Oratory Quotes

The phrase “city upon a hill” was first used by John Winthrop in 1630 which is probably taken from Matt. 5:14-16 “a city that is set on a hill.” See related quote. It was then used in a speech by President Kennedy with attribution to Winthrop. President Reagan used it without the attribution and embellished it by adding the adjective “shining” which many people thought was in the original Puritan statement. The Reagan video and audio clip has been so viewed so many times that people think the phrase originated with Reagan.

There is no known writing of Disraeli's with this quote although it is very commonly attributed to him as in this case by Mark Twain. Disraeli was even quoted earlier in 1895 by English Parliamentarian Leonard H. Courtney who said, “…the words of the Wise Statesman, "Lies— damned lies— and statistics," and although he does not mention Disraeli by name, the “Wise Statesman” was a name commonly used for the great prime minister and the timing was right. The two together make the quotation very probably attributable to Disraeli. See linked quote.

King was speaking from a carefully prepared text which did not include the “I have a dream” passage. Jackson, sitting behind the speakers podium, in a loud stage whisper during a pause in King’s speech. King thought for a second or so, pushed is prepared speech aside, gripped both sides of the podium, and launched into what is now considered the iconic phrase of the March on Washington if not the entire civil rights movement, stimulated by the urging of the great singer.

This quotation has been taken as sound advice not only for a propaganda agency but also of nations, national leaders, politicians in general, newspapers, and other media.

This famous quotation was only partly original. The most famous part, "Facts are stubborn things" was earlier used by the French Writer, Alain René Le Sage in Gil Blas

Bush was a poor orator with a very limited command of the English language although he was quite bright and well educated. He was speaking to an audience which was very concerned about the survival of fish stocks in the Midwestern rivers and lakes and others who fished for a living or sport. Limiting fishing rights hurt the latter group and not doing so further diminished the fish stocks which were already in peril from over fishing and other factors. Bush wanted to say that there were opportunities for humans to fish and the fish stocks to thrive if there could be compromises. But the phrase that came from his mouth missed the mark and produced another gaff in his collection.

Response to a freshman Congressman who could not understand why a House Debate was still continuing after all the issues seemed to have been aired.

Menander first originated the phrase. However, Julius Caesar made it famous, by stating it when he crossed the Rubicon River with his Legions and headed for Rome. He had passed the “point of no return.” It was forbidden for a Roman commander of legions to allow the legions under arms to come that close to Rome under the theory that no military commander could take over the government if his legions were at a distance from Rome. Caesar was indeed marching on Rome with his troops, and took over the government. The great phrase implied that the key action had been taken and the commitment made. The dice was thrown but no one know yet what the results would be. For Caesar, they turned out to be good. Dice was a very good metaphor for the era as Greek and Roman men played (and gambled) on dice games frequently. John Adams used a variant of the quotation in castigating President Taylor. See {622034}

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835-1910

Often mistakenly attributed to Xenocrates or that that other great mind “Anonymous.”

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835-1910. Actually, it is loudness and repetition that are the two most persuasive aspects of oratory.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835-1910