Speech Impact Quotes

Convention speeches are powerful tools to bend the curve of public opinion. George H. W. Bush's 1988 convention speech is a great example. His son's speech was also quite powerful.

I worked on one speech about the financial system that caused the Dow to drop, like, 200 points.

I think almost every political leader is always told that the next speech they make is the most crucial one.

There is nothing in the world like persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus.

That speech was worth several divisions to Israel.

I really do inhabit a system in which words are capable of shaking the entire structure of government, where words can prove mightier than ten military divisions.

The shelf life of a seventh-year State of the Union address is about five minutes. Presidents can propose stuff. They're probably not likely to get it done.

A mediocre speech supported by all the power of delivery will be more impressive than the best speech unaccompanied by such power.

Amplification is the vice of modern oratory. It is an insult to an assembly of reasonable men, disgusting and revolting instead of persuading. Speeches measured by the hour, die by the hour.

Some of the finest speeches in the Senate Record have been delivered to a scattering half-dozen of listeners. Nine-tenths of the verbal proceedings are "for the record" rather than with any expectation of changing votes. Yet the most important of the speeches "for the record" have their effect on public opinion, when reported in the press ... or when distributed as reprints.

Words have incredible power. They can make people's hearts soar, or they can make people's hearts sore.

Your words are containers for power, and by the words you speak you frame your world!

When you make speeches you elicit expectations against which you will be held accountable.

Through talk, we tamed kings, restrained tyrants, averted revolution

Why do we say 'Have a great weekend?' That's just a spell. You're just going - I have no control over your weekend. But words matter. They change our interior world. Have a great weekend.

What passes out of one's mouth passes into a hundred ears. It is a great misfortune not to have sense enough to speak well.

Our words have wings, but fly not where we would.

It is observed in the course of worldly things, that men's fortunes are oftener made by their tongues than by their virtues; and more men's fortunes overthrown thereby than by vices.

Language creates reality. Words have power. Speak always to create joy.

It's not what you say, but how you say it!

Whatever is spoken of acquires a certain existence.

A speech from Ernest Bevin on a major occasion had all the horrific fascination of a public execution. If the mind was left immune, eyes and ears and emotions were riveted.

Often have brief words laid men low and then raise them up.

George Bernard Shaw of England stopped over just long enough to make one speech in Bombay, India, started a war and 100 Indians killed each other. That's what I call good speech-making. The only enthusiasm any of our speakers can rouse is a demand to kill the speaker.