Speeches, great or less than great, are orations, a medieval English term that descends from the Latin "oracioun" for prayer and refers to formal addresses typically delivered to the public.
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The roots of "rhetoric" stretch back to ancient Greece, where early philosophers defined rhetoric as the art of winning the soul through discourse or the art of persuasion. Rhetoric and its proposed nature have since shifted, with more modern sources describing rhetoric as a natural byproduct of language, the intentional framing of discourse, or the study of how humans use symbols and language to carry out human activity.
In the spring of 2000, famous late night talk show host and comedian Conan O'Brien gave a hilarious, thoughtful speech to the graduating class at Harvard, where he graduated from in 1985. The speech has been noted ever since as a classic example of both wisdom and foolishness. Watch the 20-minute video here.
One of seven antiapartheid activists charged with sabotage and tried in a racially segregated courtroom, Nelson Mandela showed up to court wearing traditional Xhosa attire and delivered an hourslong address against racial domination. Nelson said he hoped to live to see realized his ideal of a democratic and free society—"But, my Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
On June 2, 1989, two days before the military-led massacre that would come to be known as the Tiananmen Square crackdown, nine of China's top leaders discussed how to stop pro-democracy protesters. During this meeting, leader Deng Xiaoping delivered a speech that has shaped the country ever since, in which he advocated for a forceful end to the protests while supporting China's economic "opening-up" featured in protesters' demands.
Ancient orators snapped human communication in two: the open palm of persuasive rhetoric versus the closed fist of evidence-heavy dialectic. The former seeks to convince the many via one's speech, while the latter seeks the truth in an argument. In ancient Rome, rhetoric had five "canons": invention, arrangement, style, memorization, and delivery. Loading the rhetorical canons in order was meant to help orators craft an effective and impactful speech.
After finishing a Smithsonian-sponsored expedition to East Africa, US President Theodore Roosevelt stopped by Paris and gave a speech about the responsibilities an ordinary citizen has to their republic. Citizens must know there is no effort without error, knowing they "fail while daring greatly" in pursuit of a truly democratic republic. This podcast series on powerful speeches across history is written and narrated by historian and author Jon Meacham.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was still drafting his August 28, 1963, speech the night before he was set to speak to more than 250,000 people at a demonstration in Washington, DC. As he delivered his speech, a cry from his favorite gospel singer to “Tell ‘em about the dream, Martin" prompted King to push aside his prepared remarks and rely on his established refrain.
Like many practices handed down throughout the ages, the ability to enrapture audiences through oration is an art. And, like all arts, that means anyone can learn to do it well through practice. The first step to a good speech? Paying attention to the audience. Knowing the intended listeners of a speech and their expectations provides insights on how to connect with them.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, wrote his famed Gettysburg Address on a train car. Actually, he had a version of it ready a few days before. Well, really, he came up with it on the spot. Rumors about the speech's creation abound. This 1909 article walks readers through evidence Lincoln's speech was carefully planned and written in Washington, DC (in pencil).
The highest awards in film are highlighted by the winners' speeches. While many give thanks to a list of colleagues, friends, and parents, some diverge into politics, extreme emotion, or goofiness. This incomplete list showcases the most memorable speeches in Academy Award history: from Joe Pesci's in-character six-word thanks, to Sally Fields' candid and humorous one—which inspired some misinterpretations. Learn more here.