Anyone who has given a talk, made a Speech, or simply spoke in public knows how intimidating and challenging it can be. Great speeches are a combination of great writing and great delivery. Some of the greatest speeches have, not surprisingly, been given either by the greatest speakers of the day, or under circumstances that made them famous. Here then are 10 of the Greatest Lines you may have never heard, or even forgotten. Not included are the ubiquitous Roosevelt, Churchill, King, or Kennedy speeches, whom you’ve likely already heard many time over.
- ALEXANDER THE GREAT, Speech to his Troops before the Greek invasion of India, 335 B.C. northwestern India. His troops were tired after 10 years of fighting, many wanted to return home to family, and he had to motivate and convince them otherwise.
You and I, gentlemen, have shared the labour and shared the danger, and the rewards are for us all. The conquered territory belongs to you; already the greater part of its treasure passes into your hands, and when all Asia is overrun, the utmost hopes of riches or power which each one of you cherishes will be far surpassed, and whoever wishes to return home will be allowed to go. I will make those who stay, the envy of those who return.
Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia and Persia, 335 BC
2. QUEEN ELIZABETH I, Speech to the Army, 1588, Tilbury, England before the Spanish Armada Invasion. Spain and England were at war and a Spanish invasion of England by sea was threatening. She spoke to the army defending London to motivate her military.
“I am come amongst you, at this time, being resolved, in the midst the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king. And think foul scorn that Spain should dare to invade the borders of my realm: So I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general in the field.”
Queen Elizabeth I of England, 1588
3. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address, 1796, Retiring after 20 years of public service, to Mount Vernon, Virginia. Published in US newspapers, he attempts to reunite the country which had begun to devolve into warring political parties.
In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual current of passions. But, if I may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against foreign intrigue, and to guard against pretended patriotism.
President George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
4. SOJOURNER TRUTH, former Black slave, 1851 Speech to a Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. The speech was in respond to white men of the time stating that white women should be treated as the fairer sex. Her fiery response was:
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, if I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne 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?
Sojourner Truth, Former Slave, 1855
5. NEZ PERCE CHIEF JOSEPH, 1877, Surrender speech to the US Army in the mountains of northern Montana. The Nez Perce Indians were one of the last tribes still fighting when they were forced off their native land in Oregon and fled for Canada.
I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. The old men are all dead. He who led on the young men are dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food, perhaps freezing to death. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.
Chief Joseph, Thunder Travelling to the Mountain Heights, 1877
6. BRITISH KING EDWARD, Abdication Speech, 1936, Windsor Castle via radio. Edward abdicates the throne to his brother George when the Cabinet would not allow him to marry twice-divorced American, Mrs. Wallis Simpson, as consort.
I want you to know that the decision I have made has been mine and mine alone. This was something thing I had to judge entirely for myself. But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.
British King Edward VIII, 1936 abdication
7. LOU GEHRIG, Farewell to Baseball Speech, 1939, Yankee Stadium, New York City. First Baseman Lou Gehring was suffering from ALS, a degenerative disease, and gave his famous speech to the fans from the field at Yankee Stadium.
Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans … I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.”
New York Yankees Lou Gehrig, 1939
8. JOSEPH WELCH, Chief Counsel for the US Army, speaking to Senator Joseph McCarthy, Army-McCarthy Communist Infiltration Hearings, Washington DC. McCarthy and his Red Scare had run its course when he was finally challenged.
Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency? … Mr. McCarthy, I will not discuss this further with you.
Joseph Welsh, Army-McCarty Hearings, 1954
9. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER, Manhattan Project Director, 1965 Interview during a TV broadcast on the Atomic Bomb. By then, Oppenheimer had opposed the hydrogen bomb, been stripped of his security clearance and was dying of cancer.
We knew the world would not be the same. A few people cried. Most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita; Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and, to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” I suppose we all thought that, one way or another.
J. Robert Oppenheimer, 1965 TV broadcast on the Atomic Bomb
10. MARGARET THATCHER, Member of Parliament, 1965, at a National Union of Townswomen’s Guild Conference, London. A staunchly conservative member of Parliament since 1959, Thatcher was also blunt when it came to the role of women.
Practical work gets done by women. They don’t waste time. If there’s a job to do, a project to organise, they get on with it. … In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything accomplished, ask a woman. … There will not be a woman prime minister in my lifetime – the male population is simply too prejudiced.
Margaret Thatcher, 1965
So there, you have it – ten famous lines of great historical speeches, that have perhaps been overshadowed over the years by the albeit many great speeches from the likes of Roosevelt, Churchill, MLK or JFK. Today’s public speakers have a high standard to meet in order to top any of them. Remember, great speeches must be well written, well delivered and well timed.
