaking Projects

Focusing on her latest documentary projects , Gloria Borger continues to explore the intricacies of American politics , bringing fresh perspectives to the forefront. Her recent works, like 'All Business: The Essential Donald Trump' and 'Fight for the White House: Joe Biden's Long Journey,' showcase her talent for delivering in-depth insights into major political figures and events.

Borger's documentaries often feature exclusive interviews with significant political personalities , enhancing the narrative and providing unique viewpoints. This approach not only captivates audiences but also plays an essential role in shaping public understanding during pivotal election cycles. Her storytelling combines thorough research with engaging visuals, making complex political subjects more accessible to everyone.

With each new documentary, Borger's commitment to uncovering the nuances of the political landscape remains evident. She endeavors to educate viewers, ensuring they grasp the vital issues at play in American politics.

As she continues her work in documentary filmmaking, it's clear that her passion for storytelling and dedication to delivering meaningful insights will keep you informed and engaged. Keep an eye out for her upcoming projects that promise to investigate even deeper into the heart of American political life.

You'll want to reflect on the impact of Gloria Borger 's recent involvement in a CNN documentary and how it reflects a shift in public perception about her role.

Her absence from the screen raises questions about the insights she brings to the political landscape.

Let's explore how these elements intertwine and what they mean for her future contributions.

Recent CNN Documentary Involvement

Gloria Borger has made a considerable impact in the documentary landscape at CNN with her recent work, including the compelling ' Fight for the White House : Joe Biden's Long Journey .' This documentary provides an in-depth exploration of President Joe Biden's political career , featuring exclusive interviews that give the public a closer look at his journey. Borger's ability to connect with political figures enriches the storytelling, making complex narratives accessible.

In addition to her work on Biden, Borger was involved in creating 'All Business: The Essential Donald Trump.' This documentary traced Trump's evolution from childhood to his candidacy, showcasing Borger's skill in portraying multifaceted political figures . Her documentaries have received acclaim for their thoroughness, considerably enhancing public understanding of the political landscape.

Borger's interviews with key political figures, including former presidential nominees, highlight her expertise. Her exclusive conversation with Biden before the 2014 midterm elections exemplifies her knack for securing pivotal moments in political history .

Shift in Public Perception

The recent speculation about Borger's health has greatly altered public perception , highlighting the deep connection viewers have with her as a trusted political analyst . As Gloria Borger's absence from CNN sparked discussions about her health status, many realized just how much they value her insights. This situation showcases the human aspect of journalism, where audiences don't just see a figure on a screen; they engage with a personality who's become a familiar voice in political discourse.

Support from viewers and colleagues flooded in during her time away, demonstrating a strong community bond . This support underscores the emotional investment people have in her work and well-being. Additionally, the buzz around her health status has shifted audience engagement with CNN, revealing how a prominent figure's absence can greatly influence public interest.

However, this speculation also raises ethical concerns . Public figures like Borger should be able to manage their health disclosures without outside pressure.

As anticipation builds for her return, it's clear that her valued presence is missed and that her contributions profoundly shape public understanding of political events.

Insights on Political Landscape

As public interest in political analysis grows, understanding the evolving American political landscape becomes increasingly significant for voters traversing the complexities of upcoming elections.

Gloria Borger, a seasoned analyst, brings valuable insights into the intricate web of political issues shaping our society. Her deep understanding of regional differences highlights how geography influences electoral outcomes and party affiliation.

Borger's political coverage isn't just about reporting; she connects the dots between complex political narratives and the public's understanding. By utilizing a wide network of sources, she guarantees her analysis reflects diverse perspectives , making it accessible to everyone. This approach helps voters navigate the often confusing political landscape.

With the 2024 Presidential Election on the horizon, Borger's expertise will be vital in interpreting key political decisions and their implications for the electorate. You can expect her detailed analyses to shed light on how ongoing political divisions affect voter behavior.

Staying informed through her insights will empower you to make educated decisions as you engage with the evolving political climate.

You might've noticed a wave of viewer reactions on social media, with many expressing their support for Gloria Borger during her absence.

Ratings and feedback reveal just how much her insights are missed, especially during pivotal political moments.

Industry experts are weighing in too, discussing her significant impact on CNN's programming and the broader landscape of political commentary .

Viewer Tweets and Reactions

Viewers are actively expressing their concern over Gloria Borger's absence from CNN, flooding social media with well-wishes and hopes for her quick return. As CNN's senior political analyst , Borger's insights have been invaluable, and many viewers feel her absence creates a significant void in the network's political analysis. Tweets from fans not only showcase their admiration for her work but also highlight how much they miss her presence during vital political discussions .

Supportive messages from both colleagues and viewers reflect a strong community sentiment, emphasizing the impact Borger has had on political discourse. Many are urging CNN to provide updates on her health status , indicating a desire for transparency that resonates with her loyal audience. The public's reactions underline a collective concern for Borger's well-being, while also expressing hope for her return to the screen.

Expert opinions on social media suggest that Borger's absence might affect viewer engagement , particularly during essential political moments. This sentiment indicates how deeply viewers value her contributions and the role she plays in shaping their understanding of current events.

Viewer Ratings and Feedback

Gloria Borger's absence has noticeably impacted viewer ratings , with many expressing their longing for her insightful political analysis during critical events. Her unique ability to simplify complex political narratives has left a noticeable void in CNN's political coverage . Many viewers have taken to social media, sharing their concerns and highlighting just how much they miss her contributions.

Feedback from political commentators and experts further emphasizes Borger's significance. A recent survey among CNN viewers revealed that a majority of respondents long for her return, believing that her absence has diminished the quality of political discussions. While some analysts have stepped up to fill the gap, audiences feel that no one quite matches Borger's expertise and perspective.

Interestingly, her absence has also sparked increased viewer engagement with other political analysts on CNN. As audiences seek to navigate the ongoing political landscape , they appear to be more active in discussions, driven by a desire for the analysis Borger used to provide.

Industry Perspectives on Borger's Impact

Many industry experts agree that Borger's absence has greatly impacted CNN's political discourse , highlighting her unique ability to clarify complex issues for viewers. Her insightful analysis has been a staple in CNN's political coverage, especially during vital events leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election.

As you might've noticed, the gap left by Gloria Borger isn't just felt among fans; it resonates strongly within the journalism community . Colleagues and media analysts have emphasized how her insights are irreplaceable , noting that her compassionate approach to reporting humanizes complex political narratives.

Public reactions have revealed a significant enthusiasm for her return, with many viewers expressing concern for her well-being while simultaneously longing for her expert commentary. This situation has sparked a broader conversation about the challenges journalists face, emphasizing the importance of supporting them during personal health struggles.

As the political landscape heats up, the anticipation surrounding Borger's comeback continues to grow. Her established reputation as a leading voice in political analysis makes her insights highly sought after, proving that her presence is essential for CNN's political coverage and the audience's understanding of current events.

Gloria Borger's absence highlights the essential role pioneering female political analysts play in shaping media narratives.

As you consider her influence, think about how her upcoming documentary could spotlight the achievements of women in media and inspire future generations.

Her legacy as a trailblazer emphasizes the importance of representation and the ongoing need for diverse voices in political journalism .

Pioneering Female Political Analysts

The rise of pioneering female political analysts like Gloria Borger has considerably reshaped the landscape of political commentary, ensuring that women's voices are heard and respected in a field once dominated by men. Since the 1970s, Borger has broken barriers in journalism, proving that female political analysts can deliver insightful, impactful commentary.

Her work at CNN as a senior political analyst highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping public discourse. By providing in-depth analysis of major political events, Borger not only influences viewers but also inspires future generations of women journalists to enter the field.

The increasing visibility of female political analysts has broader implications for media representation , fostering a more inclusive political landscape. As women like Borger gain recognition, they pave the way for others, challenging traditional norms and expectations.

This shift encourages news organizations to prioritize gender diversity , enriching the quality of journalism. By amplifying women's voices, the political discourse becomes more representative and nuanced, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.

Borger's contributions are a demonstration of the power of pioneering female analysts in transforming the media landscape.

Upcoming Documentary Release Plans

Set to release soon, a new documentary explores the political landscape leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election , focusing on key voter demographics and party dynamics .

You can expect this upcoming documentary to provide a thorough political analysis, drawing on Gloria Borger 's extensive experience in the field. She'll investigate how recent elections have shaped American political views and what that means for future voter behavior.

Borger's work will highlight the ongoing polarization within the Republican Party , examining its implications for the electoral process . By incorporating firsthand accounts and expert opinions, she aims to enrich the narrative and offer viewers a deeper understanding of the factors influencing voter demographics today.

With her established reputation for compelling storytelling, this documentary is likely to attract significant viewership. It promises to not only inform but also provoke thought about the evolving nature of American politics .

As you prepare for the release, consider how these insights might impact your understanding of the upcoming election and the broader political climate. Gloria Borger's latest project is poised to be an essential resource for anyone interested in the dynamics of democracy in action.

Trailblazer for Women in Media

Recognized for her impactful contributions , Borger not only enriches political discourse but also serves as a powerful role model for women in media. As a trailblazer in political journalism, she breaks barriers and paves the way for future generations of female journalists. Her leadership and expertise, highlighted by her recent Hall of Fame achievement award from Washington Women in Journalism, showcase the significance of women's voices in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Borger's extensive experience in covering significant political events and producing award-winning documentaries exemplifies her dedication to advancing women's perspectives in media. Her insights resonate with diverse audiences and inspire aspiring journalists to find their own voices. By actively participating in high-stakes political reporting, she not only shapes public discourse but also reinforces the need for representation in journalism .

As you follow her journey, you'll recognize how essential it's to have strong female figures like Borger in media. Her accomplishments serve as a reminder that embracing diversity in journalism enriches the narrative, ultimately leading to a more informed society. You can take inspiration from her work and endeavor to make your own mark in the industry.

Where Is Gloria Borger on Cnn?

You might've noticed that Gloria Borger hasn't been on CNN lately. It's sparked speculation about her whereabouts, but there's no official word yet on her return. Fans enthusiastically await her insights and analysis.

How Much Money Does Gloria Borger Make?

Gloria Borger's estimated salary at CNN is around $250,000 per year. This figure reflects her extensive experience and contributions to political journalism, along with potential earnings from speaking engagements and documentary productions.

Is Gloria Borger Still Married?

Yes, Gloria Borger's still married to Lance Morgan. They tied the knot in 1975 and have built a strong partnership over the years, supporting each other's careers while raising their two children in Washington, D.C.

Who Are the CNN Political Analysts?

CNN's political analysts include Gloria Borger, David Axelrod, Van Jones, Ana Navarro, and John Avlon. Each brings unique insights, covering events like elections and debates, enhancing your understanding of complex political landscapes.

To sum up, Gloria Borger remains a prominent figure in journalism , consistently delivering insightful commentary and analysis .

Her recent updates highlight her ongoing commitment to addressing current events with clarity and depth.

As you follow her work, you'll see how she navigates the complexities of today's political landscape , engaging both audiences and experts alike.

Staying informed about her contributions not only enriches your understanding but also connects you to the broader implications of her reporting.

John O'Leary – The Speaker's Inspirational Journey

Step into John O'Leary's extraordinary journey of survival and transformation, where resilience sparks hope and inspires countless lives—discover the secrets behind his powerful message.

John O'Leary's journey is nothing short of remarkable. After surviving a tragic fire with just a 1% chance to live , he transformed his pain into purpose. Now, he inspires over 50,000 people each year with his powerful messages about resilience and hope . O'Leary's bestselling books and dynamic keynote speeches resonate deeply with audiences, encouraging them to embrace vulnerability and creativity. His focus lies in personal growth and overcoming adversity , making a significant impact in various communities. If you want to uncover more about his transformation and powerful insights, you'll find even greater inspiration ahead.

John O'Leary's journey began in his childhood near St. Louis, where a tragic fire accident changed his life forever.

Despite the odds, he found his voice and became a national bestseller , enchanting audiences with his powerful story.

Today, he's a sought-after keynote speaker, inspiring thousands with each engagement.

Childhood Near St. Louis

Growing up near St. Louis, Missouri, a tragic fire incident at nine years old forever changed the course of his life. While playing with matches and gasoline, John O'Leary found himself in a situation that would lead to catastrophic burns covering 100% of his body. The fire left him fighting for survival , with doctors giving him less than a 1% chance.

During those five grueling months in the hospital, John faced numerous surgeries and intense physical therapy. Yet, amidst the pain and uncertainty, it was a pivotal conversation with his mother that sparked his will to live. She encouraged him to embrace life, instilling in him the importance of resilience .

This harrowing experience shaped John's childhood and perspective on life. He learned to appreciate each day, understanding that challenges could be overcome with determination and a positive mindset .

The fire incident became more than just a tragedy; it turned into a powerful lesson about resilience and the strength of the human spirit . John's journey illustrates how even in the darkest moments, one can find the light and choose to thrive.

National Bestseller Recognition

O'Leary's journey as an author took off when his first book, 'On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life,' quickly became a # 1 national bestseller , enthralling readers around the world. Selling over 200,000 copies and translated into 12 languages, this bestselling book has inspired countless individuals to embrace a more empowered life .

In May 2020, O'Leary continued his success with his second book, 'In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder ,' which also achieved #1 bestseller status. His engaging storytelling and profound insights have struck a chord with audiences, illustrating the power of personal growth and motivation .

The impact of both books, combined with the popularity of his 'Live Inspired Podcast,' highlights O'Leary's significant role in the self-help arena. He doesn't just share his experiences; he invites you to undertake a journey of inspiration and transformation .

Through his words, you can find the motivation to ignite your passion and live a life filled with purpose . O'Leary's national bestseller recognition isn't just a title; it's proof of his ability to inspire and connect with readers on a deep level.

Keynote Speaker Engagements

Building on his success as an author, O'Leary captivates audiences as a keynote speaker , engaging over 50,000 individuals annually across more than 100 events. His presentations are known for emotional storytelling that connects deeply with listeners. You'll find that his humor and authenticity create an inviting atmosphere, making complex themes relatable and actionable.

John tailors his keynote messages to various industries, including executive leadership, sales and marketing, healthcare, and education. This customization guarantees that his content resonates with each audience's unique needs. Themes like 'The Power of One' and 'Be the Light' focus on individual impact , encouraging attendees to take accountability and foster positive change in their environments.

With a speaking fee between $25,000 and $30,000, John is recognized as one of the top speakers in the industry. His high referral rates, nearly 100%, reflect his effectiveness and the lasting impressions he leaves behind.

When you attend one of his events, you're not just hearing a speech; you're experiencing a transformative journey that inspires personal growth and collective action.

John O'Leary's journey continues to evolve with exciting new updates for you to explore.

He's gearing up to announce a new book release , along with fresh speaking engagement opportunities that promise to inspire.

Plus, get ready for an upcoming podcast series that will take personal growth discussions to the next level.

New Book Release Announcement

Discover the transformative power of curiosity and joy in life with John O'Leary's latest book, 'In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder ,' which became a # 1 national bestseller shortly after its May 2020 release.

This new book release invites you to reconnect with the childlike wonder that often fades in adulthood. O'Leary emphasizes that embracing curiosity can lead to profound inspiration and a more fulfilling life.

Readers around the world have resonated with O'Leary's message, as he shares personal stories and insights that ignite a sense of awe in everyday experiences. The book highlights the significance of nurturing joy and curiosity , encouraging you to explore life with fresh eyes .

Since its launch, 'In Awe' has contributed to O'Leary's impressive book sales , which now exceed 200,000 copies of his first book, 'On Fire.'

As he continues to inspire through his writing, speaking engagements, and upcoming film adaptation, O'Leary's commitment to spreading positivity and motivation remains unwavering.

Immerse yourself in 'In Awe' and rediscover the magic that's waiting for you in the world around you.

New Speaking Engagement Opportunities

With the success of 'In Awe' resonating with readers, new speaking engagement opportunities are now available for those enthusiastic to experience O'Leary's inspiring messages firsthand . Each of his speaking engagements is designed to foster personal growth , helping you tap into your potential and embrace a victor mindset .

O'Leary's keynotes draw from his rich experiences, emphasizing the importance of individual impact and collective responsibility. You'll discover how to recognize daily inflection points, turning ordinary moments into transformative experiences . His engaging presentations blend emotional storytelling with humor, making them not only impactful but also enjoyable.

Whether you're in executive leadership , healthcare, or education, O'Leary tailors his talks to meet your specific needs, ensuring relevance and maximum impact. By attending one of his events, you'll join countless others who've been inspired and motivated to take action and foster hope within their communities.

Don't miss out on the chance to bring O'Leary's powerful messages to your organization. Reach out to secure your spot at one of his upcoming speaking engagements and witness firsthand the transformation he inspires.

Upcoming Podcast Series Launch

Launching a new podcast series, O'Leary aims to inspire listeners with transformative stories and valuable insights for personal growth . This exciting initiative will feature a diverse range of guests , each sharing their unique experiences and strategies for overcoming adversity while embracing life to the fullest.

With over 2,000,000 downloads of his previous 'Live Inspired Podcast,' O'Leary's new series is set to build on that momentum and reach an even wider audience. The episodes will explore key themes from his bestselling books, 'On Fire' and 'In Awe,' encouraging you to rediscover joy and purpose in your life.

Regularly released episodes will provide ongoing motivation , practical tools, and inspiration for your personal growth journey. By tuning in, you'll gain access to insightful discussions that challenge you to think differently and push beyond your limits.

Get ready to be inspired as O'Leary shares powerful stories and wisdom that can change your perspective. This podcast promises to be a beacon of hope and empowerment , guiding you towards a more fulfilling life. Don't miss the opportunity to commence on this transformative journey with him!

As you explore John O'Leary's impactful journey , you'll notice recent keynote engagements that showcase his dynamic presence.

His influence on the public speaking landscape is undeniable, inspiring many to embrace vulnerability and authenticity .

Plus, you'll discover how he encourages audiences to rediscover their childlike wonder , igniting a spark of creativity and joy.

Recent Keynote Engagement Highlights

John O'Leary's recent keynote engagements highlight his unique ability to captivate audiences, drawing on emotional storytelling and humor to create impactful experiences. As an inspirational speaker , he reaches over 50,000 individuals annually, connecting with diverse audiences across various industries. His presentations, rich in personal storytelling, resonate deeply, making complex themes more relatable and actionable.

In his engaging talks, O'Leary focuses on key themes like ' The Power of One ' and ' Be the Light .' These messages emphasize the significance of individual actions and the importance of hope and resilience during difficult times. He doesn't shy away from discussing critical issues such as employee engagement , highlighting that 70% of the workforce feels disengaged. His insights promote a culture of creativity and productivity, inspiring audiences to take meaningful steps within their organizations.

Feedback from event organizers consistently reflects high satisfaction rates , with nearly 100% praising his effectiveness. O'Leary's ability to inspire not only motivates attendees but also encourages them to pursue personal growth and a more purposeful existence. With each engagement, he reinforces the power of connection and the impact one person can have on many.

Influence on Public Speaking Landscape

The impact of John O'Leary on the public speaking landscape is profound, as he's transformed the way audiences connect with personal stories and motivational messages . By sharing his journey from a tragic accident survivor to a beacon of hope, he's shown you how adversity can fuel personal growth and inspire meaningful change. His ability to engage with diverse audiences across 49 states and multiple countries highlights his universal appeal and the effectiveness of his approach.

O'Leary's first book, 'On Fire,' became a # 1 national bestseller , selling over 200,000 copies. This success not only solidifies his influence but also demonstrates how powerful storytelling can resonate with readers and listeners alike. His unique blend of humor and emotional depth makes his presentations memorable, enhancing audience engagement and satisfaction.

With nearly 100% referral rates for his speaking engagements, it's clear that audiences appreciate his message of hope and resilience . O'Leary's commitment to delivering inspiration and motivation in his talks has set a new standard in public speaking, encouraging other speakers to embrace vulnerability and authenticity in their own narratives.

Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder

Rediscovering your childlike wonder can open a world of joy and curiosity , transforming everyday experiences into moments of magic and possibility. John O'Leary's book, *IN AWE: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder*, emphasizes the profound impact that embracing this sense of wonder can have on your life. By reconnecting with the joy you once felt as a child, you can shift your mindset and appreciate the beauty in the mundane.

O'Leary shares personal anecdotes that illustrate how this rediscovery leads to significant personal growth . He encourages you to ask questions, explore your surroundings , and approach life with an open heart . When you embrace childlike wonder , you invite creativity and excitement back into your daily routine. This shift can help you overcome challenges and ignite a passion for learning .

As you read *IN AWE*, you'll find inspiration to live purposefully and recognize the transformative power of choice . By cultivating a sense of curiosity, you'll not only enhance your own life but also inspire those around you. Rediscovering your childlike wonder is a journey worth taking, filled with endless possibilities for growth and fulfillment.

You can see how John O'Leary's presentations spark strong emotional responses from audiences, with many sharing their transformative experiences online.

People frequently engage with trending hashtags and leave heartfelt comments, showcasing their appreciation for his storytelling.

These reactions highlight the deep connection he fosters, making his sessions not just speeches, but memorable events .

Trending Hashtags and Comments

Engaging with John O'Leary's inspiring journey has ignited a wave of trending hashtags like #LiveInspired and #ChooseJoy, reflecting a community enthusiastic to share their own experiences of resilience and personal growth.

You'll find social media buzzing with comments that celebrate individual stories of overcoming adversity, showcasing how John's message resonates deeply with people from all walks of life.

With over 2, 000 ,000 downloads of the 'Live Inspired Podcast', it's clear that listeners are keen for motivation and inspiration. Many users express gratitude for John's powerful insights, emphasizing how his teachings have sparked transformative changes in their lives.

The hashtag #LiveInspired has become a rallying cry for those committed to embracing their potential and holding themselves accountable.

As you scroll through the comments, you'll see countless testimonials highlighting how John's emphasis on personal choices empowers individuals to take charge of their narratives.

The community of over 100,000 supporters fosters an environment where shared experiences fuel inspiration and resilience, encouraging everyone to pursue their own paths of personal growth.

This collective engagement illustrates the profound impact John O'Leary's story has on people globally.

Readers' Emotional Reactions

Audience members consistently express profound emotional reactions to John O'Leary's storytelling, often describing his presentations as transformative and deeply impactful . Many attendees, like Kathy Beard from Stryker Biotech, highlight the compelling and personal nature of John's narrative, which fosters a strong emotional connection . This connection leads to a remarkable level of inspiration, with audience members proclaiming his talk as the most meaningful they've ever experienced.

Mark Harmon from LEGO® even referred to John's event as a life-changing experience , illustrating the depth of John's impact on diverse audiences. The emotional resonance of his message not only touches hearts but also encourages actionable change . After implementing lessons from John's training, customer satisfaction scores significantly improved, confirming the positive response to his motivational approach.

Feedback consistently points to John's ability to inspire and motivate , with many audience members awarding him high star ratings for his live performances. This widespread appreciation reflects how his stories ignite feelings of hope and determination, proving that the emotional impact of his presentations lingers long after the event concludes. John's influence is clear: he inspires change , leaving audiences moved and motivated.

Audience Engagement Insights

The profound emotional reactions elicited by John's storytelling pave the way for insightful audience engagement , revealing how his presentations resonate on multiple levels.

You'll notice that feedback from attendees often highlights just how meaningful John's talks are compared to other speakers. For instance, Kathy Beard from Stryker Biotech emphasized that his compelling and personal stories deeply resonate with the audience.

Mark Harmon from LEGO® described John's event as life-changing , showcasing the impactful nature of his message . This isn't just talk; it translates into tangible results. Following John's motivational sessions, customer satisfaction scores improved , indicating a positive transformation in team dynamics.

Moreover, audience members are encouraged to leave star ratings for John's live performances, underscoring the importance of feedback in enhancing future events . This engagement not only helps John refine his approach but also fosters a community where attendees feel valued and heard.

Ultimately, the insights gathered from audience reactions reveal that John's ability to connect emotionally leads to impactful experiences that inspire change and ignite a sense of purpose among participants.

As you consider John O'Leary's impact, you'll see how he's transforming keynote speaker standards by blending personal storytelling with actionable insights .

His emerging online workshop series amplifies this shift, making inspiration accessible to broader audiences.

Ultimately, O'Leary's approach showcases the power of storytelling in changing lives and fostering meaningful connections .

Transforming Keynote Speaker Standards

Transforming keynote speaker standards requires a shift towards emotional storytelling and authentic engagement that resonates with audiences across various industries.

You'll notice that speakers like John O'Leary excel by weaving powerful narratives that empower attendees to embrace change. His emphasis on themes such as ' The Power of One ' cultivates a culture of accountability , encouraging individuals to take charge of their own journeys.

O'Leary's ability to connect through humor and authenticity not only inspires but also drives action. With over 50,000 individuals inspired annually, his keynotes demonstrate a growing demand for speakers who can motivate and engage through compelling storytelling. This approach addresses modern challenges, such as employee disengagement, promoting the importance of creativity and productivity in workplaces.

Moreover, by tailoring messages to specific sectors like healthcare and education, O'Leary highlights the need for speakers to adapt their content to meet diverse audience needs.

As you consider the evolving landscape of keynote speaking, remember that fostering genuine connections and empowering individuals through impactful stories will set the new standard for speakers in every industry. This transformation is essential for inspiring change and driving meaningful engagement.

Emerging Online Workshop Series

Focusing on personal empowerment , John O'Leary's emerging online workshop series invites you to explore the transformative power of choice in overcoming adversity . Each workshop is designed to inspire you, drawing from insights in his bestselling books, 'On Fire' and 'In Awe.'

You'll engage in discussions and activities that emphasize how your mindset can considerably impact your personal growth. As you participate, you'll discover practical strategies for igniting a radically inspired life and rediscovering the childlike wonder you may have lost.

This series isn't just about individual empowerment; it fosters a sense of community , allowing you to connect with others who share similar journeys. You'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded individuals who are enthusiastic to support one another in their quests for fulfillment.

O'Leary's commitment to awakening audiences from accidental living shines through in each session. By taking actionable steps together, you can cultivate a more purposeful existence .

The workshop serves as a catalyst for change, encouraging you to embrace your choices and harness the transformative potential of empowerment. Join this journey, and start making choices that lead to a more inspired life.

Transforming Lives Through Storytelling

Storytelling has the power to ignite change , allowing individuals to connect deeply with their experiences and find inspiration in the journeys of others.

John O'Leary's incredible narrative of survival after a devastating fire exemplifies this truth. His story of resilience resonates with audiences, showing them that even in the darkest moments, hope and strength can prevail. Through his emotional storytelling , he inspires people to confront their challenges head-on.

When you engage with O'Leary's work, whether through his bestselling book or his 'Live Inspired Podcast,' you're not just hearing a story; you're discovering tools for personal growth . His keynotes emphasize accountability and mindset, encouraging you to recognize your potential and push beyond limits. By sharing transformative tales , O'Leary creates a ripple effect, motivating individuals to embrace life fully and spark collective change in their communities.

As you absorb these narratives, you're invited to reflect on your own experiences. Each story has the power to inspire you to act, fostering a culture of resilience that can uplift those around you.

In this way, storytelling becomes a catalyst for transformation , both personally and collectively.

Who Was the Motivational Speaker Who Was Burned?

The motivational speaker who was burned is John O'Leary. He survived a devastating fire accident at nine, overcoming incredible odds and now inspires others to embrace life and face adversity with courage and purpose.

How Old Was John O'leary When He Was Burned?

John O'Leary was just nine years old when he experienced a life-changing event that would shape his perspective. That age marked the beginning of a remarkable journey of resilience and transformation you'll find inspiring.

Where Did John O'leary Go to College?

You'll find that John O'Leary attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication. This education considerably shaped his storytelling abilities and future speaking career.

To sum up, John O'Leary's journey is a powerful reminder of resilience and the human spirit . His ability to overcome adversity and inspire others shows that no matter the challenges you face, there's always hope and potential for growth.

As you reflect on his story, remember that your own experiences can also inspire those around you. Embrace your journey, share your lessons, and never underestimate the impact of your words and actions on others.

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10 Famous Motivational Speeches You Need to Hear

• Carolyn Manion Kinnie
• April 1, 2024

Table of Contents

At The Speaker Lab, we’re dedicated to helping you launch and scale your speaking business. Since we’re dedicated to helping speaking professionals succeed, it stands to reason that we have a few favorite examples of our own! Today, we want to share some of the motivational speeches that our team thinks are most worth the listen. While you can find hundreds of inspirational talks on the internet, we think there’s something really special about these ten talks. Whether you want to be a speaker yourself or just need a mood boost, each of these examples is sure to leave you ample fuel for motivation and reflection! 

Topics of the speeches we cover today range from psychology and relationships, to goal-setting and growth, to effective leadership, to personal stories that carry weighty lessons. For each speech, we’ll include some insights into what really sets these talks apart. We also highly recommend setting some time aside to give each on its own and form your own opinions! Let’s dive into some of these amazing motivational speeches so you can see (or hear!) for yourself why we love them so much. 

1. Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

We’re going to start with almost a too-obvious choice. You will see Brené Brown’s name pop up on just about any  list of important motivational speeches. And with good reason! This 2011 TED talk isn’t just one of the most-watched TED talks of all time. It’s an incredible investigation into the roles that connection, shame and vulnerability play in human relationships. It’s also an eye-opening exploration into why we all tend to shrink from vulnerability and what could happen if we flipped the script. And from a purely public speaking standpoint, it’s a great display of Brown’s wit and charisma. If you struggle with vulnerability in your own life or are trying to understand why a loved one keeps shutting you out, Brown’s short but impactful talk might have some answers for you. 

We covered this motivational speech in our recent article about pathos because Brown is a master of emotional connection. She backs up her argument with ample academic research, but connects her message to real, relatable experiences throughout. As she narrates her own experiences in a therapist’s office, she invites the audience to walk through those experiences with her. Making psychological research accessible to the masses is no easy feat, but Brown manages to do it with storytelling and humor. Her greatest lesson, perhaps, comes in how vulnerability can teach how to treat ourselves kindly.

“Our job is to look and say, “You know what? You’re imperfect, and you’re wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”

2. Simon Sinek: “How great leaders inspire action”

Simon Sinek is a world-renowned author and speaker with an incredible knack for delivering profound and easily intelligible advice on leadership, business, and success. He has written several books and delivered many motivational speeches. His TED talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” which grew out of his first book, is perhaps the most well-known. Similarly to Brown’s speech, we think no list of the best motivational speeches would be complete without it. In short, it’s an analysis of how people like Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King Jr., and the Wright Brothers managed to accomplish amazing, unheard of things. Sinek theorizes that there is a unique way that great leaders communicate, and that’s how they get things done. 

If you’re a leader but don’t understand why your marketing and sales fall flat, or if you long to start a company but don’t know how to tap into what makes people excited about a business, Sinek has wisdom to share for you. His speech is for you if you’ll ever be in a leadership position or struggle to pinpoint your professional mission. And if you’re curious about why people trust certain political leaders and not others, you’ll want to listen to this speech. Sinek is a master of words and he distills a lot of fascinating information into simple stories and lessons about innovation and leadership. Give this one a listen to get fired up about what you believe and how you can make an impact with those beliefs. 

“ People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe.

3. Steve Jobs: Stanford Commencement speech  

Commencement addresses can be hit or miss. Sometimes they fill graduating seniors with energy and inspiration for the life ahead, other times they get a few laughs and more than a few yawns. Even celebrities and business leaders aren’t always up to the task of sending young adults off into the world. But in 2005 at Stanford University, Steve Jobs not only rose to the task, but outstripped expectations by delivering an iconic motivational speech that today is the most-watched commencement speech on YouTube. 

If you’ve been around The Speaker Lab for a while, you know we’re big fans of storytelling . Steve Jobs illustrates our favorite speaking strategy by structuring his remarks as three stories. The first: his experience as a college dropout and how it paved the path to his future. The second: his expulsion from Apple that allowed him to found Pixar and meet his wife, among other endeavors. And finally: his first brush with cancer and the second chance at life he was provided. While the last story rings differently in light of Jobs’s death in 2011, the wisdom he draws from the twists and turns of his life is applicable to far more than college seniors. 

The lessons of Jobs’s commencement address are myriad, and it’s a speech you’ll keep coming back to at different points in your life. Fortunately he summed them up himself:

“ Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” 

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4. Randy Pausch: “The Last Lecture: Really Achieving your Childhood Dreams”

Randy Pausch was a pioneer in software and virtual reality development and a longtime professor at Carnegie Mellon University. In his 40s, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just a few months to live. He delivered a final lecture as part of a series where academics were asked to give a talk on a topic that was deeply important to them–and he spoke about his childhood dreams.

Pausch showed his cancer scans at the start of his presentation, letting his audience sit with the reality of his terminal diagnosis. But his regular jokes (including onstage pushups) lightened the mood and allowed his audience to embark on a journey following his personal and professional ambitions. His lecture became a viral motivational speech and even landed him an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show a few weeks later.

Everybody has childhood dreams. Some people don’t accomplish them, but few forget them. Pausch’s lecture testifies to how having those big dreams can bear great fruit in your personal and professional life. He also provides great examples from his own journey of how going the extra mile–even if it seems crazy–can help you achieve those dreams. This is a long speech, but we encourage you to listen (or read ) in full because it’s so full of inspiration. But in the meantime, here are a few of our favorite lines: 

“Never lose the childlike wonder. It’s just too important. It’s what drives us.” 

“Remember, brick walls let us show our dedication. They are there to separate us from the people who don’t really want to achieve their childhood dreams. Don’t bail. The best of the gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.”

5. Kelly McGonigal: “ How to make stress your friend “

Stress is something we all deal with, sometimes to an overwhelming degree. Many people try every possible hack to eliminate stress for their lives or live in fear of it. But what if we treated stress as something helpful–or even as a friend? What if we trusted ourselves to cope appropriately with stress rather than letting it ruin our lives? That’s what health psychologist Kelly McGonigal explores in this viral TED talk. 

Challenging the common parlance of stress as the bogeyman is no small task. McGonigal backs up her research with several studies to show that while stress can have deleterious effects on health, it doesn’t have to. She also undertakes some of our favorite tactics here at The Speaker Lab by interacting with her audience to further engage them. While a pop quiz from the stage probably wasn’t on their bingo cards, her in person audience members got a real-time taste of the “social stress test.” (To fully appreciate McGonigal’s point, we recommend pretending you’re in the auditorium with her and attempting to perform what she commands.) Then, she walks her audience through the stress reaction they just experienced and explains how, equipped with new strategies for leveraging stress, they could use that same reaction to approach the situation constructively.  

McGonigal’s research, which has also been published in book form, is not without controversy in the psychology space. But in an ever increasingly stressed out society, her talk could be the motivational speech you need to tackle your stressors head-on. The best part? Turning to the communities around you during stressful events can help you rather than drain you! As McGonigal says:

“People who spent time caring for others showed absolutely no stress-related increase in dying. Zero. Caring created resilience.”

6. Carol Dweck: “The power of believing that you can improve ” 

You’ve probably heard the term “growth mindset” thrown around in the professional and educational space. But do you know who coined it? Carol Dweck is a Stanford psychologist who researches the impact of mindset on how we approach failure and success. She has studied how believing in one’s ability to learn and improve can radically affect our reaction to challenges. Her research claims that by focusing on effort and strategy, we can help students expand their minds and overcome barriers by having a “growth mindset” rather than a “fixed mindset.” 

While her research focuses on students, her TED talk discusses principles with universal application, such as the profound impact of believing we can change for the better. She also explores ideas for constructive communication with the next generation to set them up for success. Do you feel limited by externally applied standards? Have you been put in a box your whole life that you struggle to break out of? Do you throw in the towel easily because you feel that you just can’t win? Dweck’s motivational speech might give you more confidence in your abilities. Our favorite line?

“…praising the process that kids engage in, their effort, their strategies, their focus, their perseverance, their improvement. This process praise creates kids who are hardy and resilient.”

7. Malala Yousafzai: “16th birthday speech at the United Nations”  

Malala Yousafzai is the world’s youngest Nobel laureate and one of the best known human rights advocates of her generation. Her speech before the U.N. in 2014 is a passionate appeal for setting worldwide injustices right. From her harrowing story of being shot in the head, to her advancement of nonviolence, this motivational speech is a moving reminder of how much work each and every one of us can do to lift the burden of the oppressed. 

Though her audience at the time of the speech was a group of world leaders, we can all learn a lot from Malala that applies to our own lives. In addition to her stirring personal story, she lays out a variety of action items that we can all undertake in our communities to lay a foundation for justice. Furthermore, she emphasizes how education and tolerance rather than violence and politics can help win the fight against terrorism. If you ever feel at a loss for what you can do to change the word, Malala is the motivator you need. This speech is also a great model for using your personal story and character or ethos to persuade your audience, which we cover here .

“Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced.”

“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.”

8. Joel Osteen: “The power of I am”

Oprah described this sermon by pastor Joel Osteen as life-changing, and you might find it so too! Osteen is a clergyman, but many of his sermons are functionally motivational speeches that can inspire your life regardless of whether you’re religious or not. “The Power of I Am” is about how excessive negativity can control our lives. Osteen argues that when we say “I am ______,” we’re inviting whatever that is into our lives. If we repeatedly say “I am” statements followed by something negative or something we hate about ourselves, we are just digging ourselves deeper into that hole. 

Osteen’s words are badly needed in a world where the internet encourages negative comparison and loneliness is epidemic. He uses examples from Scripture and from his own life to show how talking yourself down becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. This is something we all experience at some point! You mess up, say “I’m an idiot,” and for the rest of the day your idiocy, clumsiness, or incompetence suddenly seems like the most noticeable thing about you. Or maybe an authority figure once identified you with your failures and you internalized it for years and years. Osteen’s sermon is an amazing call to do better. We can carry ourselves with confidence, not pride, and disconnect our flaws from our sense of self. 

“My encouragement is never say negative things about yourself. Most of us would never go up to another person, at least to their face and criticize them yet we have no problems criticizing ourselves. “I am so slow. I am so unattractive. I am so undisciplined”. That is cursing your future. Do yourself a favor and zip that up. We have enough in life against us already. Don’t be against yourself.”

9. Nicole Walters: “Why Excuses Are the #1 Thing Keeping You From Your Goals”  

Nicole Walters is an incredible entrepreneur and businesswoman who quit her successful corporate career to start her own company when she realized her blog was generating her significant passive income. This keynote from a conference for online creators outlines how she managed to do it all…with blood, sweat, tears, and no excuses! 

While Nicole dishes out amazing strategies for building your business and avoiding excuses, this is also an incredible example of how to give a great motivational speech. Our founder Grant Baldwin even did an analysis of her professional speaking performance here . Nicole uses humor, storytelling, and credible examples from her career to show how to avoid excuses and maintain sustainable innovation as you build your personal brand. If you want to start a business or expand your content creation but struggle with ambition and motivation, Nicole is your girl.

Get ready for some hard truths and a lot of humility, because it’s not easy! You can hear even more of her tips on our podcast here . She also came on our podcast for a conversation about race in the speaking industry , sharing her experience as a black woman who speaks professionally. This is a must listen if you’re interested in DEI and how the speaking industry can improve its diversity and inclusivity. 

Nicole is an abundant source of amazing one-liners and truth bombs. Here are two of our favorites to finish off: 

“Excuses are tools of incompetence. Those who specialize in them, are seldom good at anything else.”

“You’re not Kim Kardashian.” 

“Automate systems, not relationships.” 

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10. William Faulkner: Banquet Speech  

For our final must-listen motivational speech, we’re heading back in time. William Faulkner delivered this speech when he received the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. The threat of nuclear war hung heavy at the time Faulkner received the award. Faulkner himself eschewed the acclaim and reward that his talent deserved. His speech is a testament to the immortality of art and literature. His words elegantly express how art and literature can help humanity survive beyond dark times. 

Especially in an age of AI, media cycles, and overwhelming access to information, a reminder of the power and importance of art is badly needed. Faulkner’s speech is short, but it’s extremely moving. Every sentence drips with the weight of writers and artists who went before him, carrying humanity through crises and catastrophes and helping rebuild and process their wake. Faulkner himself says it best: 

“I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet’s, the writer’s, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.”

Mastering how to deliver a great motivational speech is no easy task. We think these paragons of motivational speaking deserve special attention for their mastery and inspiration! And having a solid list of inspirational content to fall back on when you’re feeling down, bewildered, or uninspired is always a good idea.  If you want to become a motivational speaker yourself , taking inspiration from these great talks will help you find your own voice in the speaking industry. ( We can help too! ) 

• Last Updated: April 4, 2024

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10 uplifting speeches from history that will inspire you in times of crisis

• Throughout history, leaders have made speeches that inspired millions and changed the course of history. Those speeches still inspire us today. 
• Famous speeches like Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address still resonate today. 
• Lesser-known speeches like Hillary Clinton's "Human Rights Are Women's Rights" and Nora Ephron's commencement address are considered inspirational. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

While history is no stranger to crises, there are always leaders who come forward to help usher in more hopeful times by crafting and delivering impactful speeches. 

Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Maya Angelou have all delivered speeches that inspired millions — and some even changed the course of history. 

Take a look back at some of the most famous speeches from history that still move us today. 

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in 1863 reminds people to honor those we have lost.

President Abraham Lincoln gave a relatively short speech at the deadliest battle site during the Civil War on November 19, 1863. Although it wasn't meant to be monumental, some call it the best speech in history. In it, Lincoln tells his people that they must remember each and every person who fought and died on the battlefield, especially because every human is created equal. 

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here," Lincoln says in the address. "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

In 1938, Lou Gehrig gave his "Luckiest Man" that celebrated the beauty of life.

On July 4, 1938, Lou Gehrig delivered a speech at Yankee Stadium after it was revealed that the baseball player had ALS. Although he was delivering devastating news to his fans in the speech, he instead focused on everything life has to offer. 

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said in the speech. "I have been in ballparks for 17  years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans … So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."

Winston Churchill delivered the "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech in 1940, showing the strength of the human spirit.

On June 4, 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed Parliament during a particularly difficult time in World War II. Smithsonian Magazine called it "one of the most rousing and iconic addresses" of the era. In the speech, the prime minister told his people that they would fight together and use all their strength to defeat their enemies. 

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender," Churchill says in the famous speech . 

In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave his "Quit India" speech, which encouraged peaceful protests.

The day before the Quit India movement started, Mahatma Gandhi delivered an inspiring speech, on August 8, 1942 . In the speech, he told his people to resist the British government but to do so in a peaceful, organized manner. He focused on the benefits of a nonviolent uprising, which became the cornerstone of his beliefs. 

The most famous line from the speech is: "I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours."

John F. Kennedy delivered "The Decision to Go to The Moon" speech in 1961, proving humans know no bounds.

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced to Congress and the world that the US was committed to sending an American to the moon. In the inspiring speech , the president explains the ambitious goal as one of necessity. 

"Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, 'Because it is there,'" Kennedy said in his speech. "Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked."

Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream Speech" in 1963 reminds people there is always something better on the horizon.

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., delivered what is arguably the most famous and most inspiring speech in American history. Before the historic March on Washington, King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and addressed the 250,000 attendees, calling for the end of discrimination and racism by dreaming about a brighter future. 

"I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice," he said in the speech. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today."

In 1993, Maya Angelou read her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration in an attempt to bring the global community together.

On the morning of President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, poet Maya Angelou delivered a moving speech when she read out her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning." It was the first time a poem had been recited at the ceremony since 1961 . In it, Angelou touched upon topics of equality and inclusion, and she attempted to inspire the world to unite under these principles.

Part of the poem reads:

"The river sings and sings on. There is a true yearning to respond to The singing river and the wise rock. So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew, The African and Native American, the Sioux, The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek, The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the teacher. They hear. They all hear The speaking of the tree."

Hillary Clinton delivered the "Human Rights Are Women's Rights" speech in 1995, saying those who are suppressed also have a voice.

As the first lady, Hillary Clinton attended the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. She was pressured to water down her message, but instead, she delivered a moving speech that still resonates today. In it, she said women who are held back by sexist governments should be set free and heard. 

"If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights once and for all," Clinton said in the speech. "Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely — and the right to be heard."

Nora Ephron encouraged people to break the rules in her commencement address to Wellesley College in 1996.

While Nora Ephron is known for penning some of the most famous films in the '80s and '90s, she also made a legendary speech at the 1996 Wellesley College graduation ceremony . In it, she inspired women to break free of the mold placed on them. 

"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there," Ephron said in the speech. "And I also hope you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women."

She also said, "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

In 1977, Harvey Milk gave his "Give Them Hope" speech, urging people to celebrate their differences and to hold on to messages of hope.

When he was running for local office in California, Harvey Milk delivered his "Give Them Hope" remarks as a stump speech . It was meant to rally supporters behind him, but it quickly became a speech of hope and celebration for the LGBT community. 

"And the young gay people in Altoona, Pennsylvanias, and the Richmond, Minnesotas, who are coming out and hear Anita Bryant on television and her story. The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope," Milk said in his speech . "Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only are the gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the 'us-es.' The 'us-es' will give up."

• 8 inspirational speeches from Martin Luther King Jr. that aren't 'I Have a Dream'
• The most impactful event in every state that shaped US history
• 4 famous lines from legendary speeches that were made up on the spot
• 9 influential speeches that changed the world

• Main content

16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches & What You’ll Gain from Them

It’s all very well reading about ways to get ahead in life, but no account will ever reach you in quite the same way as hearing someone speak about their own experiences. While these people may be household names now, it wasn’t always that way, and this collection of some of the best motivational speeches will move you and inspire you to make your own dreams come true.

From Arnold Schwarzenneger talking about how he filled every moment of every day with steps to fulfil his ambition of becoming Mr. Universe, to J.K. Rowling’s life as an impoverished single mother, these speeches will fill you with the drive and determination to reach your full potential, and not let anything stand in your way.

Some are long, and some last just a few minutes, but each one will make you want to grab life with both hands and go for what you want, whatever it is.

“Most people have done all that they’re ever going to do – they raise a family, they earn a living, and then they die.”

That’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Wrong! Life is made for greater things, and you are meant for greater things.

When Les Brown was a child, he was labeled ‘educable mentally retarded’, and until a chance encounter with another teacher, he believed that he would amount to nothing. But this one teacher planted the seeds in Les’ head which would blossom and grow, and eventually make him one of the best motivational speakers of all time.

This speech will give you permission to rise above other people’s opinions, to break free of their prejudices, and make a success of whatever you do. Watch ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible’ and take those first steps towards following your passion and making your dream come true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f0nIhDpXuU

“Stress doesn’t come from the facts, stress comes from the meaning that we give the facts.”

Life is about choices. Every day we’re faced with hundreds of choices, and this speech by Tony Robbins will help you see that it’s the choices, not the conditions, which shape our lives.

Take a moment during this speech to pause and reflect on some choices you have made in the past, and really think about the direction your life took because of them, both good and bad. Tony Robbins explains in his inimitable way that we have the choice to focus on what we want, and that when we focus, we can achieve whatever we want.

Part of Tony’s speech explains how, when the economy is down, some people thrive and some people crash and burn, and the COVID 19 pandemic is the perfect example. Small businesses took a huge hit, and while some of them threw up their hands in despair and said ‘that’s it, it’s over for us’, others adapted, and saw it as an opportunity to expand, diversify, and turn the situation to their advantage.

And that’s the cornerstone of this video – how we react, how we adapt, and how we choose is the difference between success and failure.

“So every rep that I do gets me closer to accomplishing the goal to make this goal – this vision – into reality.”

Be inspired by Arnold Schwarzenneger as he talks about his goal of becoming Mr. Universe. Never wasting a second of his day, Arnie worked in construction, spent 5 hours in the gym, and went to acting classes, all of which took him further along his journey to making his dream come true.

We all have a propensity to waste time, but if you have a goal, if you have a passion that smolders away, take a leaf out of Arnie’s book and make sure that everything you do propels you forward.

And don’t be afraid to fail.

“Your conviction and your convenience don’t live on the same block.”

If you are a fan of The Secret, you will be familiar with Lisa Nicholls. In this video, Lisa tells Tom Bilyeu how she was willing to leave everything and everyone behind in order to grow into the version of herself that she knew she wanted.

Lisa explains how, as a young mother, she was forced to wrap her baby in a towel for two days because she had no money for diapers, and how it was at that moment that she vowed never to be that broke or that broken again.

Change, success, drive…they’re all inconvenient and disruptive, and Lisa Nicholls demonstrates that wonderfully in this emotional and highly motivating interview in which she declares “your story is not meant to be your fortress, your story is meant to be your fuel.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toQmqLwNtho

Eric Thomas had a dream, a goal, and that goal was to be the best motivational speaker in the world. He didn’t achieve this by giving 70%, or 80%…he didn’t achieve it by staying in bed late in the mornings. He achieved it by giving 100% every minute of every day.

Listen to Eric’s words, hear the passion in his voice, and feel the lessons he is giving to you if you want to be the best at whatever you do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuHZC-ObA8

“If we don’t take control of our environment, it takes control of us.”

This short piece by Tony Robbins has been designed to show you that you are in control of your own environment. Whether you realize it or not, what goes on around you has a massive influence on the way you feel and the way you act.

By taking leadership of your own life, you can defy outside influences and set your own tone for the day ahead, regardless of whatever or whoever is exerting pressure from the outside.

Follow Tony’s example of taking 10 minutes for yourself at the start of every day – for gratitude, prayer or wishes for family and friends, and a recap of what you want to accomplish that day, and your day will continue on that same path of thankfulness, hope, and goals.

“Your mind doesn’t know the difference between something you vividly imagined and something that’s real, literally!”

If you want to emulate the way successful people behave, take these 10 billionaires’ habits and adopt them yourself for 21 days.

Billed by Jim Kwik as being ‘like a magic pill’, these habits will rewire your brain into thinking and behaving like some of the world’s most successful people.

In this 8 minute clip, Jim shares how, for instance, your brain reacts the same way when you imagine your dog walking in as it does when your dog actually walks in, and this can apply to anything. What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

As much as this applies to positive things, it also can be applied to negative things, so if you imagine failure, that’s what you will get. Fill your mind with thoughts of success and that’s what will happen.

None of these habits are difficult to accomplish, but in doing so you will change your entire mindset into one of a hugely successful person, no matter what you want to achieve in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzGPwY40Cw

“Don’t leave crumbs.”

If this sounds more like a housekeeping hint and less like a motivational affirmation, you’re 50% right. Our lives do need housekeeping, and not leaving crumbs – i.e. regrets – which will come back and rob your tomorrow of joy, is one of the chores you need to do on a daily basis.

Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful speech in a gentle way at the University of Houston Commencement Address.

Discussing the five rules he lives by, he will show you how to avoid falling into a trap of entitlement, and why ‘Unbelievable’ is the stupidest word in the dictionary.

With some invaluable life lessons contained inside a highly watchable speech, Matthew McConaughey is an unlikely but very inspiring speaker who has stayed humble despite all his successes.

“There are a lot of sharks in the world; if you hope to complete the swim, you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.”

Spoken with eloquence and quiet assuredness, this six-minute speech draws on US Navy Admiral William McRaven’s experience of survival in the Navy Seals.

He explains how making your bed, while seemingly insignificant and even pointless, will set a series of tasks in motion which will ensure that at best, the first job of the day is done, and at worst, you have a neat, tidy bed to fall into at the end of a trying day.

The world is full of people who want to bring you down (the sharks) but if you stand your ground, they will eventually swim away, leaving you to go on to bigger and better things.

“Sometimes life’s gonna hit you in the face with a brick…don’t lose faith.”

Steve Jobs, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Apple Inc. was hit in the face with more than one brick during his 56 years on earth. From being given up for adoption as a baby, to being fired from the very company which he founded, he never let anything get in his way.

In this commencement speech at Stamford University in 2005, Steve explained how his love for what he did spurred him on to rebuild his life in spectacular fashion.

Life dealt a further blow when, in 2003, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This speech focuses on three stories which, when combined, show how life offers opportunities for change and growth, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Steve Jobs never graduated college, but when he died in 2011, aged just 56, he had a net worth of US$7 billion. He achieved this by doing what he loved, and in this speech he will inspire you to do the same.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously than you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.”

Let J. K. Rowling inspire you with this 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University. Extolling the virtues of failure and imagination, she tells the graduates how being at rock bottom set her free to pursue her dreams of being an author.

As poor as it is possible to be without being homeless, she created the world of Harry Potter and went on to amass a fortune of £795 million, but that without her failures in life, she would never have had the opportunity to do so.

Let her words become your own mantra, and view every failure in your life as a future success.

“We shine, because baby you just can’t dim the sun.”

A beautiful antidote for anyone who has ever felt or been told that they are ‘too much’, Gina Hatzis’ winning Speaker Slam speech of 2018 will give you permission to be unashamedly you.

Although written by a woman for women, this powerful and sometimes humorous speech about being your own authentic self will inspire anyone – man or woman – to shine and never dim their own light to suit other people.

“The first step you need to take is just that…step.”

If you are in need of a short, sharp burst of motivation, listen to this speech by ex Navy Seal, Jocko Willink.

Running for less than three minutes, this recording will inspire you to take a step into whatever you want to achieve. Awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for service, Jocko Willink is no stranger to taking those brave steps, having come face to face with Iraqu insurgents in Ramadi. He will spur you on to put one metaphorical foot in front of the other, and will leave you in no doubt as to what you need to do to achieve your goals.

“On the other side of your maximum fear are all of the best things in life.”

If you like your motivation with a side order of laughter, watch Will Smith as he talks about fear. Agreeing to skydive on a night out with friends, Will realizes that he actually has to go through with it.

Discussing how fear ruins things (he couldn’t sleep or eat before the jump), Will also discloses that beyond fear was the most blissful experience of his life, and how that principle can be applied to anything in life.

“Only those that can see the invisible, can do the impossible.”

Tyrese Gibson knows success, and in this speech he talks about how it can be achieved, by anyone who wants it.

Actor, singer, author, model…Tyrese seems to have the Midas touch, but he didn’t get it by luck. Follow his words as he gently but passionately guides you along the path you need to take if you have goals and dreams in life.

“I refuse to be another man who lived and died, and wasn’t significant’”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzl3CQXMRVo

“If it is written, so shall it be.”

When Steve Harvey’s teacher crushed his dreams of being on TV, the one person who believed in him was his father. He told him to put a piece of paper with his dreams on in his drawer, and to read it every morning and every night.

His dreams came true.

It didn’t always come easy for Steve Harvey though – he spent years living in his car when he had nowhere else to go, but the one thing he never lost was his ambition and determination to see his dreams through to fruition.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, Steve still has vision boards and still commits his dreams to writing, and encourages you to do the same in this speech that made Obama cry.

These motivational speeches, and many more like them, show how having guts, determination, and a vision will get you anywhere you want to go, no matter your beginnings in life. These inspirational speakers have suffered loss, sickness, and unbelievable hardships, but the one thing that got them through was their desire to win and their belief that they could.

Immerse yourself in their words of wisdom, and take that next step into your best life.

More on Motivation

• 8 Rituals to Cultivating True Self-Motivation That Lasts
• 10 Monday Morning Habits for a Successful Week
• Motivational Quotes

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40 famous persuasive speeches you need to hear.

Written by Kai Xin Koh

Across eras of calamity and peace in our world’s history, a great many leaders, writers, politicians, theorists, scientists, activists and other revolutionaries have unveiled powerful rousing speeches in their bids for change. In reviewing the plethora of orators across tides of social, political and economic change, we found some truly rousing speeches that brought the world to their feet or to a startling, necessary halt. We’ve chosen 40 of the most impactful speeches we managed to find from agents of change all over the world – a diversity of political campaigns, genders, positionalities and periods of history. You’re sure to find at least a few speeches in this list which will capture you with the sheer power of their words and meaning!

1. I have a dream by MLK

“I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification – one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning “My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father’s died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!”

Unsurprisingly, Martin Luther King’s speech comes up top as the most inspiring speech of all time, especially given the harrowing conditions of African Americans in America at the time. In the post-abolition era when slavery was outlawed constitutionally, African Americans experienced an intense period of backlash from white supremacists who supported slavery where various institutional means were sought to subordinate African American people to positions similar to that of the slavery era. This later came to be known as the times of Jim Crow and segregation, which Martin Luther King powerfully voiced his vision for a day when racial discrimination would be a mere figment, where equality would reign.

2. Tilbury Speech by Queen Elizabeth I

“My loving people, We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.”

While at war with Spain, Queen Elizabeth I was most renowned for her noble speech rallying the English troops against their comparatively formidable opponent. Using brilliant rhetorical devices like metonymy, meronymy, and other potent metaphors, she voiced her deeply-held commitment as a leader to the battle against the Spanish Armada – convincing the English army to keep holding their ground and upholding the sacrifice of war for the good of their people. Eventually against all odds, she led England to victory despite their underdog status in the conflict with her confident and masterful oratory.

3. Woodrow Wilson, address to Congress (April 2, 1917)

“The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them. Just because we fight without rancor and without selfish object, seeking nothing for ourselves but what we shall wish to share with all free peoples, we shall, I feel confident, conduct our operations as belligerents without passion and ourselves observe with proud punctilio the principles of right and of fair play we profess to be fighting for. … It will be all the easier for us to conduct ourselves as belligerents in a high spirit of right and fairness because we act without animus, not in enmity toward a people or with the desire to bring any injury or disadvantage upon them, but only in armed opposition to an irresponsible government which has thrown aside all considerations of humanity and of right and is running amuck. We are, let me say again, the sincere friends of the German people, and shall desire nothing so much as the early reestablishment of intimate relations of mutual advantage between us—however hard it may be for them, for the time being, to believe that this is spoken from our hearts. We have borne with their present government through all these bitter months because of that friendship—exercising a patience and forbearance which would otherwise have been impossible. We shall, happily, still have an opportunity to prove that friendship in our daily attitude and actions toward the millions of men and women of German birth and native sympathy who live among us and share our life, and we shall be proud to prove it toward all who are in fact loyal to their neighbors and to the government in the hour of test. They are, most of them, as true and loyal Americans as if they had never known any other fealty or allegiance. They will be prompt to stand with us in rebuking and restraining the few who may be of a different mind and purpose. If there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm hand of stern repression; but, if it lifts its head at all, it will lift it only here and there and without countenance except from a lawless and malignant few. It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the Congress, which I have performed in thus addressing you. There are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.”

On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson of the USA delivered his address to Congress, calling for declaration of war against what was at the time, a belligerent and aggressive Germany in WWI. Despite his isolationism and anti-war position earlier in his tenure as president, he convinced Congress that America had a moral duty to the world to step out of their neutral observer status into an active role of world leadership and stewardship in order to liberate attacked nations from their German aggressors. The idealistic values he preached in his speech left an indelible imprint upon the American spirit and self-conception, forming the moral basis for the country’s people and aspirational visions to this very day.

4. Ain’t I A Woman by Sojourner Truth

“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman? … If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.”

Hailing from a background of slavery and oppression, Sojourner Truth was one of the most revolutionary advocates for women’s human rights in the 1800s. In spite of the New York Anti-Slavery Law of 1827, her slavemaster refused to free her. As such, she fled, became an itinerant preacher and leading figure in the anti-slavery movement. By the 1850s, she became involved in the women’s rights movement as well. At the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio, she delivered her illuminating, forceful speech against discrimination of women and African Americans in the post-Civil War era, entrenching her status as one of the most revolutionary abolitionists and women’s rights activists across history.

5. The Gettsyburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

“Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

President Abraham Lincoln had left the most lasting legacy upon American history for good reason, as one of the presidents with the moral courage to denounce slavery for the national atrocity it was. However, more difficult than standing up for the anti-slavery cause was the task of unifying the country post-abolition despite the looming shadows of a time when white Americans could own and subjugate slaves with impunity over the thousands of Americans who stood for liberation of African Americans from discrimination. He urged Americans to remember their common roots, heritage and the importance of “charity for all”, to ensure a “just and lasting peace” among within the country despite throes of racial division and self-determination.

6. Woman’s Rights to the Suffrage by Susan B Anthony

“For any State to make sex a qualification that must ever result in the disfranchisement of one entire half of the people is to pass a bill of attainder, or an ex post facto law, and is therefore a violation of the supreme law of the land. By it the blessings of liberty are for ever withheld from women and their female posterity. To them this government has no just powers derived from the consent of the governed. To them this government is not a democracy. It is not a republic. It is an odious aristocracy; a hateful oligarchy of sex; the most hateful aristocracy ever established on the face of the globe; an oligarchy of wealth, where the right govern the poor. An oligarchy of learning, where the educated govern the ignorant, or even an oligarchy of race, where the Saxon rules the African, might be endured; but this oligarchy of sex, which makes father, brothers, husband, sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and daughters of every household–which ordains all men sovereigns, all women subjects, carries dissension, discord and rebellion into every home of the nation. Webster, Worcester and Bouvier all define a citizen to be a person in the United States, entitled to vote and hold office. The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not. Being persons, then, women are citizens; and no State has a right to make any law, or to enforce any old law, that shall abridge their privileges or immunities. Hence, every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several States is today null and void, precisely as in every one against Negroes.”

Susan B. Anthony was a pivotal leader in the women’s suffrage movement who helped to found the National Woman Suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and fight for the constitutional right for women to vote. She courageously and relentlessly advocated for women’s rights, giving speeches all over the USA to convince people of women’s human rights to choice and the ballot. She is most well known for her act of righteous rebellion in 1872 when she voted in the presidential election illegally, for which she was arrested and tried unsuccessfully. She refused to pay the $100 fine in a bid to reject the demands of the American system she denounced as a ‘hateful oligarchy of sex’, sparking change with her righteous oratory and inspiring many others in the women’s suffrage movement within and beyond America.

7. Vladimir Lenin’s Speech at an International Meeting in Berne, February 8, 1916

“It may sound incredible, especially to Swiss comrades, but it is nevertheless true that in Russia, also, not only bloody tsarism, not only the capitalists, but also a section of the so-called or ex-Socialists say that Russia is fighting a “war of defence,” that Russia is only fighting against German invasion. The whole world knows, however, that for decades tsarism has been oppressing more than a hundred million people belonging to other nationalities in Russia; that for decades Russia has been pursuing a predatory policy towards China, Persia, Armenia and Galicia. Neither Russia, nor Germany, nor any other Great Power has the right to claim that it is waging a “war of defence”; all the Great Powers are waging an imperialist, capitalist war, a predatory war, a war for the oppression of small and foreign nations, a war for the sake of the profits of the capitalists, who are coining golden profits amounting to billions out of the appalling sufferings of the masses, out of the blood of the proletariat. … This again shows you, comrades, that in all countries of the world real preparations are being made to rally the forces of the working class. The horrors of war and the sufferings of the people are incredible. But we must not, and we have no reason whatever, to view the future with despair. The millions of victims who will fall in the war, and as a consequence of the war, will not fall in vain. The millions who are starving, the millions who are sacrificing their lives in the trenches, are not only suffering, they are also gathering strength, are pondering over the real cause of the war, are becoming more determined and are acquiring a clearer revolutionary understanding. Rising discontent of the masses, growing ferment, strikes, demonstrations, protests against the war—all this is taking place in all countries of the world. And this is the guarantee that the European War will be followed by the proletarian revolution against capitalism”

Vladimir Lenin remains to this day one of the most lauded communist revolutionaries in the world who brought the dangers of imperialism and capitalism to light with his rousing speeches condemning capitalist structures of power which inevitably enslave people to lives of misery and class stratification. In his genuine passion for the rights of the working class, he urged fellow comrades to turn the “imperialist war” into a “civil” or class war of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. He encouraged the development of new revolutionary socialist organisations, solidarity across places in society so people could unite against their capitalist overlords, and criticised nationalism for its divisive effect on the socialist movement. In this speech especially, he lambasts “bloody Tsarism” for its oppression of millions of people of other nationalities in Russia, calling for the working class people to revolt against the Tsarist authority for the proletariat revolution to succeed and liberate them from class oppression.

8. I Have A Dream Speech by Mary Wollstonecraft

“If, I say, for I would not impress by declamation when Reason offers her sober light, if they be really capable of acting like rational creatures, let them not be treated like slaves; or, like the brutes who are dependent on the reason of man, when they associate with him; but cultivate their minds, give them the salutary, sublime curb of principle, and let them attain conscious dignity by feeling themselves only dependent on God. Teach them, in common with man, to submit to necessity, instead of giving, to render them more pleasing, a sex to morals. Further, should experience prove that they cannot attain the same degree of strength of mind, perseverance, and fortitude, let their virtues be the same in kind, though they may vainly struggle for the same degree; and the superiority of man will be equally clear, if not clearer; and truth, as it is a simple principle, which admits of no modification, would be common to both. Nay, the order of society as it is at present regulated would not be inverted, for woman would then only have the rank that reason assigned her, and arts could not be practised to bring the balance even, much less to turn it.”

In her vindication of the rights of women, Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the pioneers of the feminist movement back in 1792 who not only theorised and advocated revolutionarily, but gave speeches that voiced these challenges against a dominantly sexist society intent on classifying women as irrational less-than-human creatures to be enslaved as they were. In this landmark speech, she pronounces her ‘dream’ of a day when women would be treated as the rational, deserving humans they are, who are equal to man in strength and capability. With this speech setting an effective precedent for her call to equalize women before the law, she also went on to champion the provision of equal educational opportunities to women and girls, and persuasively argued against the patriarchal gender norms which prevented women from finding their own lot in life through their being locked into traditional institutions of marriage and motherhood against their will.

9. First Inaugural Speech by Franklin D Roosevelt

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. … More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment. Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. There are many ways in which it can be helped, but it can never be helped merely by talking about it. We must act and act quickly. … I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken Nation in the midst of a stricken world may require. These measures, or such other measures as the Congress may build out of its experience and wisdom, I shall seek, within my constitutional authority, to bring to speedy adoption. But in the event that the Congress shall fail to take one of these two courses, and in the event that the national emergency is still critical, I shall not evade the clear course of duty that will then confront me. I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis — broad Executive power to wage a war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe.”

Roosevelt’s famous inaugural speech was delivered in the midst of a period of immense tension and strain under the Great Depression, where he highlighted the need for ‘quick action’ by Congress to prepare for government expansion in his pursuit of reforms to lift the American people out of devastating poverty. In a landslide victory, he certainly consolidated the hopes and will of the American people through this compelling speech.

10. The Hypocrisy of American Slavery by Frederick Douglass

“What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mock; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy – a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour. Go search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.”

On 4 July 1852, Frederick Douglass gave this speech in Rochester, New York, highlighting the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while slavery continues. He exposed the ‘revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy’ of slavery which had gone unabolished amidst the comparatively obscene celebration of independence and liberty with his potent speech and passion for the anti-abolition cause. After escaping from slavery, he went on to become a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York with his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. To this day, his fierce activism and devotion to exposing virulent racism for what it was has left a lasting legacy upon pro-Black social movements and the overall sociopolitical landscape of America.

11. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries? Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.”

With her iconic poem Still I Rise , Maya Angelou is well-known for uplifting fellow African American women through her empowering novels and poetry and her work as a civil rights activist. Every bit as lyrical on the page, her recitation of Still I Rise continues to give poetry audiences shivers all over the world, inspiring women of colour everywhere to keep the good faith in striving for equality and peace, while radically believing in and empowering themselves to be agents of change. A dramatic reading of the poem will easily showcase the self-belief, strength and punch that it packs in the last stanza on the power of resisting marginalization.

12. Their Finest Hour by Winston Churchill

“What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour.””

In the darkest shadows cast by war, few leaders have been able to step up to the mantle and effectively unify millions of citizens for truly sacrificial causes. Winston Churchill was the extraordinary exception – lifting 1940 Britain out of the darkness with his hopeful, convicted rhetoric to galvanise the English amidst bleak, dreary days of war and loss. Through Britain’s standalone position in WWII against the Nazis, he left his legacy by unifying the nation under shared sacrifices of the army and commemorating their courage.

13. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

“Life for both sexes – and I looked at them (through a restaurant window while waiting for my lunch to be served), shouldering their way along the pavement – is arduous, difficult, a perpetual struggle. It calls for gigantic courage and strength. More than anything, perhaps, creatures of illusion as we are, it calls for confidence in oneself. Without self-confidence we are babes in the cradle. And how can we generate this imponderable quality, which is yet so invaluable, most quickly? By thinking that other people are inferior to oneself. By feeling that one has some innate superiority – it may be wealth, or rank, a straight nose, or the portrait of a grandfather by Romney – for there is no end to the pathetic devices of the human imagination – over other people. Hence the enormous importance to a patriarch who has to conquer, who has to rule, of feeling that great numbers of people, half the human race indeed, are by nature inferior to himself. It must indeed be one of the great sources of his power….Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size. Without that power probably the earth would still be swamp and jungle. The glories of all our wars would be on the remains of mutton bones and bartering flints for sheepskins or whatever simple ornament took our unsophisticated taste. Supermen and Fingers of Destiny would never have existed. The Czar and the Kaiser would never have worn their crowns or lost them. Whatever may be their use in civilised societies, mirrors are essential to all violent and heroic action. That is why Napoleon and Mussolini both insist so emphatically upon the inferiority of women, for if they were not inferior, they would cease to enlarge. That serves to explain in part the necessity that women so often are to men. And it serves to explain how restless they are under her criticism; how impossible it is for her to say to them this book is bad, this picture is feeble, or whatever it may be, without giving far more pain and rousing far more anger than a man would do who gave the same criticism. For if she begins to tell the truth, the figure in the looking-glass shrinks; his fitness in life is diminished. How is he to go on giving judgment, civilising natives, making laws, writing books, dressing up and speechifying at banquets, unless he can see himself at breakfast and at dinner at least twice the size he really is?”

In this transformational speech , Virginia Woolf pronounces her vision that ‘a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction’. She calls out the years in which women have been deprived of their own space for individual development through being chained to traditional arrangements or men’s prescriptions – demanding ‘gigantic courage’ and ‘confidence in oneself’ to brave through the onerous struggle of creating change for women’s rights. With her steadfast, stolid rhetoric and radical theorization, she paved the way for many women’s rights activists and writers to forge their own paths against patriarchal authority.

14. Inaugural Address by John F Kennedy

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility–I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it–and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

For what is probably the most historically groundbreaking use of parallelism in speech across American history, President JFK placed the weighty task of ‘asking what one can do for their country’ onto the shoulders of each American citizen. Using an air of firmness in his rhetoric by declaring his commitment to his countrymen, he urges each American to do the same for the broader, noble ideal of freedom for all. With his crucial interrogation of a citizen’s moral duty to his nation, President JFK truly made history.

15. Atoms for Peace Speech by Dwight Eisenhower

“To pause there would be to confirm the hopeless finality of a belief that two atomic colossi are doomed malevolently to eye each other indefinitely across a trembling world. To stop there would be to accept helplessly the probability of civilization destroyed, the annihilation of the irreplaceable heritage of mankind handed down to us from generation to generation, and the condemnation of mankind to begin all over again the age-old struggle upward from savagery towards decency, and right, and justice. Surely no sane member of the human race could discover victory in such desolation. Could anyone wish his name to be coupled by history with such human degradation and destruction?Occasional pages of history do record the faces of the “great destroyers”, but the whole book of history reveals mankind’s never-ending quest for peace and mankind’s God-given capacity to build. It is with the book of history, and not with isolated pages, that the United States will ever wish to be identified. My country wants to be constructive,not destructive. It wants agreements, not wars, among nations. It wants itself to live in freedom and in the confidence that the peoples of every other nation enjoy equally the right of choosing their own way of life. So my country’s purpose is to help us to move out of the dark chamber of horrors into the light, to find a way by which the minds of men, the hopes of men, the souls of men everywhere, can move forward towards peace and happiness and well-being.”

On a possibility as frightful and tense as nuclear war, President Eisenhower managed to convey the gravity of the world’s plight in his measured and persuasive speech centred on the greater good of mankind. Using rhetorical devices such as the three-part paratactical syntax which most world leaders are fond of for ingraining their words in the minds of their audience, he centers the discourse of the atomic bomb on those affected by such a world-changing decision in ‘the minds, hopes and souls of men everywhere’ – effectively putting the vivid image of millions of people’s fates at stake in the minds of his audience. Being able to make a topic as heavy and fraught with moral conflict as this as eloquent as he did, Eisenhower definitely ranks among some of the most skilled orators to date.

16. The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action by Audre Lorde

“I was going to die, if not sooner then later, whether or not I had ever spoken myself. My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you. But for every real word spoken, for every attempt I had ever made to speak those truths for which I am still seeking, I had made contact with other women while we examined the words to fit a world in which we all believed, bridging our differences. What are the words you do not have yet? What do you need to say? What are the tyrannies you swallow day by day and attempt to make your own, until you will sicken and die of them, still in silence? Perhaps for some of you here today, I am the face of one of your fears. Because I am a woman, because I am black, because I am myself, a black woman warrior poet doing my work, come to ask you, are you doing yours?”

Revolutionary writer, feminist and civil rights activist Audre Lorde first delivered this phenomenal speech at Lesbian and Literature panel of the Modern Language Association’s December 28, 1977 meeting, which went on to feature permanently in her writings for its sheer wisdom and truth. Her powerful writing and speech about living on the margins of society has enlightened millions of people discriminated across various intersections, confronting them with the reality that they must speak – since their ‘silence will not protect’ them from further marginalization. Through her illuminating words and oratory, she has reminded marginalized persons of the importance of their selfhood and the radical capacity for change they have in a world blighted by prejudice and division.

17. 1965 Cambridge Union Hall Speech by James Baldwin

“What is dangerous here is the turning away from – the turning away from – anything any white American says. The reason for the political hesitation, in spite of the Johnson landslide is that one has been betrayed by American politicians for so long. And I am a grown man and perhaps I can be reasoned with. I certainly hope I can be. But I don’t know, and neither does Martin Luther King, none of us know how to deal with those other people whom the white world has so long ignored, who don’t believe anything the white world says and don’t entirely believe anything I or Martin is saying. And one can’t blame them. You watch what has happened to them in less than twenty years.”

Baldwin’s invitation to the Cambridge Union Hall is best remembered for foregrounding the unflinching differences in white and African Americans’ ‘system of reality’ in everyday life. Raising uncomfortable truths about the insidious nature of racism post-civil war, he provides several nuggets of thought-provoking wisdom on the state of relations between the oppressed and their oppressors, and what is necessary to mediate such relations and destroy the exploitative thread of racist hatred. With great frankness, he admits to not having all the answers but provides hard-hitting wisdom on engagement to guide activists through confounding times nonetheless.

18. I Am Prepared to Die by Nelson Mandela

“Above all, My Lord, we want equal political rights, because without them our disabilities will be permanent. I know this sounds revolutionary to the whites in this country, because the majority of voters will be Africans. This makes the white man fear democracy. But this fear cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the only solution which will guarantee racial harmony and freedom for all. It is not true that the enfranchisement of all will result in racial domination. Political division, based on colour, is entirely artificial and, when it disappears, so will the domination of one colour group by another. The ANC has spent half a century fighting against racialism. When it triumphs as it certainly must, it will not change that policy. This then is what the ANC is fighting. Our struggle is a truly national one. It is a struggle of the African people, inspired by our own suffering and our own experience. It is a struggle for the right to live. During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Apartheid is still considered one of these most devastating events of world history, and it would not have ended without the crucial effort and words of Nelson Mandela during his courageous political leadership. In this heartbreaking speech , he voices his utter devotion to the fight against institutionalised racism in African society – an ideal for which he was ‘prepared to die for’. Mandela continues to remind us today of his moral conviction in leading, wherein the world would likely to be a better place if all politicians had the same resolve and genuine commitment to human rights and the abolition of oppression as he did.

19. Critique on British Imperialism by General Aung San

“Do they form their observations by seeing the attendances at not very many cinemas and theatres of Rangoon? Do they judge this question of money circulation by paying a stray visit to a local bazaar? Do they know that cinemas and theatres are not true indicators, at least in Burma, of the people’s conditions? Do they know that there are many in this country who cannot think of going to these places by having to struggle for their bare existence from day to day? Do they know that those who nowadays patronise or frequent cinemas and theatres which exist only in Rangoon and a few big towns, belong generally to middle and upper classes and the very few of the many poor who can attend at all are doing so as a desperate form of relaxation just to make them forget their unsupportable existences for the while whatever may be the tomorrow that awaits them?”

Under British colonial rule, one of the most legendary nationalist leaders emerged from the ranks of the thousands of Burmese to boldly lead them towards independence, out of the exploitation and control under the British. General Aung San’s speech criticising British social, political and economic control of Burma continues to be scathing, articulate, and relevant – especially given his necessary goal of uniting the Burmese natives against their common oppressor. He successfully galvanised his people against the British, taking endless risks through nationalist speeches and demonstrations which gradually bore fruit in Burma’s independence.

20. Nobel Lecture by Mother Teresa

“I believe that we are not real social workers. We may be doing social work in the eyes of the people, but we are really contemplatives in the heart of the world. For we are touching the Body Of Christ 24 hours. We have 24 hours in this presence, and so you and I. You too try to bring that presence of God in your family, for the family that prays together stays together. And I think that we in our family don’t need bombs and guns, to destroy to bring peace–just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home. And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world. There is so much suffering, so much hatred, so much misery, and we with our prayer, with our sacrifice are beginning at home. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. It is to God Almighty–how much we do it does not matter, because He is infinite, but how much love we put in that action. How much we do to Him in the person that we are serving.”

In contemporary culture, most people understand Mother Teresa to be the epitome of compassion and kindness. However, if one were to look closer at her speeches from the past, one would discover not merely her altruistic contributions, but her keen heart for social justice and the downtrodden. She wisely and gracefully remarks that ‘love begins at home’ from the individual actions of each person within their private lives, which accumulate into a life of goodness and charity. For this, her speeches served not just consolatory value or momentary relevance, as they still inform the present on how we can live lives worth living.

21. June 9 Speech to Martial Law Units by Deng Xiaoping

“This army still maintains the traditions of our old Red Army. What they crossed this time was in the true sense of the expression a political barrier, a threshold of life and death. This was not easy. This shows that the People’s Army is truly a great wall of iron and steel of the party and state. This shows that no matter how heavy our losses, the army, under the leadership of the party, will always remain the defender of the country, the defender of socialism, and the defender of the public interest. They are a most lovable people. At the same time, we should never forget how cruel our enemies are. We should have not one bit of forgiveness for them. The fact that this incident broke out as it did is very worthy of our pondering. It prompts us cool-headedly to consider the past and the future. Perhaps this bad thing will enable us to go ahead with reform and the open policy at a steadier and better — even a faster — pace, more speedily correct our mistakes, and better develop our strong points.”

Mere days before the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising, Chinese Communist Party leader Deng Xiaoping sat with six party elders (senior officials) and the three remaining members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the paramount decision-making body in China’s government. The meeting was organised to discuss the best course of action for restoring social and political order to China, given the sweeping economic reforms that had taken place in the past decade that inevitably resulted in some social resistance from the populace. Deng then gave this astute and well-regarded speech, outlining the political complexities in shutting down student protests given the context of reforms encouraging economic liberalization already taking place, as aligned with the students’ desires. It may not be the most rousing or inflammatory of speeches, but it was certainly persuasive in voicing the importance of taking a strong stand for the economic reforms Deng was implementing to benefit Chinese citizens in the long run. Today, China is an economic superpower, far from its war-torn developing country status before Deng’s leadership – thanks to his foresight in ensuring political stability would allow China to enjoy the fruits of the massive changes they adapted to.

22. Freedom or Death by Emmeline Pankhurst

“You won your freedom in America when you had the revolution, by bloodshed, by sacrificing human life. You won the civil war by the sacrifice of human life when you decided to emancipate the negro. You have left it to women in your land, the men of all civilised countries have left it to women, to work out their own salvation. That is the way in which we women of England are doing. Human life for us is sacred, but we say if any life is to be sacrificed it shall be ours; we won’t do it ourselves, but we will put the enemy in the position where they will have to choose between giving us freedom or giving us death. Now whether you approve of us or whether you do not, you must see that we have brought the question of women’s suffrage into a position where it is of first rate importance, where it can be ignored no longer. Even the most hardened politician will hesitate to take upon himself directly the responsibility of sacrificing the lives of women of undoubted honour, of undoubted earnestness of purpose. That is the political situation as I lay it before you today.”

In 1913 after Suffragette Emily Davison stepped in front of King George V’s horse at the Epsom Derby and suffered fatal injuries, Emmeline Pankhurst delivered her speech to Connecticut as a call to action for people to support the suffragette movement. Her fortitude in delivering such a sobering speech on the state of women’s rights is worth remembering for its invaluable impact and contributions to the rights we enjoy in today’s world.

23. Quit India by Mahatma Gandhi

“We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery. Every true Congressman or woman will join the struggle with an inflexible determination not to remain alive to see the country in bondage and slavery. Let that be your pledge. Keep jails out of your consideration. If the Government keep me free, I will not put on the Government the strain of maintaining a large number of prisoners at a time, when it is in trouble. Let every man and woman live every moment of his or her life hereafter in the consciousness that he or she eats or lives for achieving freedom and will die, if need be, to attain that goal. Take a pledge, with God and your own conscience as witness, that you will no longer rest till freedom is achieved and will be prepared to lay down your lives in the attempt to achieve it. He who loses his life will gain it; he who will seek to save it shall lose it. Freedom is not for the coward or the faint-hearted.”

Naturally, the revolutionary activist Gandhi had to appear in this list for his impassioned anti-colonial speeches which rallied Indians towards independence. Famous for leading non-violent demonstrations, his speeches were a key element in gathering Indians of all backgrounds together for the common cause of eliminating their colonial masters. His speeches were resolute, eloquent, and courageous, inspiring the hope and admiration of many not just within India, but around the world.

24. 1974 National Book Award Speech by Adrienne Rich, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde

“The statement I am going to read was prepared by three of the women nominated for the National Book Award for poetry, with the agreement that it would be read by whichever of us, if any, was chosen.We, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Alice Walker, together accept this award in the name of all the women whose voices have gone and still go unheard in a patriarchal world, and in the name of those who, like us, have been tolerated as token women in this culture, often at great cost and in great pain. We believe that we can enrich ourselves more in supporting and giving to each other than by competing against each other; and that poetry—if it is poetry—exists in a realm beyond ranking and comparison. We symbolically join together here in refusing the terms of patriarchal competition and declaring that we will share this prize among us, to be used as best we can for women. We appreciate the good faith of the judges for this award, but none of us could accept this money for herself, nor could she let go unquestioned the terms on which poets are given or denied honor and livelihood in this world, especially when they are women. We dedicate this occasion to the struggle for self-determination of all women, of every color, identification, or derived class: the poet, the housewife, the lesbian, the mathematician, the mother, the dishwasher, the pregnant teen-ager, the teacher, the grandmother, the prostitute, the philosopher, the waitress, the women who will understand what we are doing here and those who will not understand yet; the silent women whose voices have been denied us, the articulate women who have given us strength to do our work.”

Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, and Alice Walker wrote this joint speech to be delivered by Adrienne Rich at the 1974 National Book Awards, based on their suspicions that the first few African American lesbian women to be nominated for the awards would be snubbed in favour of a white woman nominee. Their suspicions were confirmed, and Adrienne Rich delivered this socially significant speech in solidarity with her fellow nominees, upholding the voices of the ‘silent women whose voices have been denied’.

25. Speech to 20th Congress of the CPSU by Nikita Khruschev

“Considering the question of the cult of an individual, we must first of all show everyone what harm this caused to the interests of our Party. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin had always stressed the Party’s role and significance in the direction of the socialist government of workers and peasants; he saw in this the chief precondition for a successful building of socialism in our country. Pointing to the great responsibility of the Bolshevik Party, as ruling Party of the Soviet state, Lenin called for the most meticulous observance of all norms of Party life; he called for the realization of the principles of collegiality in the direction of the Party and the state. Collegiality of leadership flows from the very nature of our Party, a Party built on the principles of democratic centralism. “This means,” said Lenin, “that all Party matters are accomplished by all Party members – directly or through representatives – who, without any exceptions, are subject to the same rules; in addition, all administrative members, all directing collegia, all holders of Party positions are elective, they must account for their activities and are recallable.””

This speech is possibly the most famed Russian speech for its status as a ‘secret’ speech delivered only to the CPSU at the time, which was eventually revealed to the public. Given the unchallenged political legacy and cult of personality which Stalin left in the Soviet Union, Nikita Khruschev’s speech condemning the authoritarian means Stalin had resorted to to consolidate power as un-socialist was an important mark in Russian history.

26. The Struggle for Human Rights by Eleanor Roosevelt

“It is my belief, and I am sure it is also yours, that the struggle for democracy and freedom is a critical struggle, for their preservation is essential to the great objective of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security. Among free men the end cannot justify the means. We know the patterns of totalitarianism — the single political party, the control of schools, press, radio, the arts, the sciences, and the church to support autocratic authority; these are the age-old patterns against which men have struggled for three thousand years. These are the signs of reaction, retreat, and retrogression. The United Nations must hold fast to the heritage of freedom won by the struggle of its people; it must help us to pass it on to generations to come. The development of the ideal of freedom and its translation into the everyday life of the people in great areas of the earth is the product of the efforts of many peoples. It is the fruit of a long tradition of vigorous thinking and courageous action. No one race and on one people can claim to have done all the work to achieve greater dignity for human beings and great freedom to develop human personality. In each generation and in each country there must be a continuation of the struggle and new steps forward must be taken since this is preeminently a field in which to stand still is to retreat.”

Eleanor Roosevelt has been among the most well-loved First Ladies for good reason – her eloquence and gravitas in delivering every speech convinced everyone of her suitability for the oval office. In this determined and articulate speech , she outlines the fundamental values that form the bedrock of democracy, urging the rest of the world to uphold human rights regardless of national ideology and interests.

27. The Ballot or The Bullet by Malcolm X

“And in this manner, the organizations will increase in number and in quantity and in quality, and by August, it is then our intention to have a black nationalist convention which will consist of delegates from all over the country who are interested in the political, economic and social philosophy of black nationalism. After these delegates convene, we will hold a seminar; we will hold discussions; we will listen to everyone. We want to hear new ideas and new solutions and new answers. And at that time, if we see fit then to form a black nationalist party, we’ll form a black nationalist party. If it’s necessary to form a black nationalist army, we’ll form a black nationalist army. It’ll be the ballot or the bullet. It’ll be liberty or it’ll be death.”

Inarguably, the revolutionary impact Malcolm X’s fearless oratory had was substantial in his time as a radical anti-racist civil rights activist. His speeches’ emancipatory potential put forth his ‘theory of rhetorical action’ where he urges Black Americans to employ both the ballot and the bullet, strategically without being dependent on the other should the conditions of oppression change. A crucial leader in the fight for civil rights, he opened the eyes of thousands of Black Americans, politicising and convincing them of the necessity of fighting for their democratic rights against white supremacists.

28. Living the Revolution by Gloria Steinem

“The challenge to all of us, and to you men and women who are graduating today, is to live a revolution, not to die for one. There has been too much killing, and the weapons are now far too terrible. This revolution has to change consciousness, to upset the injustice of our current hierarchy by refusing to honor it, and to live a life that enforces a new social justice. Because the truth is none of us can be liberated if other groups are not.”

In an unexpected commencement speech delivered at Vassar College in 1970, Gloria Steinem boldly makes a call to action on behalf of marginalized groups in need of liberation to newly graduated students. She proclaimed it the year of Women’s Liberation and forcefully highlighted the need for a social revolution to ‘upset the injustice of the current hierarchy’ in favour of human rights – echoing the hard-hitting motto on social justice, ‘until all of us are free, none of us are free’.

29. The Last Words of Harvey Milk by Harvey Milk

“I cannot prevent some people from feeling angry and frustrated and mad in response to my death, but I hope they will take the frustration and madness and instead of demonstrating or anything of that type, I would hope that they would take the power and I would hope that five, ten, one hundred, a thousand would rise. I would like to see every gay lawyer, every gay architect come out, stand up and let the world know. That would do more to end prejudice overnight than anybody could imagine. I urge them to do that, urge them to come out. Only that way will we start to achieve our rights. … All I ask is for the movement to continue, and if a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door…”

As the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, Harvey Milk’s entire political candidature was in itself a radical statement against the homophobic status quo at the time. Given the dangerous times he was in as an openly gay man, he anticipated that he would be assassinated eventually in his political career. As such, these are some of his last words which show the utter devotion he had to campaigning against homophobia while representing the American people, voicing his heartbreaking wish for the bullet that would eventually kill him to ‘destroy every closet door’.

30. Black Power Address at UC Berkeley by Stokely Carmichael

“Now we are now engaged in a psychological struggle in this country, and that is whether or not black people will have the right to use the words they want to use without white people giving their sanction to it; and that we maintain, whether they like it or not, we gonna use the word “Black Power” — and let them address themselves to that; but that we are not going to wait for white people to sanction Black Power. We’re tired waiting; every time black people move in this country, they’re forced to defend their position before they move. It’s time that the people who are supposed to be defending their position do that. That’s white people. They ought to start defending themselves as to why they have oppressed and exploited us.”

A forceful and impressive orator, Stokely Carmichael was among those at the forefront of the civil rights movement, who was a vigorous socialist organizer as well. He led the Black Power movement wherein he gave this urgent, influential speech that propelled Black Americans forward in their fight for constitutional rights in the 1960s.

31. Speech on Vietnam by Lyndon Johnson

“The true peace-keepers are those men who stand out there on the DMZ at this very hour, taking the worst that the enemy can give. The true peace-keepers are the soldiers who are breaking the terrorist’s grip around the villages of Vietnam—the civilians who are bringing medical care and food and education to people who have already suffered a generation of war. And so I report to you that we are going to continue to press forward. Two things we must do. Two things we shall do. First, we must not mislead the enemy. Let him not think that debate and dissent will produce wavering and withdrawal. For I can assure you they won’t. Let him not think that protests will produce surrender. Because they won’t. Let him not think that he will wait us out. For he won’t. Second, we will provide all that our brave men require to do the job that must be done. And that job is going to be done. These gallant men have our prayers-have our thanks—have our heart-felt praise—and our deepest gratitude. Let the world know that the keepers of peace will endure through every trial—and that with the full backing of their countrymen, they are going to prevail.”

During some of the most harrowing periods of human history, the Vietnam War, American soldiers were getting soundly defeated by the Vietnamese in guerrilla warfare. President Lyndon Johnson then issued this dignified, consolatory speech to encourage patriotism and support for the soldiers putting their lives on the line for the nation.

32. A Whisper of AIDS by Mary Fisher

“We may take refuge in our stereotypes, but we cannot hide there long, because HIV asks only one thing of those it attacks. Are you human? And this is the right question. Are you human? Because people with HIV have not entered some alien state of being. They are human. They have not earned cruelty, and they do not deserve meanness. They don’t benefit from being isolated or treated as outcasts. Each of them is exactly what God made: a person; not evil, deserving of our judgment; not victims, longing for our pity ­­ people, ready for  support and worthy of compassion. We must be consistent if we are to be believed. We cannot love justice and ignore prejudice, love our children and fear to teach them. Whatever our role as parent or policymaker, we must act as eloquently as we speak ­­ else we have no integrity. My call to the nation is a plea for awareness. If you believe you are safe, you are in danger. Because I was not hemophiliac, I was not at risk. Because I was not gay, I was not at risk. Because I did not inject drugs, I was not at risk. The lesson history teaches is this: If you believe you are safe, you are at risk. If you do not see this killer stalking your children, look again. There is no family or community, no race or religion, no place left in America that is safe. Until we genuinely embrace this message, we are a nation at risk.”

Back when AIDS research was still undeveloped, the stigma of contracting HIV was even more immense than it is today. A celebrated artist, author and speaker, Mary Fisher became an outspoken activist for those with HIV/AIDS, persuading people to extend compassion to the population with HIV instead of stigmatizing them – as injustice has a way of coming around to people eventually. Her bold act of speaking out for the community regardless of the way they contracted the disease, their sexual orientation or social group, was an influential move in advancing the human rights of those with HIV and spreading awareness on the discrimination they face.

33. Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

“The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit, born of an intellectual conviction of the need for change in those mental attitudes and values which shape the course of a nation’s development. A revolution which aims merely at changing official policies and institutions with a view to an improvement in material conditions has little chance of genuine success. Without a revolution of the spirit, the forces which produced the iniquities of the old order would continue to be operative, posing a constant threat to the process of reform and regeneration. It is not enough merely to call for freedom, democracy and human rights. There has to be a united determination to persevere in the struggle, to make sacrifices in the name of enduring truths, to resist the corrupting influences of desire, ill will, ignorance and fear. Saints, it has been said, are the sinners who go on trying. So free men are the oppressed who go on trying and who in the process make themselves fit to bear the responsibilities and to uphold the disciplines which will maintain a free society. Among the basic freedoms to which men aspire that their lives might be full and uncramped, freedom from fear stands out as both a means and an end. A people who would build a nation in which strong, democratic institutions are firmly established as a guarantee against state-induced power must first learn to liberate their own minds from apathy and fear.”

Famous for her resoluteness and fortitude in campaigning for democracy in Burma despite being put under house arrest by the military government, Aung San Suu Kyi’s speeches have been widely touted as inspirational. In this renowned speech of hers, she delivers a potent message to Burmese to ‘liberate their minds from apathy and fear’ in the struggle for freedom and human rights in the country. To this day, she continues to tirelessly champion the welfare and freedom of Burmese in a state still overcome by vestiges of authoritarian rule.

34. This Is Water by David Foster Wallace

“Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom all to be lords of our tiny skull-sized kingdoms, alone at the centre of all creation. This kind of freedom has much to recommend it. But of course there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about much in the great outside world of wanting and achieving…. The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day. That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing.”

Esteemed writer David Foster Wallace gave a remarkably casual yet wise commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005 on the importance of learning to think beyond attaining a formal education. He encouraged hundreds of students to develop freedom of thought, a heart of sacrificial care for those in need of justice, and a consciousness that would serve them in discerning the right choices to make within a status quo that is easy to fall in line with. His captivating speech on what it meant to truly be ‘educated’ tugged at the hearts of many young and critical minds striving to achieve their dreams and change the world.

35. Questioning the Universe by Stephen Hawking

“This brings me to the last of the big questions: the future of the human race. If we are the only intelligent beings in the galaxy, we should make sure we survive and continue. But we are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill. But our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instincts that were of survival advantage in the past. It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand or million. Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain inward-looking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space. The answers to these big questions show that we have made remarkable progress in the last hundred years. But if we want to continue beyond the next hundred years, our future is in space. That is why I am in favor of manned — or should I say, personned — space flight.”

Extraordinary theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking was a considerable influence upon modern physics and scientific research at large, inspiring people regardless of physical ability to aspire towards expanding knowledge in the world. In his speech on Questioning the Universe, he speaks of the emerging currents and issues in the scientific world like that of outer space, raising and answering big questions that have stumped great thinkers for years.

36. 2008 Democratic National Convention Speech by Michelle Obama

“I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history — knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. All of them driven by the same conviction that drove my dad to get up an hour early each day to painstakingly dress himself for work. The same conviction that drives the men and women I’ve met all across this country: People who work the day shift, kiss their kids goodnight, and head out for the night shift — without disappointment, without regret — that goodnight kiss a reminder of everything they’re working for. The military families who say grace each night with an empty seat at the table. The servicemen and women who love this country so much, they leave those they love most to defend it. The young people across America serving our communities — teaching children, cleaning up neighborhoods, caring for the least among us each and every day. People like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters — and sons — can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher. People like Joe Biden, who’s never forgotten where he came from and never stopped fighting for folks who work long hours and face long odds and need someone on their side again. All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do — that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be. That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack’s journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope. That is why I love this country.”

Ever the favourite modern First Lady of America, Michelle Obama has delivered an abundance of iconic speeches in her political capacity, never forgetting to foreground the indomitable human spirit embodied in American citizens’ everyday lives and efforts towards a better world. The Obamas might just have been the most articulate couple of rhetoricians of their time, making waves as the first African American president and First Lady while introducing important policies in their period of governance.

37. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

“I’m not talking about blind optimism here — the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don’t think about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about something more substantial. It’s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker’s son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. Hope — Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.”

Now published into a book, Barack Obama’s heart-capturing personal story of transformational hope was first delivered as a speech on the merits of patriotic optimism and determination put to the mission of concrete change. He has come to be known as one of the most favoured and inspiring presidents in American history, and arguably the most skilled orators ever.

38. “Be Your Own Story” by Toni Morrison

“But I’m not going to talk anymore about the future because I’m hesitant to describe or predict because I’m not even certain that it exists. That is to say, I’m not certain that somehow, perhaps, a burgeoning ménage a trois of political interests, corporate interests and military interests will not prevail and literally annihilate an inhabitable, humane future. Because I don’t think we can any longer rely on separation of powers, free speech, religious tolerance or unchallengeable civil liberties as a matter of course. That is, not while finite humans in the flux of time make decisions of infinite damage. Not while finite humans make infinite claims of virtue and unassailable power that are beyond their competence, if not their reach. So, no happy talk about the future. … Because the past is already in debt to the mismanaged present. And besides, contrary to what you may have heard or learned, the past is not done and it is not over, it’s still in process, which is another way of saying that when it’s critiqued, analyzed, it yields new information about itself. The past is already changing as it is being reexamined, as it is being listened to for deeper resonances. Actually it can be more liberating than any imagined future if you are willing to identify its evasions, its distortions, its lies, and are willing to unleash its secrets.”

Venerated author and professor Toni Morrison delivered an impressively articulate speech at Wellesley College in 2004 to new graduates, bucking the trend by discussing the importance of the past in informing current and future ways of living. With her brilliance and eloquence, she blew the crowd away and renewed in them the capacity for reflection upon using the past as a talisman to guide oneself along the journey of life.

39. Nobel Speech by Malala Yousafzai

“Dear brothers and sisters, the so-called world of adults may understand it, but we children don’t. Why is it that countries which we call “strong” are so powerful in creating wars but so weak in bringing peace? Why is it that giving guns is so easy but giving books is so hard? Why is it that making tanks is so easy, but building schools is so difficult? As we are living in the modern age, the 21st century and we all believe that nothing is impossible. We can reach the moon and maybe soon will land on Mars. Then, in this, the 21st century, we must be determined that our dream of quality education for all will also come true. So let us bring equality, justice and peace for all. Not just the politicians and the world leaders, we all need to contribute. Me. You. It is our duty. So we must work … and not wait. I call upon my fellow children to stand up around the world. Dear sisters and brothers, let us become the first generation to decide to be the last. The empty classrooms, the lost childhoods, wasted potential-let these things end with us.”

At a mere 16 years of age, Malala Yousafzai gave a speech on the severity of the state of human rights across the world, and wowed the world with her passion for justice at her tender age. She displayed tenacity and fearlessness speaking about her survival of an assassination attempt for her activism for gender equality in the field of education. A model of courage to us all, her speech remains an essential one in the fight for human rights in the 21st century.

40. Final Commencement Speech by Michelle Obama

“If you are a person of faith, know that religious diversity is a great American tradition, too. In fact, that’s why people first came to this country — to worship freely. And whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh — these religions are teaching our young people about justice, and compassion, and honesty. So I want our young people to continue to learn and practice those values with pride. You see, our glorious diversity — our diversities of faiths and colors and creeds — that is not a threat to who we are, it makes us who we are. So the young people here and the young people out there: Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter, or like you don’t have a place in our American story — because you do. And you have a right to be exactly who you are. But I also want to be very clear: This right isn’t just handed to you. No, this right has to be earned every single day. You cannot take your freedoms for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms. … It is our fundamental belief in the power of hope that has allowed us to rise above the voices of doubt and division, of anger and fear that we have faced in our own lives and in the life of this country. Our hope that if we work hard enough and believe in ourselves, then we can be whatever we dream, regardless of the limitations that others may place on us. The hope that when people see us for who we truly are, maybe, just maybe they, too, will be inspired to rise to their best possible selves.”

Finally, we have yet another speech by Michelle Obama given in her final remarks as First Lady – a tear-inducing event for many Americans and even people around the world. In this emotional end to her political tenure, she gives an empowering, hopeful, expressive speech to young Americans, exhorting them to take hold of its future in all their diversity and work hard at being their best possible selves.

Amidst the bleak era of our current time with Trump as president of the USA, not only Michelle Obama, but all 40 of these amazing speeches can serve as sources of inspiration and hope to everyone – regardless of their identity or ambitions. After hearing these speeches, which one’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Article Written By: Kai Xin Koh

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Great Talks Most People Have Never Heard

Not long ago, I came across a little-known speech titled, “You and Your Research”.

The speech had been delivered in 1986 by Richard Hamming, an accomplished mathematician and computer engineer, as part of an internal series of talks given at Bell Labs. I had never heard of Hamming, the internal lecture series at Bell Labs, or this particular speech. And yet, as I read the transcript, I came across one useful insight after another.

After reading that talk, I got to thinking… what other great talks and speeches are out there that I’ve never heard?

I’ve been slowly searching for answers to that question and the result is this list of my favorite interesting and insightful talks that are not widely known. You may see a few famous speeches on this list, but my guess is that most people are not aware of many of them—just as I wasn’t when I first started looking around.

As far as I know this is the only place where you can read transcripts of these speeches in one place.

Famous Speeches and Great Talks

This list is organized by presenter name and then speech topic. Click the links below to jump to a specific speech. On each page, you’ll find a full transcript of the speech as well as some additional background information.

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story”
• Jeff Bezos, “Statement by Jeff Bezos to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary”
• Jeff Bezos, “What Matters More Than Your Talents”
• John C. Bogle, “Enough”
• Brené Brown, “ The Anatomy of Trust “
• John Cleese, “Creativity in Management”
• William Deresiewicz, “Solitude and Leadership”
• Richard Feynman, “Seeking New Laws”
• Neil Gaiman, “Make Good Art”
• John W. Gardner, “Personal Renewal”
• Elizabeth Gilbert, “Your Elusive Creative Genius”
• Albert E. N. Gray,  “The Common Denominator of Success”
• Bill Gurley, “Runnin Down a Dream”
• Richard Hamming, “Learning to Learn”
• Richard Hamming, “You and Your Research”
• Steve Jobs, “2005 Stanford Commencement Address”
• Peter Kaufman,  “The Multidisciplinary Approach to Thinking”
• C.S. Lewis, “The Inner Ring”
• Admiral William H. McRaven, “Make Your Bed”
• Arno Rafael Minkkinen, “Finding Your Own Vision”
• Charlie Munger, “2007 USC Law School Commencement Address”
• Charlie Munger, “A Lesson on Elementary, Worldly Wisdom”
• Charlie Munger, “How to Guarantee a Life of Misery”
• Charlie Munger, “The Psychology of Human Misjudgment”
• Nathan Myhrvold, “ Roadkill on the Information Highway “
• Randy Pausch, “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”
• Randy Pausch, “Time Management”
• Anna Quindlen,  “1999 Mount Holyoke Commencement Speech”
• John Roberts, “I Wish You Bad Luck”
• Sir Ken Robinson, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”
• J.K. Rowling, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure”
• George Saunders, “Failures of Kindness”
• Claude Shannon, “Creative Thinking”
• BF Skinner, “How to Discover What You Have to Say”
• Jim Valvano, “Don’t Give Up”
• Bret Victor, “Inventing on Principle”
• David Foster Wallace, “This is Water”
• Art Williams, “Just Do It”
• Evan Williams,  “A Journey on the Information Highway”

This is an on-going project. If you know of another great talk, please contact me .

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25 Best Motivational Speeches By The Top Motivational Speakers In The World

​We’ve curated a list of the best motivational speeches to inspire you today. These inspirational speeches by famous motivational speakers will help you succeed and be a better person today than where you were yesterday!

Have you ever met someone new who made you feel special?

The way that they treat you makes you feel loved.

They bring the good out of you.

You wish they had come into your life much sooner because they make you want to be a better person.

Maybe you discovered something new, and it made you excited.

You started thinking about the new possibilities and opportunities waiting for you in the immediate future. You begin fantasizing about the new places you’ll visit and how much fun it will be!

Now that you start to see and think differently, you are wondering…

Why did it take so long?

Quote by Maya Angelou, at the University of California, Riverside

Best motivational speeches to inspire you.

Well, if only you knew how I wish, at least I’d watched the motivational videos on this page before August 1997, especially motivational video #23!

I remember it vividly like it was yesterday!

August 1997, I met a girl.

And right there and then, I knew she was the one.

The most beautiful girl I’ve been dreaming and waiting for all this time. Her disarming smile, soothing voice, and impeccable posture! An Angle. Perfect. The one and the only one.

How can I forget August 23rd, 1997?

On that day, suddenly, there was an insurmountable obstacle.

What does love, at first sight, has to be like this?

Love quote by Jackie Collins

Is this how love feels, or is it just infatuation?

I don’t know. Either way, I now had a big major problem to solve.

How in the world was I supposed to get this fantastic dazzling angel to ever agree to go out on a date with me, talk, laugh, hold hands and hug! Please tell me. How?

If only she loved me back; life would be full of joy and fun!

So I tried, planned, devised, and improvised. Finally, the day and moment of reckoning came, and I was face to face with the love of my life.

I had to say something.

I know how to speak. Yet I said nothing! Not a single word. I tried to talk. My lips and mouth went dry, then I mumbled something and stammered.

My dream girl was right in front of me, gracious and generous with her time, waiting for me to say something; instead, she received the most awkward smile she had ever seen.

Can you believe it!

I just could not get myself to utter a single word. Meanwhile, while I was still thinking about what a fool I was making out of myself…

The unthinkable happened.

Natalia stepped forward, shook my hand, and asked me out on a date. I could not believe it! Did she just do that? Ask me out on a date!

The rest, my dear friend, is history.

A story to be told and narrated at the right moment, day, and occasion to my great-great-grandchildren. That was back when I was single and a young man chasing gorgeous women all over town!

That I was romantic, charming, splendid, challenging, and heroic.

And that brings me to the topic of today’s post. I don’t know why you are here, but generally speaking, you are probably here for 3 main reasons:

• You want to be inspired,
• Improve and hone your public speaking skills,
• You are just surfing around the internet to pass the time.

Without further ado,

You’re about to listen to the best motivational speeches ever!

These motivational speeches are going to encourage, inspire and boost your morale. In addition, the lessons, knowledge, and wisdom you’re about to acquire are priceless!

List Of 25 Best Motivational Speeches – Table of content

What is the impact of motivational speech.

Motivational speeches can have a profound impact on people’s lives. They can inspire people to change their behavior, set and achieve new goals, and overcome challenges.

Motivational speeches can positively impact people by helping them feel more confident and optimistic about themselves.

They can also help change people’s perspectives and give them new insights into their lives. Additionally, motivational speeches can inspire people to take action and change their lives.

What is the one thing that constantly puts people down and prevents them from achieving their goals and the lifestyle they desire?

Of course, there are many other reasons why people fail, but…

Nevertheless, quitting is terrible!

One of the biggest reasons most people fail to succeed is the inability to keep trudging forward and believing in yourself despite what everybody else and their dog says.

Listen, the only secret to success is that success is gradual.

Success requires hard work, persistence, and discipline. But unfortunately, most people will give up on their goals the minute the road gets rough.

You’re not like most people who quit, right? But, here is something you need to remember, every successful person was initially a beginner at something.

In most cases, it’s only through hard work and dedication that people become successful. Losing your faith and questioning yourself will only slow down your progress.

Quote by Winston Churchill

Giving up on what you believe in is the beginning of a life of mediocrity.

Never giving up is not a guarantee of success; it validates your zeal and promises of future things.

When you vow never to give up!

That decision elevates you a notch higher because you manage to get rid of all the ‘what ifs’ that dictate the lives of regular folk.

Again you’re not regular folk. You’re destined for success.

You can accomplish big things, even if, at this point, you might not think so. But, first, you need to understand that you and your end goal are connected, only separated by a few obstacles and the usual naysayers.

Listen up now…

Your belief in yourself is more vital than anyone’s doubt.

The fact that you believe in something is a good starting point. However, pushing that belief to the next level and being able to keep going in the face of adversity is another kind of animal altogether.

It takes a lot of character to hop back on your feet after a nasty fall, but it is what you must do to achieve your goals and become successful.

Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders By Sheryl Sandberg

In this video, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women are less likely to reach the top of their industry than their male counterparts.

Did you know that only 6% of CEOs are females?

In other words, a staggering 94% of CEOs are men!

According to the Center for American Progress , did you know that women account for 50.8% of the U.S. population, but just a small number of females hold top-level leadership positions?

If you wonder why we have too few women leaders, you must check out Sheryl Sandberg’s TED talk . At the date of this publication, she is Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer.

Quote by Sheryl Sandberg

Are you a woman trying to break the glass ceiling?

Sheryl Sandberg’s TED talk offers powerful pieces of advice for women trying to break the glass ceiling. It’s one of the best motivational speeches for women to watch.

You’ll learn about the obstacles women must overcome in the workplace and inspirational success stories from women at the top of their field.

If you’re a woman who is trying to climb the career ladder, Sheryl Sandberg’s TED talk video will provide you with a boost of confidence and a new determination.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture, “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

How about listening to the most powerful motivational speech, “the last lecture,” given by a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University?

Professor Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and knew he had only three to six months of good health to live on this planet!

Instead of retreating to his own corner and feeling sorry for himself, Professor Randy Pausch decided to make the most out of the little time he had left to live.

The last lecture by Randy Pausch is one of the most epic motivational speeches that will inspire you to achieve your childhood dream, have fun and love your life.

If you want to make your childhood dreams come true, then the last lecture by Randy Paush could be the most important video you’ll ever watch.

After all, making your childhood dream come true isn’t much more challenging than dealing with your everyday task.

To tackle your dreams, you need to remember your dreams as a child.

Making a childhood dream come true requires an abundance mindset.

The more you think the world is abundant, the more you’ll recognize the potential for making dreams come true.

Indeed this is one of the best informative and motivational speeches about life that will inspire you to achieve your dream.

Professor Randy Pausch educates and explains why regaining childish ability and experience is essential. In fact, it is one of the secrets to unlocking the power of your subconscious mind.

Oprah Winfrey Stanford Speech For Class 2008 Graduates

Oprah Winfrey’s speech to the Class of 2008 at Stanford’s 117th Commencement address was powerful, memorable, and the most-must-watch motivational speech for students!

By drawing from her own experiences from the day she started her career in 1976, she touched the graduates by sharing three very crucial lessons about life, namely:

• Feelings and,
• Finding happiness.

In this speech, Oprah talked about how important it is to make decisions based on what you really want.

She emphasized that feelings are the GPS system in life, which can guide you if you can only follow your instinct.

Motivational quote by Oprah Winfrey

The trick, she said, is to learn to check and let your internal motivation guide you. If you don’t feel it now, it’s better to wait until it shows you the way.

Above all, Oprah said that it is crucial to learn lessons from your failings and how to pick yourself up and move on.

Eventually, you’ll find your happiness. Oprah Winfrey’s speech is one of the best motivational speeches for students.

Steve Jobs Commencement Speech At Stanford University

Like most bloggers, during my line of work, I have watched, listened to, and read several famous motivational speeches, but I have to say it to you,

None of the great motivational speeches I have read, watched and listened to are as moving and memorable as Steve Jobs’s commencement speech at Stanford University.

This is a remarkable speech! It will truly inspire you.

Steve Jobs was the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. He was invited to give a commencement speech at Stanford University.

To say the least, his inspiring speech to Stanford graduates is one of the most-watched commencement speeches on YouTube.

In his speech, Steve narrates how he dropped out of college after six months; it took him another 18 months to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.

He quit college because his parents were struggling financially, and he didn’t like the way that was draining all his parents’ life savings to get him to college.

Quote by Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs could not stand it.

He says that dropping out of college was his best decision. Dropping out of college enabled him to focus on what he really liked.

According to Steve Jobs Stanford’s commencement speech , there are setbacks in life, including death, but death is an opportunity.

Death helps people make better choices by remembering that they will die one day.

Another good reason why death is an opportunity, according to Steve Jobs, is that death paves the way for the new by clearing out the old.

“Death is very likely the single best invention of life.”

Steve Jobs Stanford speech insists on the importance of acquiring knowledge even when you don’t know when, how, or where you’ll apply the education you receive.

He uses his personal life experiences to encourage young graduates to pursue their dreams because there is no reason why they should not pursue their dreams.

Pamela Meyer “How To Spot A Liar” TED Talk

Pamela Meyer gives a critical TED talk about the value of speaking the truth and why it is worthwhile to keep telling it no matter what.

If you’re wondering how often the average person lies, spoiler alert!

Most people, a lot of people, lie every day! From seemingly harmless white lies to sinister lies meant to deceive others into responding in a certain way.

Pamela Meyer explains that your identity is tied strongly to what you say and how you portray yourself to others. Therefore, lying can distort your sense of identity and cause you to be confused about the truth of who you are.

Pamela Meyer beautifully backs her claims about how to spot a liar with science, and that is precisely why this is an incredible motivational video about lie spotting.

Quote by Pamela Meyer

So next time…

You feel demoralized because you’ve been criticized and isolated for telling the truth; why not re-watch Pamela Meyer’s – How to spot a liar TED talk video ?

Don’t underestimate the power of good motivational speeches. Experts agree that motivational speakers can inspire us to literally change our lives.

A good motivational speaker can help students, corporate teams, and enterprising individuals apply their experience and expertise that will lead them to succeed.

Barack Obama DNC Speech In 2004 That Made Him President

In 2004, very few people knew who Barack Obama was.

Before the Democratic National Convention speech, Barack Obama was just another ordinary one-term senator from Illinois.

The junior senator’s speech from the state of Illinois was filled with hope and determination. It set the tone for what was to come.

By the end of Barack Obama’s first public speech at the DNC, the Democratic Party had seen its future and the attendees knew that they were witnessing history in the making.

This is the speech that made Obama president of the United States.

When the young senator from Illinois walked onto the stage in Boston at his party’s convention, he delivered a powerful speech that turned the party on its ear.

Inspirational quote by Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s speech gave millions of people hope for a better future.

Using warmth, personal stories, and an understanding of the American need to grow closer as a nation.

Barack Obama introduced himself to people as one of them, a person from ordinary beginnings who intended to make a difference.

Working with the theme of uniting the country across racial, political, and class boundaries, the attendees were on their feet with excitement within minutes!

Within his lifetime, very few people can say that they have given such a powerful, inspiring, and unifying speech at the Democratic National Convention!

Monica Lewinsky TED Talk | The Price Of Shame

Did you know that Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky’s sexual relationship was one of our modern digital age’s first sensational internet scandals?

And that Monica Lewinsky scandal was used by the online gossip columns as click-bait and by the mainstream media to sell newspapers!

Sounds familiar, right?

Monica Lewinsky still deals with the fall-out nearly twenty years later.

If you’re looking for short motivational speeches about public shaming and humiliation, then Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk is the right video to watch.

Monica Lewinsky discusses the repercussions of internet shaming and social media bullying on young people in her honest and sometimes painful TED talk.

Based on her own life experience, Ms. Lewinsky will inspire you to overcome extreme emotional and psychological distress caused by negative gossip spread over the internet about you.

Quote by Monica Lewinsky

From death threats to suicide, Ms. Monica Lewinsky’s speech offers an open, candid, and uncompromising look at what happens to people when public shaming goes viral.

She also talks about what can be done to change the currently ingrained social response.

The repercussions can often be fatal, from gossip websites to hacked photographs leaked onto the internet when a single youthful mistake goes viral.

The price of shame speech by Ms. Monica covers the devastating personal cost of the culture of humiliation that has become a booming business worth millions.

Art Williams – Just Do It Speech

So, let’s do a quick self-audit!

• Have you stopped chasing your childhood dreams?
• Do you keep postponing what needs to be done?
• Do you have work assignments you really feel like not doing?

If you answered yes to at least one of the above questions, why not listen to Art William’s “just do it” speech?

The most famous motivational speeches for work ethics. Art Williams says that what people do with their lives makes them great.

What you do daily will determine what you’ll earn at the end of the day.

That is why two different individuals in the same situation in life and with the same characteristics become different.

You have to save more and invest more. Art Williams says that if you want to be a winner in business, you have to be a leader.

Towards the end of his speech, Art Williams uses the phrase “just do it” to encourage people to do the things that will make them achieve their dreams.

To become what you want to be, you should just start doing it now instead of planning to do something in the future. That will make the difference.

Cameron Russell TED Talk | Looks Aren’t Everything

To be a model, you must be tall, beautiful, and have a perfect body. Is that not what most people believe to be true about modeling?

Not so fast. Hold that thought myth right there!

One of the top American fashion super-models who has been modeling since her teen years has a shocking and honest twist about beauty and looks!

Cameron Russell says, “Looks aren’t everything in her TED talk video!”

In her speech, Cameron Russell gives an honest insider’s look by explaining how the shallow assumption that beauty is everything doesn’t prove true.

She admits that her pictures are not really her; they’re edited versions of her body that have an unhealthy effect on beauty standards in today’s women.

Quote by Cameron Russell

Her advice for attaining genuine happiness and peace in life is simple;

Who you are matters more than what you look like.

If you think being more beautiful will make you happy, you should think again! You’ll be satisfied in life when you start being yourself.

The fashion industry has its mind set on convincing the masses that being beautiful will make your life easy and happy.

Cameron Russell’s TED talk video is one of the best motivational speeches to straighten the record.

Jim Carrey Commencement Speech At Maharishi University

Jim Carrey, the famous actor, gave a fun and emotional commencement speech.

He spoke to the graduates of Maharishi University, in Iowa, in the management class of 2014, where the university granted degrees to 285 students from 54 countries around the world.

The famous comedian offered the students powerful and inspiring words about life and the future.

He urged them to never settle for anything less in life.

The most memorable point of Jim Carrey’s commencement speech was when he told students the story of his father and how his father’s career choice inspired him.

Motivational quote by Jim Carrey

The paradox of life.

His father had the chance to become a comedian, but he preferred a safe job as an accountant.

The paradox of his story is that eventually, his father lost his accounting job that was supposed to be safe.

This vital lesson inspired him to follow his own path in life. That path has made him become one o the most renowned comedian.

During the Maharishi University of Management ceremony, Jim received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree for his significant lifetime achievements.

Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy TED Talk | Power Poses

Stand up tall or sit straight.

Uncross your arms and stop fidgeting!

I thought my parents taught me basic human respect and good manners as a kid.

Little did I know that, in reality, those suggestions can go a long way towards boosting confidence, self-esteem, and dignity.

In 2012, social psychologist researcher Amy Cuddy gave an excellent presentation at the TED talk forum about the importance of “power posing” and how body language can make people more powerful.

More importantly, your body language affects how you see yourself and interact with your job and others.

According to Amy Cuddy’s TED talk video , you can boost your confidence using your body language by the way you stand and by just using some simple tweaks of your body language.

A healthy confidence level can, in turn, lead you to success in life.

Is This The Best High School Valedictorian Speech Ever?

This was a viral valedictorian speech by Valedictorian Carl Aquino, who at the time of this speech was a graduate of West Hall High School for the class of 2010.

Carl Aquino relates school life during the last four years of high school using a Rubix cube. He humorously narrates how anxious, nervous, and scared we all are.

As the music played in the background, he kept on solving the cube.

He compares the start of junior college with the love of your life and how you keep searching for the perfect love of your life until you finally find her.

Once you find your love, you become amazed.

You find her incredible, fun, intelligent, and sexy, and you decide to propose to her. Unfortunately, it takes months to prepare for the proposal.

Finally, she says she will get back to you in like 4-5 months when you propose.

They rejected you. Is this the perfect college that you want?

Time goes by, and before you know it, the final year arrives. Carl compares the last year with a more giant and complex Rubix cube.

He concludes by saying that friends will always be remembered, no matter where they go. If you haven’t watched the video, it’s one of the best valedictorian speeches .

J.K Rowling Commencement Speech At Harvard University

Most ordinary people fear failing at anything in life. Do you fear being a loser?

Most people fail to recognize that failure isn’t such a bad thing.

When you take the right approach, failing and learning from failure can make you do better in life and be the best.

Do you see failure as something horrible, and therefore, you do not want to experience the pain of failure in your life?

If you fear failing, you really need to listen to J.K Rowling Harvard commencement speech that will inspire you to look at failure differently and help you embrace failure when it knocks you down.

In June 2008, Joanne K. Rowling delivered an encouraging speech at the Annual Meeting of the HAA (Harvard Alumni Association) held at Harvard University.

Her speech titled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination” became the most viewed video on Harvard University’s website and is one of the best motivational speeches on YouTube.

Inspirational quote by J. K. Rowling

Drawing from personal stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author gets to address some of the most important life issues with much acuity and emotional force.

She warns the new Harvard graduates about the inevitability of failure and the necessity of risk for a living. She quotes Plutarch, saying, “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”

J.K Rowling’s speech is finally available in book form.

In the book “Very Good Lives,” Rowling asks the most profound and provocative question, “How can one embrace failure?”

Tony Robbins TED Talk | Why We Do What We Do

Tony Robbins is one of the most famous motivational speakers, authors, and life coaches, best known for self-help books, seminars, and infomercials.

Having said so, Tony Robbins’ inspirational speech, why do we do what we do, will make you appreciate what drives you towards achieving your goals.

What is it that drives us?

What motivates us to do our daily activities?

These are some of the questions that Tony Robbins TED talk video helps us explore and define ourselves.

We can explore ourselves, appreciate others, and contribute more to society by asking these questions.

In life, there are two master lessons that you need to understand.

The first one is the science of success.

That is how one can convert their dreams into reality and change the invisible into the visible.

The second master lesson is about the art of fulfillment.

This is about appreciation and contribution. It’s about what you do for others. It gives us a sense of more profound satisfaction and makes us want to do more.

But what happens when we fail? We give a lot of excuses, right?

Excuses like we didn’t have enough resources, we didn’t have the right technology, we didn’t have a good manager, and the list goes on.

The reason why we failed is simple; we were not resourceful. However, we did not exhaust our resourcefulness. With enough psychological strength, we can achieve our set goals and dreams.

We are on our own path to success.

Human needs and wants make us do what we do. They drive us towards achieving our goals. They’re the reasons why we work so hard.

Problems play a part in shaping us.

They make us wake up and look for solutions. But in doing what we do, we must ensure that we are confident of success. It’s the faith that will keep us working until success shows up.

Lupita Nyong’o Speech on Essence Magazine Breakthrough

The phenomenal award-winning star, gorgeous, intelligent, and poetic Lupita Nyong’o, gave a sensational speech after clinching the Essence Magazine’s Black Women In Hollywood Breakthrough Performance Award.

Lupita began by sharing a letter she got from a young girl who was taunted for a long time by her dark-shaded skin.

The girl thought of Lupita as quite fortunate to have quickly succeeded in Hollywood, bearing in mind her complexion.

The girl mentioned in her letter that she often attempted to make an arrangement with God and prayed that one day she would eventually wake up in the morning with a lighter complexion.

The result was only sadness and displeasure because her wish never came true.

What is the meaning of black beauty?

Having inner beauty enchants the heart and lightens up the soul.

When you’re gorgeous both externally and internally, you become compassionate.

Lupita Nyong’o’s speech concludes that black beauty is not a thing that can be acquired or consumed. Beauty is never about how your looks sustain you.

Al Pacino Any Given Sunday Speech – The Best Football Speech!

Some people won’t go the extra mile, and yet that extra mile is what really differentiates winners from losers.

To be the winner, you should try to go the extra mile. That’s how winners win!

Every day, the little things you do will move you closer to achieving your dream. This is one of the greatest motivational speeches about putting a little more effort.

Al Pacino’s speech, any given Sunday, is one of the most famous motivational speeches I have watched, and I’m sure this speech will inspire you too.

His main goal is to motivate all the players on his football team to do whatever it takes to ensure they win.

He insists on the importance of working as a team to win. So he is trying hard to convince the players how important it’s for them to put in a little more effort.

Al Pacino, any given Sunday speech applies to all areas of life. If you want to succeed in anything you do, you have no choice but to do your best.

The little things that you do daily despite experiencing some setbacks make the difference between being successful and being a failure.

Lizzie Velasquez TED Speech | How Do You Define Yourself?

Lizzie Velasquez’s TED speech is one of the best motivational speeches that will transform your thoughts and how you generally look at life.

Lizzie Velasquez’s TED talk is based on her true-life story.

Lizzie Velasquez was born with a unique syndrome that prevents her body from gaining weight. She can eat anything, but her body can’t gain weight.

It is a unique situation that has made people label her the ugliest woman globally. But people’s sentiments did not discourage her.

Lizzie manages to get motivated by the negative things people say about her. This is because she has a philosophy where she never lets other people define what she is.

In her speech, she encourages people not to let negative comments made by other people let them down.

Quote by Lizzie Velásquez

How do you define yourself?

When Lizzie Velasquez was born, there was no amniotic fluid; doctors told her parents that as she grew up, she would not be able to do many things like other normal children.

For example, she would not be able to talk, crawl or even do anything.

Despite all that, her parents told the doctor they were ready to take the child home and care for her just the way she is.

She never felt like she was different from other children in her early life.

One day she was in school, and she felt like other pupils were feeling something different about her; she, therefore, discussed it with her parents, but her parents told her she was just a tiny kid.

Lizzie has now accepted her condition and uses it to motivate her to become a better person; she has written three books and recently graduated.

She does not let her appearance define her and what she does.

Lizzie Velasquez remembers when someone shared her photo on the internet, and people joked about her as the ugliest woman on earth.

Nonetheless, she has stayed motivated and keen on accomplishing her goals in life and has vowed never to let her outer appearances define her.

Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk | Do Schools Kill Creativity?

You should really watch Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk; it’s only 20-minute long and With more than 14 million views [at the time of this publication]

This TED talk viral video will definitely change how you see the current school system.

Sir Ken Robinson – author and international advisor on education in the arts, argues that society should favor an education system that nurtures creativity rather than ignoring it.

He champions a complete overhaul of the current system.

Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk titled “ Do schools kill creativity? ” poses this question to his audience:

He argues that we’re encouraged to become good workers rather than using our creativity.

Sir Ken Robinson explains why we should move towards a school system that acknowledges different types of intelligence and creativity. He observes that students who use their curiosity are ostracized.

The Danger Of A Single Story By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TED talk is a thought-provoking speech about the dangers of taking a single source to accurately represent people, culture, or place without fact-checking other reliable sources.

In her speech about the danger of a single story, she focuses mainly on how people hear a single story about a place or people, assuming that a single source represents the place fully or the people in the story.

A single story about people can be misleading.

There was extreme poverty in the humble Nigerian village where she grew up.

Her mother always reminded her to finish food because other people in the neighborhood couldn’t afford the food she was refusing to eat.

She felt pity for poor people who could not afford food.

Then one day, she narrates how she paid a visit to one of the family homes, which her mother was referring to be extremely poor.

She remembers how she was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were traditional items in that home that she found very attractive.

Motivational quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The danger of a single story…

As a young child, she liked reading books.

She remembers reading about ginger beer made in the West and admired it. However, she never knew that there was a traditional beer made only in Nigeria that could not be found in the West.

When she went to the United States for her high school studies, her roommate sympathized with her because she had heard a single story about Nigeria.

According to her roommate, Nigeria is a poor country in Africa where people are poverty-stricken. In fact, her roommate was amazed that she could speak fluent English.

In summary, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TED talk about “ the danger of a single story ” reminds us to never judge people based on a single story. It is the message Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s speech passes across.

Nick Vujicic Youtube Video About Overcoming Hopelessness

I don’t know about you, but right now…

Thousands of people worldwide struggle with depression, addiction, unemployment, a failed marriage, failed business, bullying, sexism, peer pressure, legal issues, and the list goes on and on…

According to Nick Vujicic YouTube video about overcoming hopelessness,

We all have a purpose in life to pursue no matter what we’re going through, and the most crucial thing that depressed people are looking for in life is hope.

Nick Vujicic has faced many challenges in his life.

Like every responsible parent will tell their kid, his parents constantly said to him that he was handsome and a great child, but he did not believe them!

His disability of not having arms and legs made him feel that he was different from others, a factor that made him think of taking his own life.

Quote by Nick Vujicic

There was a time when Nick Vujicic thought of committing suicide because he thought there was nothing worth living for.

Lucky for him, he did not.

Nick managed to overcome his hopelessness, and to date, he has helped millions of people, including the head of states and billionaires, overcome despair and be hopeful again.

Nick was mainly hopeless because he focused so much on what he did not have. But unfortunately, by doing so, he overlooked the precious gift that God had given him.

You can have both arms and legs but not have any positive influence on other people. On the other hand, you may lack both arms and legs but positively influence others.

Nick encourages people to overcome hopelessness by always focusing on God’s gift and avoiding focusing on their weaknesses.

If Nick Vujicic can do it. Believe me, you can turn around your life and make your big dream come true.

Mel Robbins Ted Talk – How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over

There are many challenges, obstacles, and other bad luck in an average person’s life!

That is why many people end up dissatisfied with their lives; they lose hope, sit back and never lift a finger to change their situation for the better!

Mel Robbins TED talk is about helping people realize their inner potential.

Because people are afraid to change for the better, they put off their problems by thinking and saying that they are fine when it’s apparent that they are not okay.

For example, people assume that they are okay with losing their job. However, other people are in a not working relationship but say they are just fine.

Quote by Mel Robbins

How to stop screwing yourself over…

Mel Robbins’ motivational speech explains to people that for anything to change in life, one has to actively do something that will make their life better.

If you do nothing, nothing changes!

As a motivational speaker, she tries to help her audience do something about their problem and achieve their goals in life irrespective of their situation.

Some of the areas she covers in her speech include relationships, health, and career life.

According to Mel Robbins TED talk, it is simple to get whatever you want in life. But it requires some form of force and energy to be inserted.

Mel Robbins tries to explain to people how they can tap into their activation energy.

She outlines different areas where one can force themselves to make life better because the body acts automatically to other stimulants.

Kid President Pep Talk | The Most Viral Motivational Speech!

Everybody needs motivation and encouragement from time to time, and no one motivates and encourages better than the kid president pep talks viral video.

Is this the most famous speech ever given by a kid president ?

Below is a brief summary of a pep talk from Kid President.

This world does not need boring people. Being boring is easy but does not add value to your life or the people around you.

It is time to get up and do something to improve this world.

Don’t stop believing in your dreams.

Regardless of how often you fail, keep moving because you will make it one time. No dream cannot become true if you stay focused and believe in yourself.

Ask yourself what you can do to make the world awesome. But, of course, you will do nothing if you keep sitting there pitying yourself.

This is your time; this is our time to make this world a more incredible place.

Let us stand for each other and be our brother’s keeper.

Sit down and decide which side you want to be on. Do you want to be on the side that strives to make this world a better place or on the side where you keep complaining?

We all have work to do! ​

You were not born mediocre; we were created to be remarkable. So get out there and do something to make this world a more incredible place.

Create something that will make the world a better place to live.

God has allowed us to change this world and make it a better place. Therefore, if you just sit down and do not utilize this ability, you are not only failing yourself, but you are also failing God.

A pep talk from Kid President encourages everyone to get out there and do something for this universe. So, starting today, get out there and do something!

Make this world a better place for everyone and the next generation.

Ways to Make a Conversation With Anyone By Malavika Varadan

Initiating a conversation with a stranger can be an awkward experience.

This uncomfortable problem is one that Malavika Varadan set out to conquer in her speech about 7 ways to make conversation with anyone .

Malavika Varadan’s first tip of how to have a conversation is to let your first-word “floodgate,” That is, don’t psych yourself out or agonize over what to say,

Just turn to a stranger and say ‘hello.’ (After all, the worst thing they can do is not talk to you–which they’re already doing anyway.)

Varadan’s second strategy is to skip the small talk and ask a more personal question. This way, the other person’s answer is unique and exciting, and as a result, your conversation is more memorable.

The third tactic is to find the things you have in common, or the “me-toos,” with the other person.

Varadan explains that having something in common almost instantly makes the conversation easier since you’re both on the same page.

However, the radio host talks about paying the other person a unique compliment in her fourth tip.

The compliment should be genuine and maybe even unusual–not something the other person probably hears a million times a day.

Her fifth strategy is one of the most useful: Ask for an opinion. Who doesn’t want to share their side of things or be validated?

The sixth tactic doesn’t even require words: just be present. In other words, make eye contact, listen, and don’t stare at your phone.

Lastly, Varadan says that remember a “name, place, animal and thing” when meeting someone.

When you see them again, repeat what you’ve learned about them, like their name, pet, or other little things they brought up before.

If you remember something about them, this will make the other person feel like you’re an investor in their well-being, making them feel responsible for keeping the conversation going.

Once you master these tactics about the different ways to start a conversation, you will find it easy to start a conversation with anyone, even if it’s a total stranger.

Malavika Varadan’s speech is probably the best motivation to listen to if you constantly have trouble talking to strangers.

Denzel Washington’s Speech At Dillard University

Denzel Washington is more than just a celebrity to many of his fans.

He’s a role model, a person to look up to, and an all-around good man.

In delivering the commencement speech at Dillard University, the Academy Award-winning actor had a few words of wisdom to share with the graduates.

Mr. Washington emphasized the importance of putting God first in everything we do.

He acknowledged that he wouldn’t be the Academy Award-winning actor we know and love today without God.

Fear of failure .

Mr. Washington’s following advice to the graduates was to lose the fear of failure.

If they wanted to succeed, the graduates needed to be fearless at chasing their dreams no matter how crazy they were.

He told them the importance of not only having a dream but also having goals to help make those dreams a reality.

The graduates needed discipline and short- and long-term consistency to achieve these goals.

The next piece of advice Mr. Washington shared with the graduates was the importance of hard work.

Success is never complete without hard work. However, he also told the graduates to ensure their hard work bore fruit.

In his words,

Towards closing…

Mr. Washington reminded the graduates that it’s not all about the money. No matter how much money you make, we all leave it here when they die.

Success lies in helping others.

He advised the graduates to use their skills and talents to help themselves and help others and make the world better.

Finally, he told the graduates to remember to thank God every day, not for the things they have but for the things they are yet to achieve in their life and career.

Mr. Washington closed his speech with a powerful statement telling the graduates to not just aspire to make a living but aspire to make a difference.

Mindy Kaling’s Commencement Speech At Dartmouth College

Mindy Kaling’s 2018 Commencement Speech was 17 minutes long, but it was so funny, entertaining, and well-spoken that it only felt 10 minutes long!

Her speech was the most hilarious motivational speech to watch on YouTube. The crux of Mindy Kaling’s speech was that of empowerment.

The power of believing that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to do. In today’s world, people are being told what they can or cannot do, an outdated, archaic way of life.

People get pressured to stay where they are because they believe they’re…

Not good enough!

We mustn’t let anyone tell us that we can’t do something.

We must believe that we can make things happen and not let ourselves be limited by external and internal factors, including our self-esteem, confidence, and capability.

The greatest hindrance to personal success is self-doubt and complacency to remain where you are. When this happens, the potential is lost to what could have been a fulfilling, enjoyable life.

Once we learn how to build confidence and start believing in our skills and abilities, new paths open up, and we’re free to choose what we want to do.

Mindy says that success isn’t a zero-sum game and that women should support each other.

It can only be overcome with a resounding “Why Not You?”

Mindy also mentions that having a checklist for what you want to achieve in life is good, but don’t be afraid to go off the rails and experience something new.

Mindy Kaling’s speech reminds us that overcoming self-doubt is a value only you can do, but the rewards will be immense once you get rid of that belief.

In conclusion, her speech was full of good advice and inspiring elements that the new grads definitely learned something they could carry on with them as they proceed to the next phase of their lives.

25 Best Motivational Speeches By The Best Motivational Speakers Of Our Time

In conclusion…

We hope that the above motivational speakers you watched today have inspired and compelled you to make some sort of a change in your life.

The worst thing you can do is sit there and think, “That was interesting.”

You must take immediate action and make a difference in your life. Watch 25 best motivational speeches by the top motivational speakers.

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10 uplifting speeches from history that will inspire you in times of crisis

Frank olito   .

• Throughout history, leaders have made speeches that inspired millions and changed the course of history. Those speeches still inspire us today.
• Famous speeches like Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address still resonate today.
• Lesser-known speeches like Hillary Clinton's "Human Rights Are Women's Rights" and Nora Ephron's commencement address are considered inspirational.

While history is no stranger to crises, there are always leaders who come forward to help usher in more hopeful times by crafting and delivering impactful speeches.

Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Maya Angelou have all delivered speeches that inspired millions - and some even changed the course of history.

Take a look back at some of the most famous speeches from history that still move us today.

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in 1863 reminds people to honor those we have lost.

President Abraham Lincoln gave a relatively short speech at the deadliest battle site during the Civil War on November 19, 1863. Although it wasn't meant to be monumental, some call it the best speech in history. In it, Lincoln tells his people that they must remember each and every person who fought and died on the battlefield, especially because every human is created equal.

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here," Lincoln says in the address. "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

In 1938, Lou Gehrig gave his "Luckiest Man" that celebrated the beauty of life.

On July 4, 1938, Lou Gehrig delivered a speech at Yankee Stadium after it was revealed that the baseball player had ALS. Although he was delivering devastating news to his fans in the speech, he instead focused on everything life has to offer.

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said in the speech. "I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans … So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."

Winston Churchill delivered the "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech in 1940, showing the strength of the human spirit.

On June 4, 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed Parliament during a particularly difficult time in World War II. Smithsonian Magazine called it "one of the most rousing and iconic addresses" of the era. In the speech, the prime minister told his people that they would fight together and use all their strength to defeat their enemies.

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender," Churchill says in the famous speech .

In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave his "Quit India" speech, which encouraged peaceful protests.

The day before the Quit India movement started, Mahatma Gandhi delivered an inspiring speech, on August 8, 1942 . In the speech, he told his people to resist the British government but to do so in a peaceful, organized manner. He focused on the benefits of a nonviolent uprising, which became the cornerstone of his beliefs.

The most famous line from the speech is: "I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours."

John F. Kennedy delivered "The Decision to Go to The Moon" speech in 1961, proving humans know no bounds.

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced to Congress and the world that the US was committed to sending an American to the moon. In the inspiring speech , the president explains the ambitious goal as one of necessity.

"Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, 'Because it is there,'" Kennedy said in his speech. "Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked."

Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream Speech" in 1963 reminds people there is always something better on the horizon.

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., delivered what is arguably the most famous and most inspiring speech in American history. Before the historic March on Washington, King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and addressed the 250,000 attendees, calling for the end of discrimination and racism by dreaming about a brighter future.

"I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice," he said in the speech. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today."

In 1993, Maya Angelou read her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration in an attempt to bring the global community together.

On the morning of President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, poet Maya Angelou delivered a moving speech when she read out her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning." It was the first time a poem had been recited at the ceremony since 1961 . In it, Angelou touched upon topics of equality and inclusion, and she attempted to inspire the world to unite under these principles.

Part of the poem reads:

"The river sings and sings on. There is a true yearning to respond to The singing river and the wise rock. So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew, The African and Native American, the Sioux, The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek, The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the teacher. They hear. They all hear The speaking of the tree."

Hillary Clinton delivered the "Human Rights Are Women's Rights" speech in 1995, saying those who are suppressed also have a voice.

As the first lady, Hillary Clinton attended the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. She was pressured to water down her message, but instead, she delivered a moving speech that still resonates today. In it, she said women who are held back by sexist governments should be set free and heard.

"If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights once and for all," Clinton said in the speech. "Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely — and the right to be heard."

Nora Ephron encouraged people to break the rules in her commencement address to Wellesley College in 1996.

While Nora Ephron is known for penning some of the most famous films in the '80s and '90s, she also made a legendary speech at the 1996 Wellesley College graduation ceremony . In it, she inspired women to break free of the mold placed on them.

"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there," Ephron said in the speech. "And I also hope you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women."

She also said, "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

In 1977, Harvey Milk gave his "Give Them Hope" speech, urging people to celebrate their differences and to hold on to messages of hope.

When he was running for local office in California, Harvey Milk delivered his "Give Them Hope" remarks as a stump speech . It was meant to rally supporters behind him, but it quickly became a speech of hope and celebration for the LGBT community.

"And the young gay people in Altoona, Pennsylvanias, and the Richmond, Minnesotas, who are coming out and hear Anita Bryant on television and her story. The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope," Milk said in his speech . "Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only are the gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the 'us-es.' The 'us-es' will give up."

• 8 inspirational speeches from Martin Luther King Jr. that aren't 'I Have a Dream'
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The 12 Best Motivational Speeches of All Time [Ranked]

Get inspired by some of the most influential people on the planet. Learn the best motivational speeches to take action and change your life!

Brett Helling

Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.

Key Takeaways

• Recognizing employees significantly boosts performance, productivity, and morale.
• Motivational speeches can transform views and inspire action in challenging times.
• Speakers emphasize courage, perseverance, and embracing failure for personal growth.
• Learning from successful figures helps ignite passion and boost confidence.

Include a personal profile or introduction statement at the top of your resume

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Add an infographic element that displays your best traits and accomplishments

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Utilize space by using bullet points to outline skills and job qualifications

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A  study by Harvard Business Review  made an important discovery: recognizing employees for their work contributes significantly to their performance, productivity, and morale.

This stresses the importance of motivation, especially today, where impossible success stories and unhealthy expectations set by social media smother us.

Now, anyone can motivate you anywhere, be it your classmate during a graduation speech or your CEO during a conference keynote.

After all, motivational speakers don't have to be famous or successful, but they tend to have a specific audience in mind their ideals resonate with.

Usually, their speeches attempt to alter your view of your current challenges, but they can also be a call to action.

We also believe that part of the human experience is feeling overwhelmed and helpless at some points.

Our list of motivational speeches is an attempt to help pull you out of whatever pit you feel stuck in and fire you up for your next journey, be it for personal growth or career success.

Continue reading to get inspired!

The 12 Best Motivational Speeches

Your journey is unique, and we understand that your struggles differ from those of others.

These motivational speeches revolve around various facets of life, and you should find something for yourself below, no matter what challenges you face.

These talks are not ranked in terms of superiority, by the way!

• Al Pacino: Scent of a Woman – 1992
• Les Brown: It Is Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible – 1996
• Steve Jobs: Stanford Commencement Speech – 2005
• J.K. Rowling: The Fringe Benefits of Failure And The Importance of Imagination – 2008
• Will Smith: The Pursuit of Happyness – 2006
• Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Elusive Creative Genius – 2009
• Al Pacino: Any Given Sunday – 1999
• Bill Gates: Harvard Commencement Speech – 2007
• Jim Carrey: Maharishi University of Management Commencement Speech – 2014
• Sheryl Sandberg: Get on a Rocket Ship Whenever You Get The Chance – 2012
• Denzel Washington: Fall Forward – 2011
• David Foster Wallace: This Is Water – 2005

1. Al Pacino: Scent of a Woman - 1992

Theme:  Courage, Integrity

Few Hollywood actors can match Al Pacino's eloquence, especially in the 1992 movie  Scent of a Woman .

Pacino, playing blind retired army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, delivered an emotionally charged speech highlighting the importance of courage and integrity near the end.

Slade defended Charlie Simms, a student who stood up for what's right despite adversity and emphasized the importance of integrity. He contended that you must be courageous to act honorably and justly, even when faced with hardship.

He commended Charlie for his unwavering commitment to justice and truth and the immense character it takes to stand up against wrongdoing and not succumb to peer pressure.

The context, you may ask? Charlie was pressured to snitch on his friends, who pulled a prank against the headmaster, Mr. Trask, in exchange for keeping his scholarship. Expectedly, Charlie refused to sell his soul and betray his friends for his benefit.

The movie challenges attitudes common today. The lesson it presents is simple: don't step on others to get your way, and have the courage to stand up to oppression and wrongdoings.

2. Les Brown: It Is Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible - 1996

Theme:  Perseverance, Ambition

Les  Brown's famous motivational speech started with an interesting quote: "I do not believe that any of us have dreams that were not given to us for the purpose of accomplishing those particular dreams."

This means that Les Brown believes that our dreams are given to us by some higher power or purpose and that we have the responsibility and—focus on this—the ability to pursue them and make them come true.

He spent time sharing his personal story with his audience: how he started from humble beginnings and faced many obstacles that didn't stop him from completely changing his life and finding success.

The takeaway from his speech is that your potential is endless, and failing is part of your journey to success.

To make it in life, protect your ambitions from the criticism of negative people and persevere despite being faced with disappointments, frustrations, and obstacles.

How do you do that?

Surround yourself with people sharing the same hunger for success as you, be creative in finding solutions to problems and ways to  motivate yourself , and understand that your responsibility is to take risks and work hard toward achieving your goals.

3. Steve Jobs: Stanford Commencement Speech - 2005

Theme:  Destiny, Love, Death

Steve Jobs was a pioneer and magnate in the business world before his untimely death in 2011.

His Stanford motivational speech revolves around three stories from his life: connecting the dots, love and loss, and death.

During the first story, Steve Jobs recounted his experiences as a college dropout who attended a calligraphy class at Reed College which seemed utterly useless then.

It didn't dawn on him until later in life that that class was indispensable to designing the typography of Apple computers—the best back then, according to Jobs.

Jobs said to trust in something to build faith in your abilities and pursue your passions, which make all the difference in life. It doesn't matter what it is: karma, your gut, destiny, or whatever you fancy.

Second, he said: "You can only connect the dots looking backward." This is about having confidence that everything you do will have a purpose later in life.

His second story revolved around his getting fired from Apple, the company he started, and his fearless motivation to  try new things  that ensued.

He said that the best thing that happened to him was getting fired. It opened him to new opportunities and enabled him to rekindle new passions.

Jobs said: "Sometimes life is gonna hit you in the head with a brick."

He also added a quote that reflects what  people struggle with  today: "You've got to find what you love."

Never settle. You'll do great in what you love once you find it, and you'll know when you do. It just gets better as the years roll on, too.

Finally, Jobs spoke about the inevitability of death. It was a stark reminder that our time on Earth is limited, and what we do with it is what matters.

We must follow our dreams and not succumb to others' dogma to live a fulfilling life.

4. J.K. Rowling: The Fringe Benefits of Failure And The Importance of Imagination - 2008

Theme:  Failure, Imagination

Among the most inspiring motivational quotes you could read is: "It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default."

What constitutes failure? How do you define success? J.K. Rowling, the mastermind behind  The Wizarding World , says it's up to us to decide.

Rowling shared two crucial lessons she learned from her life experiences: the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination.

You will fail miserably at one point in life. You may even hit rock bottom. For Rowling, rock bottom was a divorce and complete destitution seven years after graduation.

However, that rock bottom could become the foundation of your new life.

It liberates you to connect with your authentic self, start fresh, pursue your dreams, and gain wisdom you can't learn from any other aspect of life.

It's what helped her discover her true passion for writing novels, resilience, and inner security.

Imagination

Rowling also emphasizes the importance of imagination in empathizing with others.

Many choose not to express their imagination, preferring comfort over the courage to step outside and make a positive difference in the world.

She urges us to use it and our intelligence and influence to better the world.

5. Will Smith: The Pursuit of Happyness - 2006

Theme:  Ambition, Dreams

Motivational speakers will often inspire you with long speeches carrying many anecdotes.

After shattering his son's dream by telling him he likely won't become a professional basketballer, Will Smith, in 40 seconds, rectified the situation by telling him what everyone must hear in a speech so short yet so powerfully moving.

"Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream? You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you you can't do it. You want something? Go get it! Period!"

The Pursuit of Happyness  is based on the real-life story of  Christopher Gardner . We recommend checking it out.

6. Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Elusive Creative Genius - 2009

Theme:  Fear, Success, Determination

Elizabeth  Gilbert's famous motivational speech is more of a philosophical food for thought than a "Get up. Do it."

She spoke about the challenges and pressures of creative people in the modern world. She also explained how differently people have understood their creative impulses from ancient times to the present.

The key takeaway is that today's idea of creativity (as a whole) as something that comes from within the individual is harmful and unrealistic as it's too much responsibility for a single frail being to handle.

Gilbert suggests that we return to the older notion of creativity as something that comes from outside the individual and that we can't control.

What you have to do, in turn, is to keep showing up for your work. Find your niche and keep trying, even if you fail.

It doesn't matter if you do a horrible job.  Learn to enjoy life . Embrace the mystery and unpredictability of creativity. "Olé!" to you if you dare to be creative.

Her talk is captivating, and a summary can't do it justice. Give the video a watch.

7. Al Pacino: Any Given Sunday - 1999

Theme:  Fear, Winning

The speech Tony D'Amato, played by Pacino, gave before his football team's crucial game during the movie  Any Given Sunday  is invigorating.

That said, the talk doesn't apply to football only, as it's about overcoming obstacles of all sorts.

He emphasized that life and football are both games of inches, where the margin for error is small and every inch matters.

His team (and you) must fight for every inch with passion, courage, and sacrifice. His team must also heal together and trust and support each other, as they're all in it together.

Living, to D'Amato, is overcoming fears, doubts, and failures and finding your inner strength and will to win.

This speech is a rallying cry for individuals paralyzed by fear and unable to step forward and achieve their goals.

It's a resounding affirmation message that says: "It's okay. You can do it. And, if you think you can't, you have friends to help you do it."

8. Bill Gates: Harvard Commencement Speech - 2007

Theme:  Change, Progress

During his Harvard commencement speech, Bill Gates reflected on his time at Harvard and the intellectual and social experiences that came with it.

He commented on how the worst part about dropping out of Harvard was his leaving without a sufficient understanding of the world and its inequities and the millions of issues impoverished and less fortunate people face daily.

His speech is a call to action. He emphasized that reducing inequality is humanity's greatest achievement and calls for applying new technologies toward that endeavor.

In other words, Gates urges those who are more fortunate intellectually, financially, and socially to be the change this world needs.

9. Jim Carrey: Maharishi University of Management Commencement Speech - 2014

Theme:  Risk-Taking

People know Jim Carrey for his hilarious roles in comedy classics like Ace Ventura and  The Mask . But did you know that he also has a profoundly deep side that can surprise you?

His commencement speech at the Maharishi University is philosophical and impactful, but one part stands out:

"...Sometimes, it's okay to eat your feelings. Now fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much.

You can spend your whole life imagining ghosts and worrying about the pathway to the future, but all there will ever be is what's happening here and the decisions we make at this moment, which are based on either love or fear.

So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect. So we never dare to ask the universe for it..."

Carrey's father chose to be an accountant instead of a comedian in fear of failing. You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love.

The lesson to take away is simple: take risks in life. It's the only way you can progress and truly enjoy it. Decisions based on fear will only get you to a future where you'll be neither proud of yourself nor satisfied.

10. Sheryl Sandberg: Get on a Rocket Ship Whenever You Get The Chance - 2012

Theme:  Opportunity, Personal Growth, Honesty

Sheryl Sandberg  is an ex-Facebook COO. She imparted many crucial qualities that people in the business world should have. Her 2012 speech at the Harvard Business School covers three main points. They are:

Opportunity

Eric Schmidt  said: "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on."

Lori Goler , Schmidt's co-worker, also compared careers to a jungle gym instead of a ladder.

You'll get tired of working and stagnate if you don't look for opportunities and growth.

Today's overly competitive, hyperconnected world demands a new approach. Viewing jobs how people did thirty years ago is no longer viable.

Sheryl urges us to look for a mission, move in all directions (hence the jungle gym comparison); build our skills, not our resume; and evaluate what we can do, not the title we'll get.

"A good leader recognizes that most people won't feel comfortable challenging authority, so it falls upon authority to encourage them to question."

Being honest in workplaces is difficult, as people fear challenging authority. Sheryl urges leaders to welcome dissenting opinions and feedback, not punish them.

This doesn't apply to leaders only, though. Everyone should ask for input, especially from those who might disagree with them, and listen to their perspectives.

Admit your mistakes and share your vulnerabilities, as it's the best way to build trust and transparency and grow.

Personal Growth

"As you lead in this new world, you will not be able to rely on who you are or the degree you hold. You'll have to rely on what you know."

Pieces of paper don't define you; your skills do. Working on your professional and interpersonal skills to stay ahead of others is crucial.

Focus on talent, skills, imagination, vision, and the ability to communicate authentically.

Developing such skills isn't exactly easy, though. That's why reading is important . We recommend checking out some of these must-read books .

11. Denzel Washington: Fall Forward - 2011

Theme:  Failure, Risk-Taking

Actor  Denzel Washington  gave an inspiring speech about the importance of failure and taking risks at the Pennsylvania 2011 Commencement Address. There are two parts to his speech.

Risk-Taking

"I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Nothing. Nelson Mandela said: 'There is no passion to be found, playing small and settling for a life that's less than the one you're capable of living.'"

Washington highlighted how people always tell you to ensure you have something to fall back on. He said he never understood this concept and that falling back on your faith or forward is always better.

His example? Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Few know that because the 1,001st experiment was the lightbulb.

Take risks. People don't care about your failures; they only remember your successes. There's nothing to be afraid of.

Washington also spoke about how every failed experiment is a step closer to success.

He emphasized that you'll fail at some point in your life; you must accept it. He also said you're not trying in the first place if you don't fail.

Failure is inevitable, but what sets the winners apart from the losers is perseverance, and he gave an interesting—and funny—quote to exemplify his point:

"There's an old saying, you hang around the barbershop long enough, sooner or later, you're going to get a haircut. So you will catch a break. And I did catch a break."

It doesn't matter how long it takes to achieve your mission. Small steps accumulate. Take it easy, one step at a time, and you'll inevitably reach whatever you set out to do.

Accept new views, be open to new opinions, meet new people, and take new chances. They're what's going to define you. Keep going forward. Never stop.

12. David Foster Wallace: This Is Water - 2005

Theme:  Thinking, Open-Mindedness

David Foster Wallace 's talk is another overly philosophical didactic that makes you say: "Woah, I never thought of it this way before."

He invites us to free ourselves from the prison of self-centeredness by being more conscious, humble, and compassionate.

His motivational speech mainly revolved around the value of a liberal arts education. He said it's not about the knowledge you gain, it's about being taught how to think and what to pay attention to in life.

Most of us are trapped in our default setting of self-centeredness and automatic thinking, making us unhappy and unaware of what's unfolding around us.

He explained it best in two quotes:

"Learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience."

"But if you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell-type situation as not only meaningful but sacred, on par with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down."

The speech is called "This Is Water" because of the metaphor he proposes at the beginning: fish swimming in water. It's about how we often take life's most important things for granted.

Wrapping Up

Life isn't easy. Sometimes, it can be so overwhelming that we consider giving up on our dreams and aspirations in return for some peace of mind.

Luckily, we don't have to face our problems alone. We learn from them, and motivational speakers ignite our passion to chase our goals with vehement determination and boost our confidence.

We shared some impactful speeches by some of the most brilliant minds the world has ever seen in hopes of implanting one belief in your mind: It's okay. You can make it. And, if you don't, you have a lifetime to make it. Don't give up.

We hope you found these talks as touching as we did. Don't forget to leave your feedback and share this article with your friends if you enjoyed it!

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30 Famous and Short Inspirational Speeches (5 minutes or less)

• December 13, 2023

This post is all about the best short inspirational speeches.

If you are in need of a quick boost of inspiration and motivation, you will find that in this post. I am one of those people who loves to get motivated. That sounds weird, right?

Well, a lot of people these days tend to give motivation a hard time because they don’t believe that it has lasting effects. In other words, they believe that what’s most important is your own self-discipline, because that’s what you have to rely on when motivation isn’t there.

And while I do agree with that sentiment in general, I will never pass up a great motivational podcast or YouTube video! 😀 There’s just something about them that even if they might not have lasting effects, they do truly help pump me up in the moment to get work done. And that’s usually what matters to me the most when I am looking for them in the first place.

So, here are the very best short motivational speeches so you can get that quick fix of motivation that you’re looking for, and ultimately move closer to your goals and dreams.

Short Inspirational Speeches

Believe in yourself speeches.

If you lack confidence or you are doubting yourself, these short motivational speeches will help you to believe in yourself again.

1. Rocky’s Inspirational Speech to His Son | ROCKY BALBOA

In less than 5 minutes, you’ll watch Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) explain to his son that if he wants to have the life he desires, he needs to believe in himself. He needs to stop listening to the people that tell him who he is, and instead go be his own person, and stop looking for someone to blame when things aren’t working out for him because ultimately it’s on HIM. This is one of the greatest inspirational speeches of all time.

2. Find Your Purpose | David Goggins – Motivational Speech

David Goggins is truly incredible. A former Navy SEAL, he has broken records and ran more races than you’d imagine. But the one thing that really stands out about him is his mindset.

Listen to this video if you want to be great. He tells you exactly what you need to do to get there.

Also, if you’ve never read David Goggins’ book “Can’t Hurt Me” , I highly recommend it. He talks about his rough upbringing, and how he was able to essentially become an entirely new person to become a Navy SEAL.

3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF – Motivational Video (ft. Jaret Grossman & Eric Thomas)

This video is all about how important it is to have the proper belief system. If you truly believe that you are one of the best, you will start acting that you are one of the best, and eventually you may just be one of the best.

4. DON’T LET YOUR DREAMS DIE – Motivational Speech

This YouTube short by Mel Robbins is so good, I had to share it. A light bulb went on in my head when I first watched this. If there is something that is always on your mind, don’t let it haunt you forever because you never put yourself out there to try it. Go and DO!

Motivational Speeches About Not Giving Up

The following short motivational speeches are all about not giving up on your dreams. If you are losing hope, these short motivational speeches will inspire you to keep going.

5. Brené Brown It’s Not The Critic Who Counts

This speech will give you chills, and it is packed with great lessons about life. Brené Brown is a researcher who went viral for a Ted Talk, and here she talks about how to overcome critics and to keep believing in yourself no matter what. If you are worried about what people think of you, you NEED to watch this.

6. Amazing Motivational Speech by Denzel Washington 

This is another video that gave me chills. The main theme of this famous speech is “ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship”. Stay consistent even when it’s hard. Easy task after easy task won’t get you to where you want to be.

7. Steve Harvey – Inspirational Speech | Motivational Short Video | Incredible You

This short motivational speech by Steve Harvey is short but impactful. If you are someone who stepped out of your comfort zone to pursue something really difficult, and you’re thinking about giving up, this speech may just prevent you from doing so.

8. Ed Mylett on The Power of One More

Ed Mylett shares the story of how his father stayed sober until his dying day, and how Ed himself uses that same philosophy to never give up. Personal stories like these are always the most inspiring.

By the way, if you REALLY want to push yourself and become the best, read Ed Mylett’s most recent book on this same topic, “The Power Of One More” .

Motivational Speeches If You’re Feeling Behind

Are you feeling behind in life? If so, let’s change that. Watch these videos to be reminded that you are on your own unique path. You have no competition other than your past self. These short motivational videos will help you believe that.

9. Before You Feel Pressure – WATCH THIS | by Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty talks to a school class about how there’s no one “perfect” life timeline to follow, and that we are all on our own clock. 

10. Kevin Hart Motivational Speech

If you’ve made mistakes in your life (haven’t we all) this is a great story from Kevin Hart (famous comedian and actor) that will remind you of the power of making mistakes and pushing through hard times.

11. Oprah Winfrey | 5 Minutes For The NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE

In this video, Oprah talks about the importance of really knowing who you are and what you want in your life. She talks about surrounding yourself with great people, and how to have enormous success. “Let excellence be your brand.”

Listen To These If You Need Perspective

Sometimes in life, we get so caught up in the day to day that we forget what truly matters – the people we love. If you are having trouble with something in life, give these videos a listen, because they just might help you realize what is really important.

12. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Organize Your Day | 1 MINUTE MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO

Are you the kind of person who always complains that you don’t have enough time to do something? If so, you’re not alone. We are all busy humans, running around doing a million things. But if you aren’t prioritizing what you know you should be doing, listen to this video.

13. How to Judge Your Life Using 3 Simple Questions | Brendon Burchard Speech| Goalcast

Have you ever heard of Mortality Motivation? It’s essentially what it sounds like… being motivated by the impending reality of your death. It sounds a little morbid, but it’s actually quite beautiful and it can be really beneficial if you harness it for good.

In this video by motivational speaker Brendon Burchard, he shares how a car accident when he was 19 gave him mortality motivation and changed everything for him.

14. FALL, SUFFER AND LEARN | MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH BY OPRAH WINFREY

This speech by Oprah was given to Harvard graduates, and it’s a unique speech because she talks about failing, even after the major success of her television show for over 20 years.

It’s refreshing to hear that even the most successful people fail. What really matters, though, is what you do with your failure. Do you learn from it and move on? Or do you give up?

15. YOU VS YOU – Best Motivational Video

This is a pretty intense video about competition. If your #1 competition is someone else, you need to change your perspective. Your only competition is YOU. The only thing preventing you from moving forward is you.

16. The Speech That Brought This Entire School To Tears

This is a speech about a man who never really paid much attention to his mother, until she passed away. It’s an emotional reminder to cherish the time you have with your loved ones, because you never know if the next time you see them will be the last time.

In my opinion, this speaker embodies many qualities of the best motivational speakers because he really knows how to capture the audience’s attention and pull on their heart strings.

17. 5 Minutes to Start Your Day Right! – MORNING MOTIVATION

This motivational speech is by a Navy SEAL who will remind you to start each day with a task completed, respect everyone, take risks, step up during tough times, and never give up. If you do these things, the next generation, and the generations that follow, will live better lives than we live today.

18. The Real You – Jim Carrey

This video is one of the best motivational speech examples because it reminds you of something so important: sometimes we can be so focused on earning more money, gaining fame, and becoming admired that we lose ourselves or we lose sight of what’s really important to us in the process.

Jim Carrey talks about how he is a great example of that. He got all of the money, fame, and admiration, and admits that that wasn’t really who he was. Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that money and fame, or even getting to the top of the corporate ladder, while nice, aren’t going to be the thing that brings you fulfillment when it’s all said and done.

19. Ed Mylett Motivational Speech

I posted another motivational video by Ed Mylett above, but if you don’t know much about him, prepare to have your world rocked. He’s probably my absolute favorite motivational speaker because he is successful and he works hard, but he’s also (seemingly) a kind, family guy who’s been through a few things.

In this video, he talks about being “the one” that changed his family tree. Take a listen because I’m sure it’ll get you thinking on whether or not you can be “the one” in YOUR family.

P.S. If you love personal growth content, you should check out Ed Mylett’s podcast . I listen to it every week and it is one of my favorites.

20. If You Feel LOST, LAZY & UNMOTIVATED In Life, WATCH THIS! | Tony Robbins Motivation

If you are someone who is constantly blaming others or your circumstances for your unhappiness, you need to listen to this video by Tony Robbins . Bad things happen to us all, it’s up to you to focus on what you can control.

Great Inspirational Speeches About Hard Work

How hard do you think you work? Could you be doing more? If there’s a little voice inside of your heart that knows you could be doing more and better, these motivational videos about the value of hard work will help you push yourself.

And a side note: your chances of having good luck increase the harder and longer you work.

21. You’re Not Tired, You’re Just Weak – David Goggins Motivation

If you’re feeling lazy or like you don’t want to do something, watch this video til 2:25 . It will give you the push you need to put your head down and do the work. It’ll remind you to keep pursuing your goals and to keep challenging yourself. Key takeaway: push yourself beyond your perceived limits.

22. Hard Work & Patience – A Gary Vaynerchuk Original Film

If you want to be motivated to work hard, listen to Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary Vaynerchuk is a creative genius known for his marketing tactics. This famous motivational speech is all about playing “the long game”, as in, working for a long time and having patience instead of working hard for a short period of time and expecting to win quickly.

23. OBSESSION – Best Motivational Speech

This is one of my favorite short motivational speeches because it makes me feel a little more normal for being “weird”. I’m the kind of person who chooses to work on the weekends instead of hanging out with people. Crazy, right? But it’s because I’m working toward a dream of mine and it’s something that’s really important to me. The most important thing to remember: it’s okay to devote yourself to something. It’s the only way to get what you want in life.

24. WORK LIKE HELL – Best Motivational Video

This is a series of motivational speeches about doing a little bit more and outworking your competition. I’m not going to lie – I’m up late writing this post and listening to this very video is what’s motivating me to keep going.

25. The video EVERY woman should watch!

Whether or not you’re a Rachel Hollis fan may be up for debate (and that’s okay!) but I happen to think she’s a great motivational speaker. This entire speech will inspire you to work hard and take massive action – today.

26. NEVER SURRENDER – Powerful Motivational Speech (by Kobe Bryant)

This one minute video by the late Kobe Bryant is one of the most famous short speeches. I read a book recently by his former personal trainer and I learned that Kobe really outworked everyone. He talks about a quote in this video that really stuck with him, and I think it’s great advice if you’re the kind of person who needs motivation to keep working hard.

Motivational Speeches About Working Smart

Have you ever heard the saying “work smarter, not harder”? That saying is all about ensuring that the work you are doing is actually efficient. Are you getting to where you want to go with all of the work that you are putting in? Are you getting closer to your goals and your dreams? Or are you sprinting like a hamster on a wheel and just running in circles?

Here are great videos on the importance of working hard but also working intentionally.

27. SET SYSTEMS RATHER THAN GOALS – Motivational Speech – James Clear

A goal gives you a sense of direction, but if you don’t spell out precisely how you are going to get to a goal, it is useless. You must develop systems. Listen to this James Clear video to gain valuable life lessons.

By the way, James Clear is an author who wrote perhaps my favorite book of all time: “Atomic Habits” . It’s life-changing if you haven’t read it yet.

28. Matthew McConaughey | 5 Minutes for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE

This is one of the best motivational speeches of all time about how to live a great life for YOU. It’s filled with little pieces of wisdom that’ll really get you thinking about how you live your life and in what direction you want to go.

29. Visualization is the key – Bob Proctor

Do you believe in the Law of Attraction? If not, I have to say I’m surprised! I’ve experienced it in my own life more than once, and it is incredibly powerful. Here’s a great video that sums up the power of visualization, and if you want to learn more about the Law of Attraction or manifestation in general, read this post .

This video shows the true power of words, thoughts, and feelings that you have.

30. How to Stay Motivated – Carla Harris

Here is a YouTube short with very practical advice from Carla Harris on HOW to stay motivated. It’s all about having a vision!

This post was all about short inspirational speeches. Which one was your favorite?

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Historyplex

7 of the Most Profound and Famous Short Speeches Ever Heard

There are many famous short speeches that have been a turning point in history. Here is a list of some of the most notable speeches ever.

Speech is power: Speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel. – Ralph Waldo Emerson This quote brilliantly summarizes the power of a good speech. There is no dearth of famous short speeches that have irrevocably influenced mankind and history.

Although the list may seem endless, and there will always be some or the other disagreement of which of these should figure in the list of popular speeches of all time, given below is a compilation of famous speeches by famous people including former presidents, politicians, a great visionary, and a world-renowned dramatist.These have gone down in history as something that people find relevant and influential even today. It is not necessary for a speech to be long to be famous, even a short one can be great, if it has an ability to mesmerize and inspire the audience. What follows, is a list of some of the most notable short speeches of all time. These were given at historical junctions, and had a significant impact at that time, and hold true even today. As these speeches continue to inspire many, they will go down in the annals of time.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address

One of the most famous speeches given by a sitting American President, although it lasted just a little over seven and a half minutes, it managed to stir a nation’s patriotism to the very bone and was a significant point in American history. President Roosevelt gave the famous speech to a joint session of Congress, the day after the Japanese bombing of the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. An excerpt from the speech is as follows:

December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy… No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory… I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

Ronald Reagan’s Speech Following the Challenger Disaster

American President Ronald Reagan made his famous short speech on national television following the disastrous explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle. On 26 January, 1986 after only 73 seconds into its flight, the space shuttle broke apart, causing the death of all the seven crew members on board, including a classroom teacher who had been chosen to be the first ever non-astronaut classroom teacher to travel into space. President Reagan spoke of the traumatic accident saying:

Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all people of our country. This is truly a national loss… Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But we’ve never lost an astronaut in flight. We’ve never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we’ve forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together. One of President John F. Kennedy’s most famous speech, was given on 26 June, 1963, to consolidate United States’ support for West Germany a little less than two years after the Communist East Germany erected the Berlin Wall. One of the most famous phrases in history “ Ich bin ein Berliner “, was in fact a last-minute brain child of Kennedy, who came up with the idea of saying it in German, while he was walking up the stairs at the Rathaus (City Hall). It was a great motivational speech for West Berliners, who lived in the constant fear of a possible East German occupation. Given below is an excerpt from this historic speech:

Two thousand years ago the proudest boast was ‘Civis Romanus sum [I am a Roman citizen]’. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’… All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’

Bill Clinton’s “I Have Sinned” Speech

The famous, or rather infamous “I have sinned” speech, was delivered by President Bill Clinton at the annual White House prayer breakfast on September 11, 1998, in the presence of several ministers, priests and his wife, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. It was hand-written by the President Clinton himself and was delivered on the day of the publication of the first report by Independent Counsel Ken Starr, which threatened to impeach the President Clinton on the grounds of perjury and his sexual affair with former White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.

I agree with those who have said that in my first statement after I testified I was not contrite enough. I don’t think there is a fancy way to say that I have sinned. It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt know that the sorrow I feel is genuine: first and most important, my family; also my friends, my staff, my Cabinet, Monica Lewinsky and her family, and the American people. I have asked all for their forgiveness… But I believe that to be forgiven, more than sorrow is required – at least two more things. First, genuine repentance – a determination to change and to repair breaches of my own making. I have repented. Second, what my bible calls a ”broken spirit”; an understanding that I must have God’s help to be the person that I want to be; a willingness to give the very forgiveness I seek; a renunciation of the pride and the anger which cloud judgment, lead people to excuse and compare and to blame and complain…

Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech

“I have a dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr., which was delivered on 28 August, 1963 at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom , was a path-breaking moment for the Civil Rights Movement in America. Given to an audience of more than 200,000 people, this speech was ranked as the top American speech by a 1999 poll of scholars.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor’s lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

William Shakespeare’s Speeches

The Bard has left behind his legacy in ways more than one. Most of the non-political popular speeches have been written by William Shakespeare. While there are many, like Hamlet’s “To be or not to be…”, and Portia’s speech in Merchant of Venice “The quality of mercy is not strain’d…” to name a few, the Bard’s most famous speech till date is the speech by Jaques in “As You Like It”, which goes as…

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Steve Jobs ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish’ Speech

One of my personal favorites, and a speech that today’s youth identify themselves with, is the Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ commencement speech on 12 June, 2005 at Stanford, which was replete with inspirational quotes. His last words in the address “ Stay hungry, stay foolish ” is one of the most famous quotes and is echoed the world over even today, and spurred on a bestselling book of the same name. It summed up his life in three parts, which he narrated in the form of three stories. This is a small excerpt from this notable short inspirational speech:

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories… When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960s’, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

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10 Motivational Speeches That Will Inspire You to Take Action Today

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Whether you’re looking to increase team productivity or turn your daydreams into a reality, motivation is key. But, in the day-to-day of working life, it’s easy to lose sight of end goals and become distracted. Thankfully, the wise words of entrepreneurs, writers, and fictional characters can offer a reinvigorating perspective. The following motivational speeches may give you the push you need to reach your full potential.

1. Steve Jobs: How to Live Before You Die (2005)

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

In this commencement address, the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. shared one of the keys to his success: love. His love for the work he did kept him excited about going to work every day and working toward new goals. Often, there is a big difference between what you want versus what other people want for you . Discovering what you’re passionate about, and working toward it with achievable goals , will lead you to success and satisfaction. This is why it is our staff’s number one pick for motivational speeches that will inspire you to take action today. 

2. Ellie (Jodie Foster) Meets An Alien In  Contact  (1997)

“You’re an interesting species, an interesting mix. You are capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone. Only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing that we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable… is each other.”

While this Sci-Fi classic might seem removed from reality, it offers uplifting advice for the workplace and beyond. In this scene, Ellie finally makes contact with an alien who offers insight into the human condition and the larger universe. To apply the alien’s words to the workplace, think of the power of teamwork. Establishing a diverse and talented team can improve employee happiness and performance. For example, burnout is a common problem at companies. Sharing the workload,  and knowing you can rely on team members and managers for support, can re-motivate employees. When the going gets tough, it’s a comfort to know you’re not alone. 

3. Timo’s (Rick Gonzales) Answer In Coach Carter (2005)

“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. 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. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In this scene, Timo, a member of the basketball team central to the movie, responds to the question the coach asks throughout the movie: “What is your greatest fear?” Timo’s words touch on the importance of self-efficacy. By believing in yourself, you can deepen your interest and commitment to a given task, and recover faster from setbacks . If you lead a team or company, others will soon be influenced by your can-do attitude. So, stop fearing your own power and shine.

4. Chris (Will Smith) Gives His Son Advice In the Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

“Don’t ever let someone tell you, you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

In a world full of naysayers, it’s easy to become discouraged. In this scene from the heart-warming film, Chris offers his son priceless advice: to pursue his dreams mercilessly, without letting other peoples’ ideas of him get in the way. While this motivational speech is noble and beautiful, you might find it challenging to apply to your own life. Here’s where building a strategic plan — with short- and long-term goals— can make pursuing your dreams concrete. With a clear and concise vision for the future, you can put these words into action.

5. Rosalinde Torres: What it Takes to be a Great Leader

“So what makes a great leader in the 21st century? I’ve met many, and they stand out. They are women and men who are preparing themselves not for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow.”

Rosalinde Torres asserts that exceptional leaders are attuned to the world around them. They pay attention to the latest trends in their field and aren’t afraid to abandon tried and true practices for ones that are the future. Basically, she’s advising the opposite of that popular saying, “Keep your head down.” Because, if you do that, you’ll end up reacting to the future instead of making it. Further, you won’t benefit from a broadened perspective that includes different cultures, industries, and readings. Ask yourself, “When is the last time I looked around me and toward the future?” This is the start of great leadership.

6. John Keating’s (Robin Williams) Motivational Speech About Seizing the Day From Dead Poets Society (1989)

​​” Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? – – Carpe – – hear it? – – Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

John Keating motivates his students with a simple sentiment— seize the day. It might seem like a cliché, but it’s a useful sentiment for those stuck in careers they don’t like or struggling to achieve their next milestone. Most working people will spend around 8 hours a day at the office; that’s a lot of time to spend on something you dislike. So, if you’re feeling uninspired or sick of your career, take Mr. Keating’s advice and don’t waste any more time. What are your strengths and weaknesses and how can your harness them into a fulfilling career?

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Motivational Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

“When I was about 28, after a decade as a professional comedian, I realized one night in LA that the purpose of my life had always been to free people from concern, just like my dad. And when I realized this, I dubbed my new devotion the Church of Freedom From Concern, the Church of FFC. And I dedicated myself to that ministry. What’s yours? How will you serve the world? What did they need that your talent can provide? That’s all you have to figure out.”

The comedian’s advice for a successful and rewarding life is simple: find how you want to serve the world, and pursue it. While it may take years of exploring to find your talent, sometimes it can be as simple as stepping back and reflecting on those moments when you felt yourself excelling and having an impact on others. Finding your calling might seem overwhelming, but asking yourself what the world needs that you can provide will surely set things in motion. 

8. Rocky’s (Sylvester Stallone) Motivational Speech to His Son In Rocky Balboa  (2006)

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

Rocky’s motivational speech is all about not letting failure define you. This is good advice, no matter your industry. In 2019, 90% of startups failed . But, many successful business people, including Bill Gates and Walt Disney, failed before they succeeded. So, even if the odds are against your, it doesn’t helo to fixate on the negative. In fact, a positive attitude can improve mental and physical health , which will improve your performance in the workplace.

9. Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation (2009)

“There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. Here is what science knows. One: Those 20th century rewards, those motivators we think are a natural part of business, do work, but only in a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances. Two: Those if-then rewards often destroy creativity. Three: The secret to high performance isn’t rewards and punishments, but that unseen intrinsic drive– the drive to do things for their own sake. The drive to do things cause they matter.”

There is an outdated belief that rewards and punishments are vital to improving employee performance. Pink argues that intrinsic drive— doing things because of internal satisfaction as opposed to external factors—is the real secret to high performance. So, whether you’re a manager or a new employee, consider why your work matters. Aside from your salary, what gets you to work every day? If these questions are hard to answer, you might need to incorporate or seek out a more creative approach. Pink gives the example of companies giving employees flexible schedules, where they can use their time as they want to accomplish set tasks. The schedule allows for more creativity and independence, and thus improves employee performance.

10. Coach Tony D’Amato’s (Al Pacino) Motivational Speech In Any Given Sunday (1999)

“I’ll tell you this, in any fight it’s the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I’m gonna have any life anymore it’s because I’m still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that’s what living is, the six inches in front of your face. Now I can’t make you do it. You’ve got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think you going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him.”

This emotional scene drives home an important point: There is no “i” in team. Both entrepreneurs and executives who work their way up the corporate ladder know that they won’t achieve success all on their own. Attracting and retaining exceptional team members is the foundation of any lasting business. So, think about the skills you’re looking for in an employee and implement a process that’ll allow you to root out those people who will go the extra inch for you. If you’re not in a leadership position, think about the skills that will make you an invaluable hire. 

The Bottom Line on Motivational Speeches

No matter what industry you’re in, you can harness the wisdom of real and fictional characters to achieve your wildest dreams. So, get out there, explore your interests, make connections, and create a fulfilling career.

Related Readings on Motivation

• Four Basic Motivations of Employees
• Extrinsic Motivation in the Office
• The Value of Intrinsic Motivation on Employees
• 25 Powerful Leadership Quotes That Will Motivate You

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20 Famous Speeches That Will Make You A Better Man

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From Winston Churchill to Malala Yousafzai, history is awash with inspirational speeches spoken by great men and women. Naturally, though, not all speeches are created equal. You need only look at the orations of certain current political figures to notice that sometimes, when people speak, they really aren’t saying anything at all.

Luckily, everyone on this list not only has a point worth making, they deliver it with rare elegance, grace, and often humour. Whether you’re searching for best man speech inspiration, or simply looking to become a more rounded individual, there’s plenty here to serve as inspiration. And if your favourite speech is Mel Gibson’s pre-battle “Freeeedom!” call to arms in Braveheart , this is the list for you.

1. Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat

Winston churchill.

Britain’s most popular Prime Minister (sorry Theresa) is perhaps most famous for his rousing soliloquies on defiance in the face of adversity. Naturally, the most memorable of his speeches were given during his first run in the top job, from 10 May 1940 to 26 July 1945. Inheriting a tough job just as World War II was heating up (we’ve all seen Darkest Hour , right?) Churchill delivered his “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat” speech to a parliament less than convinced that he was actually the right person to lead Britain to victory.

In it, he sets out his stall and explains the make-up of his new government. The most famous bit, though, comes towards the end: “You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs —Victory in spite of all terror — Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.” Not bad for his first speech in the job.

2. Royal Wedding Sermon

Bishop michael curry.

A passionate African-American preacher giving the sermon at a British royal wedding? It’s sad that in 2018 this seemed so radical. But judging by the much-memed expressions of certain guests, Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon was exactly the shake-up the establishment needed. And what a sermon it was. Focusing on “the power of love” (no, we’re not talking Frankie Goes To Hollywood), Curry’s speech reminded everyone that there’s nothing to be ashamed about when it comes to the warm fuzzies and that we’d all benefit from letting a little compassion into our lives. Well, it was a wedding, after all.

3. I Have A Dream

Martin luther king jr..

This 1963 speech is perhaps the most famous speech in history. As King explains, it should be “self-evident that all men are created equal.” But, over half a century later, can we really say that King’s dream has come true? With #BlackLivesMatter today equally as vital as King’s campaigns, and less inclusive reforms taking place across the West, you might argue that we’re someway off. It’s worth, then, reacquainting yourself with King’s words, and seeing what you can do to help bring about equality between men, women and non-binary people of all creeds and colours. Because, occasionally, dreams do come true.

4. That Rock N Roll

Alex turner.

The Arctic Monkey’s third Brit Awards win for both best British Band and Best British album made them unique among their peers. It’s understandable, then, for thinking Alex Turner – a real rock star, no less – might be a trifle tired of accepting awards from the pop-promoting awards body. His 2014 speech, in which he references rock n roll emerging from the slime may have had people making jokes about “rockstars in the toilet, practising their lines”, but to mock Turner is to miss the point. And the grins his bandmates are trying to hide. Let’s have a bit more mic-dropping, and a bit less Ed Sheeran. That rock n roll, eh?

5. Ich Bin Ein Berliner

The US President’s 1963 address to West Berlin crowds, against the backdrop of the Berlin Wall, is often considered the Cold War’s most important speech. In it, Kennedy rallies the hearts and minds of the West against the tyranny of communism. The US will stand strong with the residents of West Berlin – a people surrounded on all sides by the Russian-held half of Germany.

So strong is JFK’s dedication that he wants to declare himself an actual Berliner. Their pain is his. And their strength is his. What he actually does is declare himself a “jelly donut” in the local parlance. Which only serves to make him seem even more likeable. Bloody Google Translate…

6. Abolition Speech

William wilberforce.

When Yorkshire man William Wilberforce stood before the British House of Commons in 1789, slavery was still very much alive and well in the UK and her overseas colonies. It took some guts, then, to denounce the trade in human lives and freedoms as wretched and shameful. He asked for “cool and impartial reason”, and claimed that every single person in the House was guilty of compliance. Twenty years later, the Slave Trade Act of 1807 was passed, but the trade was not abolished until 1833. Wilberforce, by then retired from Parliament, died aged 76, just three days after hearing the the abolition act had been passed.

7. Quit India

India was the jewel of the British Empire, but enforced colonial rule could not last. When Britain refused to let India form its own government, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi – leader of the Indian Independence Movement – sought to rally the people with this famous 1942 speech. In it, he urged the people of India to come together, and resist, without violence.

“Ours is not a drive for power, but purely a non-violent fight for India’s independence.”

A long five years later, Gandhi achieved his aims when India claimed its independence in 1947.

8. The Decision To Go To The Moon

Delivered to a crowd at Rice Stadium, Houston on 12th September 1962, JFK’s address was designed to persuade the average American to support the effort to land a man on the moon. It was a resounding success, and simply historic in the scope and scale of the ambition it outlines. The payoff came on 20th July 1969, when Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to the moon, changing the game for good. A must-see for any manager or general trying to rouse the troops.

9. Barack Out

Barack obama.

A president with style , charisma and comic timing is a rare thing. Even more so these days. But, in his final speech at his last White House Correspondent’s dinner, Barry O is fantastic throughout, referencing Game of Thrones , shouting out Michelle and poking fun at his future. You’ll watch between your fingers though, as he hints that Hillary is a sure thing for the next presidency. Oh, and bill him for the mic. A masterclass in how to bow out with grace, even when everything seems like it’s going down the pan.

10. The Power Of Sport

Nelson mandela.

You might think that after 28 years in prison, Nelson Mandela would have bigger fish to fry than encouraging the youth of South Africa to take up sport. But, as anyone who’s seen Invictus knows, Mandela saw sport as a way of unifying his country, and instilling national pride in people of all creeds and colours. In this sports awards speech, he says simply that sport has “the power to inspire… the power to unite people in a way that little else does… sport can create hope where once there was only despair… it is more powerful than governments.”

11. The Fringe Benefits Of Failure…

J. k. rowling.

And The Importance Of Imagination. Good title. And J.K’s speech at Harvard University is just as inspiring as it sounds. After a round of jokes to get the audience warmed up (with only a handful of Harry Potter references, just in case you forgot) J.K. gets down to brass tacks: the importance of failure, and compromise. She talks of how her parents pushed her into a vocational degree, believing English Literature would never pay the bills. But while that turned out to be far from the case, her point is that life is difficult to control, and whatever path you set off down, you never know where you’ll end up. Magic.

12. Worldwide Access To Education

Malala yousafzai.

After being shot in the head by the Taliban, standing up and addressing the UN must be a doddle, right? Yeah, right. But, if she was as terrified as we would be, 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai did not show it for a second as she recounted her story, and asked for better education for children throughout the world so that we might welcome a more enlightened future.

The key, though, is to forgive and search for new ways to solve problems. In Malala’s words: “I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me, I would not shoot him… This is the philosophy of non-violence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learnt from my mother and father. This is what my soul is telling me, be peaceful and love everyone.”

A masterclass in bravery, and fighting for what’s right.

13. Questioning The Universe

Stephen hawking.

A TED talk from Stephen Hawking? Yes, you are so lucky. In this 2008 speech, Hawking raises the biggest questions in the universe and tries to help us find answers. Are we alone in the universe? Where did life come from? And what is the future of the human race? Was there anything before the Big Bang ? You’ll have to watch to find out.

14. How To Live Before You Die

In his 2005 speech at Stanford University, a very different type of genius tells three simple stories. The first is the story of his adoption, the second about getting fired from Apple – the company he started – and the third about death. Each morning, Jobs said, he woke up and asked himself if he’d be happy doing what he had to do that day if he only had a few days left. “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” Just six years later, Jobs would indeed be dead, and it’s hard to say he didn’t live by his words each and every day.

15. Fall Forward

Denzel washington.

In 2011 Denzel addressed the University of Pennsylvania. His message: “Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.” According to Denz, it’s a fact that you will fail, lose and embarrass yourself – that’s inevitable. What matters is what you do after you’ve failed. In other words, keep on showing up.

16. Freedom or Death

Emmeline pankhurst.

Speaking in Hartford, Connecticut on 13th November 1913, the suffragette leader took no prisoners in her call for women to be treated as equal members of society, whatever it takes:

“We were called militant, and we were quite willing to accept the name. We were determined to press this question of the enfranchisement of women to the point where we were no longer to be ignored by the politicians… We wear no mark; we belong to every class; we permeate every class of the community from the highest to the lowest; and so you see in the woman’s civil war the dear men of my country are discovering it is absolutely impossible to deal with it: you cannot locate it, and you cannot stop it.”

17. This Is Water Speech

David foster wallace.

The late, great writer begins his speech with “If anyone feels like perspiring, I’d invite you to go ahead, because I’m certainly going to.” And it only gets better from there. His subject is, well, banal platitudes, and how they do, sometimes, have meaning – all told through the dissection of the traditional commencement speech. This might take a few watches but it’ll stay with you afterwards.

18. MUM Commencement Address

Continuing the trend of actors speaking to students, the comedian gave the commencement speech to the Maharishi University of Management’s class of 2014. Sure, there are some wild tangents, but the core of the speech sees Carrey at his most tender, touting the benefits of soft-serve ice cream, and the degree to which fear will have a role in your life. Most of us, he says, choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality.

But there’s no point in doing so. He talks about his father choosing to be an accountant instead of pursuing a career as a comedian, only to later be made redundant. The lesson he imparted to Carrey junior is that you may as well take a chance, because you can always fail doing what you don’t love.

19. Commencement Address Agnes Scott College

Kurt vonnegut.

One of history’s most unique writers brings his peculiar take on life to the 1999 Agnes Scott College commencement address. What’s most touching is how thankful he is for education, and the possibilities awaiting new students: “Thanks to you, the forces of ignorance and brutality have lost again.” He also quotes from Robert Browning, “A [wo]man’s reach always exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” Beautiful words from two beautiful writers. Including the best advice of all time from Vonnegut: “Wear sunscreen”.

20. Speech to the Troops at Tilbury

Queen elizabeth i.

Before Liz The Second, Britain had OG Liz, and some say she was the country’s finest queen. Case in point: on the eve of a decisive battle against Spanish forces in 1588, Elizabeth spoke to her troops on the front line:

“I am come amongst you… not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust… I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.”

Her willingness to fight and toil alongside her soldiers was rare enough at the time (least of all for a woman) but even more so now. A truly inspirational leader.

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12 Inspirational Speeches That Teach You the Most Valuable Life Lessons

The most valuable thing an experienced person has is their experience. People make mistakes, learn from them, and adapt their life around them to become better people. Those people would then tell tales to others to help teach those lessons so that others would not have to make the same mistakes.

People still tell these stories today but in a slightly different format — they use speeches to express their experiences. Here are some valuable life lessons you can learn from some of the greatest inspirational speeches:

1. JK Rowling teaches us to not fear failure no matter how bad things become

It is a well-known fact that JK Rowling’s now-famous Harry Potter series was turned down by several publishers before it was finally picked up. Those publishers are likely kicking themselves in the pants right now. However, before that, JK Rowling was in a fairly dire situation and was on the brink of failure. Despite being turned down time and time again, she kept trying. Her efforts paid off. Harry Potter is now a ubiquitous character in today’s world culture. Despite failing over and over again, Rowling kept trying and fulfilled her dreams. You can watch her deliver some valuable life lessons in her Harvard commencement speech video above.

2. Steve Jobs teaches us to never settle

Steve Jobs had a fairly tumultuous life. He co-founded Apple, was kicked out of the company, came back, and then re-defined the mobile phone space with the iPhone. Even if iPhones aren’t the rage they once were, its iconic value is forever written in stone. One thing Jobs never did was settle. He lived life on his own terms and was rewarded for it by being dubbed one of the most revolutionary voices in technology of our time. In the Stanford commencement speech above, Jobs explains how you should never settle for what someone else wants out of your life. It’s your life and you should do what you want with it.

3. Admiral William H McRaven teaches us to make our beds every day

Anyone who has gone through the basic training of a military service will tell you it’s pretty difficult. However, every seemingly obnoxious step is actually a life lesson in disguise. This even applies to flawlessly making one’s bed every single morning. As Admiral William H McRaven teaches us, recruits are taught to make their beds every morning to remind them that even the little things in life matter. After all, how can you be expected to handle the biggest obstacles in your life if you can’t even handle the small and the mundane like making your bed every day? You can watch the entire speech in the video above.

4. Author David Foster Wallace teaches us that we’re a part of a greater existence

David Foster Wallace found fame in 1987 with his book The Broom of the System . Nearly 20 years later in 2005 he game a commencement speech at Kenyon College that is worth listening to at least once. In his speech, he reminds us that was are but a part of a huge, dynamic, ever changing interaction of life forms. In order to truly experience life, we need to leave our personal bubbles and interact with others even if it’s in an unpleasant way. Wallace states, “It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.” You can watch the whole speech above.

5. Stephen Colbert teaches us that life isn’t something you can plan

If there is anyone who knows about improvisation, it’s comedian Stephen Colbert. In his commencement speech at Northwestern University in 2011, Colbert reminded students that you cannot plan life. Life throws too many curve balls. There are too many unpredictable things that can happen. The most successful and happy people are not those who have a plan, but those who can roll with the punches and overcome the obstacles. He goes on to site his time as an improv comic and how all of the actors working together to create a scene out of literally nothing are all working for one another. He states that like improv comedy, you don’t know what happens next in life. You just make it up as you go along. You can watch the whole speech above.

6. Kurt Vonnegut teaches us to not sweat the small stuff

Some of our younger readers may not know Kurt Vonnegut. He is a famous author that found of of his success during the middle of last century. In 1999, Kurt Vonnegut was at Agnes Scott College giving a commencement speech. During the speech, he mentioned that in order to live a more complete life, people needed to let stuff go. He argued that you cannot reasonably expect others to forgive you for your mistakes if you cannot forgive others and that you cannot live life fostering a personal vendetta against others.

7. Neil Gaiman teaches us that success can be distracting.

Neil Gaiman is most known for his work in a number of literary mediums including journalism, comic books, and novels. In 2012, Gaiman gave a speech at the University of the Arts where he talked about success. He stated that when you become successful, you may be unintentionally swayed from performing the actions that made you successful. Gaiman recalled his early success and how he felt pressured to answer emails all day long and it actually prevented him from writing as much as he wanted. So he reminds us to keep doing what makes us successful and to not let others get in the way.

8. Barack Obama’s life lessons teaches us that you really can beat the odds

We know that not everyone likes Barack Obama but that doesn’t mean the man can’t deliver an amazing speech. In this 2004 keynote speech at the Democratic National Convenction, Obama reminds that it is possible to beat the odds and become something great. He cites his own upbringing as an example and how he was never expected to make it as far as he did. It shows that when you’re passionate about something and when you try hard enough, you can accomplish almost anything. It’s important to note that Obama talks about this in 2004 and would become the President of the United States just four years later.

9. Robin Roberts reminds us that we each have the courage to overcome challenges

Robin Roberts knows a thing or two about courage. She is a breast cancer survivor and has done battle with a rare blood disease called myelodysplastic syndrome. Her sister once had to donate bone marrow just so Robin could remain alive. She was also ESPN’s first African American broadcaster in the early 1990’s. She’s a woman who works in an industry predominately populated by men. So when Robin Roberts takes the stage at the ESPYs and delivers a short lecture on having courage, we would do well to listen!

10. Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us that some things are more important than success

We all know the story of Martin Luther King Jr. So much so that we have a day of the year to celebrate him as a national holiday here in the United States. Most of us have listening to segments of his famous speech where he told the world about a dream he had. The main message of his famous speech is that racial inequalities needed to end and he was absolutely right. However, he also reminds us that there are things that are more important than success such as equal rights and treating each other with respect and kindness. If you somehow made it through school without watching the famous speech, we’ve got it linked above.

11. Jim Carrey reminds us that even if you keep it safe, you can still fail so you might as well go big

Jim Carrey delivered a commencement speech at Maharishi University recently that went absolutely viral. You may know it as the one minute video that will change your life. They weren’t lying but they weren’t telling the whole truth because the speech was actually 28 minutes long. During the speech, Carrey talks about his father who wanted to be a comedian but decided to take the safe route and become an accountant. As it turns out, his father was laid off and his family ended up poor anyway. With that, Carrey tells us that you can still end up failing even if you play it safe so you might as well swing for the fences and do what you want to do.

12. Bill Murray teaches us that it’s the hard times that determine if someone really loves you

You may have heard the story about Bill Murray crashing someone’s bachelor party and delivering a speech. It turns out the speech was both short and fairly epic. During the speech, Bill Murray challenged the bachelors to travel around the world with the women they love and go to places that are difficult to go to and deal with. He says if you can get back to the United States and you still love each other, then you should get married right then and there. It’s a great message. It’s easy to love one another when times are good but do you still love each other when the times are bad? If so, that’s true love according to Bill Murray.

Final thoughts

Inspiration comes from everywhere and from anyone. There are a countless number of speeches and stories that can teach us an incalculable number of life lessons.

All these speeches almost share the same message: Don’t be afraid to fail and keep trying.

If you also want to live your best life like the above successful people, this is what you should start doing:

You’ll Only Live Your Best Life Once You Step Out

At the end of the day, everything is inspirational. It’s just a matter of finding the message that we need to hear to change our lives.

Featured photo credit: Miguel Henriques via unsplash.com

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Words at Ease

6 Motivational Speech Examples

Do you need inspiration for your next motivational speech?

Look no further!

Motivational Speech Examples

We’ve compiled six powerful examples of motivational speeches that are sure to resonate with your audience.

From short and sweet to longer and more in-depth, these speeches cover a range of topics and styles.

So, whether you’re looking to motivate a team, inspire a crowd, or simply share some words of wisdom, keep reading to discover six motivational speech examples that will leave a lasting impact.

1. The Power of Perseverance

Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about the power of perseverance. Life is full of challenges, setbacks, and obstacles. But it’s not about how many times you get knocked down; it’s about how many times you get back up.

The truth is that success rarely comes easily. It requires hard work, dedication, and a willingness to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough. But here’s the good news: every one of us has the strength and resilience within us to overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

Think about a time in your life when you faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable. Maybe it was a difficult project at work, a personal struggle, or a goal that seemed out of reach. Now, think about how you felt when you finally overcame that challenge. The sense of pride, accomplishment, and empowerment that comes with persevering through adversity is unlike anything else.

So, my challenge to you today is this: embrace perseverance. When you face a setback, don’t give up. When you encounter an obstacle, find a way around it. And when you feel like quitting, recall why you started in the first place. Because the power of perseverance isn’t just about reaching your goals; it’s about becoming the best version of yourself along the way.

— END OF SPEECH —

Commentary: This short motivational speech focuses on the power of perseverance and encourages the audience to embrace challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth. It’s suitable for a variety of occasions, such as a team-building event, a graduation ceremony, or a personal development seminar.

2. The Importance of Kindness

Kindness. It’s a simple word, but it holds so much power. In a society that can often feel divided and disconnected, kindness can bring us together and make a real difference in the lives of those around us.

But what does it mean to be kind? It’s more than just being polite or doing the occasional good deed. True kindness comes from a place of empathy, compassion, and understanding. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and treating them with the same respect and care that you would want for yourself.

Kindness can take many forms. It can be a smile to a stranger on the street, a helping hand to a friend in need, or a simple word of encouragement to someone who is struggling. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or a heroic act. Even the smallest acts of kindness can have a ripple effect, spreading positivity and goodwill far beyond the initial interaction.

But kindness isn’t just about making others feel good; it’s also about the impact it has on our own lives. When we choose to be kind, we create a sense of connection and belonging that can boost our happiness and well-being. We become part of something bigger than ourselves, contributing to a more compassionate and caring community.

So, my challenge to you today is to make kindness a priority in your life. Look for opportunities to show empathy and compassion to those around you. Be the person who lifts others, and spreads positivity and light wherever you go. Because in a society that can often feel dark and uncertain, kindness is the spark that can ignite change and make a real difference.

Commentary: This medium-length motivational speech emphasizes the importance of kindness and encourages the audience to make empathy and compassion a priority in their lives. It’s suitable for events focused on community-building, social responsibility, or personal growth.

3. Embracing Change

Change. It’s a word that can evoke feelings of fear, uncertainty, and discomfort. But what if I told you that change is also the key to growth, progress, and personal transformation?

Think about the most significant moments of growth and development in your life. Chances are, they all involved some element of change. Whether it is starting a new job, moving to a new city, or taking on a new challenge, change is what pushes us out of our comfort zones and forces us to adapt, learn, and evolve.

But embracing change isn’t always easy. It requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to step into the unknown. It means letting go of the familiar and comfortable to make room for something new and potentially better.

However, the rewards of embracing change are immeasurable. When we open ourselves up to new experiences and opportunities, we expand our horizons and discover new possibilities. We learn more about ourselves, our strengths, and our potential. We become more adaptable, more resilient, and more capable of handling whatever life throws our way.

So, how can we learn to embrace change in our lives? It starts with shifting our mindset. Instead of viewing change as a threat or a burden, try to see it as an opportunity for growth and adventure. Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. And most importantly, trust in your ability to handle whatever comes your way.

Keep in mind, that change is a natural and inevitable part of life. By learning to embrace it, we open ourselves up to a lifetime of endless possibilities and personal growth. So, don’t be afraid to take that leap of faith and step into the unknown. Who knows what incredible things await you on the other side?

Commentary: This long motivational speech encourages the audience to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and personal development. It’s suitable for events focused on leadership, career development, or life transitions.

4. The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude. It’s a simple concept, but one that has the power to transform our lives in profound ways. When we make a conscious effort to focus on the things we’re grateful for, we shift our perspective from one of scarcity and lack to one of abundance and appreciation.

But practicing gratitude isn’t always easy, especially when life gets tough. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind, the challenges and setbacks, and forget to take a step back and appreciate all the good in our lives.

However, the benefits of cultivating a gratitude practice are well-documented. Studies have shown that people who regularly express gratitude experience greater happiness, improved relationships, better physical health, and even increased resilience when faced with adversity.

So, how can we make gratitude a regular part of our lives? It starts with small, simple actions. Take a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for, whether it’s a supportive friend, a warm cup of coffee, or a beautiful sunset. Keep a gratitude journal and write down a few things you’re thankful for each day. Express your appreciation to the people in your life who make a positive impact.

But gratitude isn’t just about feeling good; it’s also about taking action. When we feel grateful, we’re more likely to pay it forward and make a positive difference in the lives of others. We become more generous, more compassionate, and more connected to the people around us.

So, my challenge to you today is to make gratitude a daily practice. Start small, but be consistent. Notice the good in your life, and express your appreciation for it. And watch as your perspective shifts and your life begins to transform in ways you never thought possible.

Keep in mind, that gratitude is a choice. It’s a powerful tool that we all have access to, no matter what challenges we face. By choosing to focus on the good, we open ourselves up to a lifetime of positivity, abundance, and joy. So, let’s make gratitude a priority and watch as our lives, and the lives of those around us, begin to flourish.

Commentary: This lengthy motivational speech highlights the transformative power of gratitude and offers practical tips for incorporating it into daily life. It’s suitable for events focused on personal development, mindfulness, or cultivating a positive mindset.

5. Finding Your Purpose

Purpose. It’s a word that carries a lot of weight. It’s the driving force behind our actions, the fuel that propels us forward, and the compass that guides us through life’s twists and turns. But for many of us, finding our purpose can feel like an elusive and intimidating task.

We live in a society that often tells us that our worth is measured by external success and validation. We’re bombarded with messages about climbing the corporate ladder, achieving financial abundance, and living up to society’s expectations. But what if our true purpose lies beyond these superficial markers of success?

The truth is, our purpose is deeply personal and unique to each of us. It’s not about fitting into a predetermined mold or following someone else’s path. It’s about tapping into our passions, values, and talents, and using them to make a positive impact on the people around us.

So, how do we begin the journey of finding our purpose? It starts with self-reflection and introspection. Take time to explore your interests, your strengths, and the things that bring you joy. Ask yourself what kind of legacy you want to leave behind, and what makes you feel truly alive and fulfilled.

But finding your purpose isn’t just an internal process; it also involves taking action. Experiment with different paths and possibilities. Volunteer for causes that align with your values. Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to take risks and step outside your comfort zone.

Keep in mind, that finding your purpose is a lifelong journey. It’s not about reaching a final destination, but rather about embracing the process of growth and self-discovery. It’s about staying true to yourself, even when faced with challenges and setbacks. And it’s about using your unique gifts and talents to make a positive difference in the world.

So, my challenge to you today is to start the journey of finding your purpose. Take the first step, no matter how small or uncertain it may feel. Trust in the process, and have faith that your purpose will reveal itself in due time. And know that by living a life of purpose and meaning, you have the power to create a ripple effect of positivity and change that extends far beyond yourself.

Commentary: This lengthy motivational speech encourages the audience to embark on a journey of self-discovery to find their unique purpose in life. It’s suitable for events focused on personal growth, career development, or life transitions.

6. The Importance of Resilience

Resilience. It’s a quality that we all possess, but one that is often tested by the challenges and setbacks of life. It’s the ability to bounce back from adversity, to adapt to change, and to persevere when faced with obstacles. And in a society that is constantly shifting and evolving, resilience has never been more important.

But what does it mean to be resilient? It’s not about being invincible or immune to pain and struggle. It’s about having the courage to face our fears, the strength to pick ourselves up when we fall, and the wisdom to learn from our experiences.

Resilience is a muscle that we can all develop and strengthen over time. It’s about cultivating a mindset of growth and adaptability, and recognizing that setbacks and failures are not the end of the story, but rather opportunities for learning and growth.

So, how can we build our resilience when faced with life’s challenges? It starts with self-awareness and self-care. Take time to understand your strengths and limitations, and prioritize your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and loved ones who can offer encouragement and guidance when you need it most.

But resilience isn’t just about surviving challenges; it’s also about thriving despite them. It’s about finding meaning and purpose when faced with adversity and using our experiences to fuel our growth and development. It’s about recognizing that we are all works in progress and that every challenge we face is an opportunity to become a stronger, wiser, and more compassionate version of ourselves.

So, my challenge to you today is to embrace resilience as a way of life. When faced with a setback or challenge, don’t give up or give in to despair. Instead, tap into your inner strength and resources, and trust in your ability to overcome and grow from the experience.

Keep in mind that resilience is not about being perfect or invincible. It’s about being human, and recognizing that we all can adapt, evolve, and thrive when faced with life’s challenges. So, let’s cultivate our resilience, and use it as a tool for personal and collective growth and transformation.

Commentary: This lengthy motivational speech emphasizes the importance of resilience in life’s challenges and offers strategies for building and strengthening this essential quality. It’s suitable for events focused on personal development, overcoming adversity, or cultivating mental and emotional well-being.

Summing Up: Motivational Speeches to Inspire and Empower

Motivational speeches have the power to inspire, empower, and transform lives.

Whether you’re looking to motivate a team, encourage personal growth, or simply share some words of wisdom, these six examples demonstrate the diverse range of topics and styles that can be used to deliver a powerful and impactful message.

From embracing change and cultivating gratitude to finding purpose and building resilience, these speeches offer valuable insights and strategies for life’s challenges and opportunities.

By incorporating these themes and techniques into your motivational speeches, you can create a lasting impact on your audience and help them unlock their full potential.

So, the next time you’re called upon to deliver a motivational speech, remember the power of your words to inspire, empower, and transform.

Draw upon these examples as a source of guidance and inspiration, and trust in your ability to deliver a message that resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impact.

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31 of Princess Diana’s Most Inspiring Quotes on Motherhood, Kindness and More

Nearly three decades after her death, Princess Diana's charitable efforts and words of wisdom continue to leave their mark on the world

PATRICK RIVIERE/AFP via Getty

Princess Diana left behind a legacy that continues to be felt more than 27 years after her tragic death on Aug. 31, 1997.

The late Princess of Wales is widely hailed for her revolutionary humanitarian work during her lifetime, which included helping to change the stigma around HIV and AIDS , opening the conversation surrounding mental health and eating disorders, advocating for the homeless and working for the removal of landmines . The Diana Award , the only charity to bear Princess Diana’s name, now honors young philanthropists who continue to carry on her spirit of giving in the world.

In addition to Princess Diana’s charitable efforts, her spirit is also kept alive through her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry . The brothers have both spoken about how even though she’s not physically here, “Granny Diana” is still a strong presence in the lives of their children: William’s sons, Prince George and Prince Louis , and daughter, Princess Charlotte , and Harry’s son, Prince Archie , and daughter, Princess Lilibet .

“ I see my mum’s legacy when I look at my own children every day,” Prince Harry told Diana Award recipients in 2021.

Prince William shared a similar sentiment in the 2017 documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy : “It's important that they know who she was and that she existed.”

Beyond her charitable efforts and her children (and now grandchildren), Princess Diana’s memory lives on in the moving words she spoke throughout her lifetime. Read on for a collection of Princess Diana’s most inspirational quotes on motherhood, kindness and more.

Princess Diana on Motherhood

• “If we all play our part in making our children feel valued, the result will be tremendous.” — speaking at the European Drugs Conference in 1992
• “We have an obligation to care for our children in ways which clearly show our children we value them. They, in their turn, will then learn how to value themselves.” — speaking on eating disorders in April 1993  
• “A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” —  speaking on motherhood
• “Family is the most important thing in the world.” — speaking on motherhood
• “I want [my boys] to have an understanding of people’s emotions, people’s insecurities, people’s distress and people’s hopes and dreams.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview on BBC’s Panorama
• “We, as a part of society, must ensure that young people — who are our future — are given the chance that they deserve.” — a July 1995 speech to the charity Centrepoint
• “For those mothers and children already living under the dark shadow of AIDS, we need to help them back into the light. To reassure them. To respect and support their needs. And maybe we will learn from them how to live our own life more fully — however long it is.” —  speaking at the International Conference on HIV/Aids in Mothers & Childre n in September 1993

Princess Diana on Love and Kindness

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

• “Hugging has no harmful side effects.” — speaking at the European Drugs Conferenc e in 1992
• “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” — a famous quote shared by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in a tribute on Instagram
• “Health and happiness taken at the cost of other’s pain and suffering cannot be acceptable.” — speaking on mental health at a Turning Point conference in January 1993
• “I think the biggest disease this world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved, and I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give — I’m very happy to do that and I want to do that.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama
• “Each person is born with individual qualities and potential. We, as a society, owe it to women to create a truly supportive environment into which they too can grow and move forward.” — speaking on mental health at a Turning Point conference in January 1993
• “Everyone of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” — speaking on motherhood
• “Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back, if only they had the chance.” — a July 1995 speech to the charity Centrepoint
• “If you find someone you love in life you must hang on to it and look after it, and if you were lucky enough to find someone who loved you then one must protect it.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama
• “HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it.” — speaking against the stigma of AIDS and HIV at the Children & Aids Conference in 1991
• “Let’s not wait to be prompted. Let us go out today, tomorrow and the days that follow and let us demonstrate our humanity.” — accepting the Humanitarian of the Year award in New York in December 1995 

Princess Diana on Being a Role Model

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

• “I don’t go by a rule book … I lead from the heart and not the head.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama
• “Don’t call me an icon. I’m just a mother trying to help.” — speaking on motherhood
• “I’d like to be queen of people’s hearts, in people’s hearts.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama
• “I can do this job so much better on my own.” — Princess Diana: In Her Own Words
• “Each time I was knocked down, I came back up again.” — Princess Diana: In Her Own Words
• “Someone’s got to go out there and love people and show it.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama 
• “People think that at the end of the day a man is the only answer. Actually, a fulfilling job is better for me.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama
• “I am not a political figure, I am a humanitarian figure, and always have been and always will be.” — speaking during a 1997 Red Cross trip to Angola

Princess Diana on Womanhood

• “A woman’s instinct is a very good one.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama
• “Those women who have taken on the heavy burden of attending to others need also to be attended — not just for their own sake, but for the good of us all.” —  speaking on mental health at a Turning Point conference in January 1993
• “Every strong woman in history has had to walk down a similar path and I think that it’s the strength that causes the confusion and the fear.” — Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana on BBC’s Panorama 
• “Women have a right to their own peace of mind.” — speaking on mental health at a Turning Point conference in January 1993
• “Isn’t it normal not to be able to cope all the time? Isn’t it normal for women as well as men to feel frustrated with life? Isn’t it normal to feel angry and want to change a situation that is hurting? Perhaps we need to look more closely at the cause of the illness rather than attempt to suppress it.” — speaking on mental health at a Turning Point conference in January 1993 
• “If we as a society continue to disable women by encouraging them to believe they should only do things that are thought to benefit their family even if these women are damaged in the process … If they feel they must sacrifice everything for their loved ones even at the cost of their health, their inner strength and their own self worth, they will live only in the shadow of others — and their mental health will surely follow.” — speaking on mental health at a Turning Point conference in January 1993

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