what are some of the best speeches given by historical figures?

Question

And what are some great, memorable quotes from them?

Answer 1

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal....

a torch has been passed to a new generation of americans

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning

...a day which will live in infamy,......

"old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

Answer 2

"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God. I know not what course others may take but as for me, Give me Liberty or give me death!"

Patick Henry to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

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 bond-man'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"

Lincoln's Second Inaugrual Address

It is cold and we have no blankets.
The little children are freezing to death.
My people, some of them,
Have run away to the hills
And have no blankets, no food.
No one knows where they are-
Perhaps they are freezing to death.
I want to have time to look for my children
And see how many of them I can find.
Maybe I shall find them among the dead.

Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired.
My heart is sad and sick.
From where the sun now stands
I will fight no more forever...

Hinmahtoo Yahlatkekeht of the Nez Perce
("Thunder Rolling in the Mountains." or "Chief Joseph")
Surrender Speech In the Bear Paw Mountains


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

Winston Churchill
June 4, 1940

"Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished."

Charles De Gaulle
June 18, 1940
Appeal to the French to continue the war against the Nazis

Several people have mentioned ML King's "I have a dream" speech. I agree and would like to remark that I was there, on the mall in Washington DC when he gave it. I can personally attest to power of those words. People were cheering, weeping with emotion, hugging their neighbors and some simply standing transfixed. Although I was in the midst of that huge crowd and a considerable distance from Dr. King, it felt at that moment as if I was standing alone on a mountain hearing the voice of God's prophet on Earth. It was a transformative event of my life.

Answer 3

Julius Caesar-encouraging his troops
Abe Lincoln-Gettysburg
FD Roosevelt-Pearl Harbor
Martin L. King Jr.-I Have A Dream
John F. Kennedy-Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You

Answer 4

The Gettysburg Address is the best speech of all time for many reasons. It is a very articulate and powerful speech and most importantly, it delivered its powerful message in only a little more than 2 minutes.

whale

Answer 5

-Pope Urban II's speech to call up people for the first crusade (exact contents disputed)
-Adolf Hitlers speeches were always great. Providing you know German, You will feel his anger, emotion and vengeful rage as he screams out every line.
-That said, Stalin too was a great speaker for a different reason. Always appearing and speaking softly and calmly. Providing you understand Russian, and well enough to discern between his heavy Georgian Accent.
-Winston Churchills "We will fight them on the beaches" speech is the very best of them all though, I highly reccomend it.

Answer 6

Great speeches are made all the time, but someone imporant has to give them so that they are noticed and recorded. Its basically like the saying that the poor stay poor and the rich get richer, the famous get more famous, while the common person stays common.

Answer 7

Because they are the only ones that people record. Many great speeches have been made by the common man, but they are lost in the memory of the hearers only for their words were not recorded for posterity.

Answer 8

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, Friday, January 20, 1961.

Answer 9

Martin Luther King's i have a dream

Answer 10

Al-gore