Subject: Greatest speech of all-time?
Posted by: Cuish
Date: Jan 13 12
I'll nominate Lincoln's Gettysburg Address for the title of greatest speech of all-time.
Also, while not a speech, the Declaration of Independence of 1776 is something special aswell. Especially when read aloud, as JFK does here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poT5yr5lJCU
Posted by: Cuish
Date: Jan 13 12
I'll nominate Lincoln's Gettysburg Address for the title of greatest speech of all-time.
Also, while not a speech, the Declaration of Independence of 1776 is something special aswell. Especially when read aloud, as JFK does here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poT5yr5lJCU
34 replies. On page 2 of 2 pages. 1 2
Gotadoit1
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"I Have A Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King Posted by GOTADOIT ...Atlanta, GA Reply #21. Mar 13 16, 2:02 PM |
Mixamatosis 
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Most of the well known great speeches have already been mentioned, so I'd mention a speech by an English bookseller and publisher 1782-1842 who was tried for sedition, blasphemy and making the Prince Regent look silly which he did by publishing political cartoons and "The Political House that Jack built" The establishment was determined to "get him" and when he won his first trial they tried and tried again. He won the jury to his side, defending himself, in 3 trials over 3 consecutive days . The judge then retired to his estates that day and died a broken man shouting out the name of William Hone in his sleep. The significance of this trial was that it was an early victory for freedom of the press. I can't recall whole chunks of his speeches but one thing he said to the jury was "I ask you, is laughter a crime"? Reply #22. Jun 29 16, 6:32 AM |
Creedy
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General Douglas MacArthur's farewell address to West Point. It's incredibly moving, and, in spite of the fact that I hate war with all my heart, every single time I read it, it moves me to tears. WAY too long to include here, these are its concluding words: "The shadows are lengthening for me. The twilight is here. My days of old have vanished - tone and tints. They have gone glimmering through the dreams of things that were. Their memory is one of wondrous beauty, watered by tears and coaxed and caressed by the smiles of yesterday. I listen then, but with thirsty ear, for the witching melody of faint bugles blowing reveille, of far drums beating the long roll. In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield. But in the evening of my memory I come back to West Point. Always there echoes and re-echoes: Duty, Honor, Country. Today marks my final roll call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps. I bid you farewell." Reply #23. Oct 03 16, 9:10 PM |
daver852
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One of the greatest speeches of all time is attributed to legendary Notre Dame football coach, Knute Rockne. It consisted of only three words! According to the book "Rockne of Notre Dame: The Making of a Football Legend." "His Notre Dame team had played a miserable first half and the players all knew it. They expected their very hides to be stripped from their bones during Knute Rockne’s halftime excoriation. Turns out, Rockne didn’t even show up in the locker room at all, until 10 seconds before it was time to take to the field again. At that point, Knute poked his head into the locker room and said, 'Let’s go, Girls!'" Reply #24. Oct 03 16, 10:45 PM |
| Creedy
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And did they win? Reply #25. Oct 04 16, 3:54 AM |
eyhung
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Apparently they did win. Nice story, daver, I hadn't heard that one before. Reply #26. Oct 27 16, 1:37 PM |
Aedan57
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Patrick Henry's "I know not what course others may choose but as for me, give me liberty or give me death" Helped start a revolution! Reply #27. Oct 31 16, 6:59 PM |
sadwings
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And a rather butt-kicking one at that. Don't you dare Don't you tread on me Don't you tread on me Don't you dare forget your history Don't you tread on me I don't know, when all the dust has settled and things can be seen clearly, I think I would have to go with the "I have a dream" speech. Life is about the brotherhood of man and living together in harmony, not war and animosity and all the things that come with that. Reply #28. May 17 17, 1:57 AM |
lez
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Sermon on the mount by Jesus Reply #29. Mar 07 19, 3:48 AM |
boxjaw
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JFK's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech on June 26, 1963. Reply #30. Jul 18 19, 2:22 PM |
Paradoxides
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Charlie Chaplin's speech in "The Great Dictator". Winston Churchill's "Darkest Hour" speech. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. Reply #31. Jan 24 22, 3:00 PM |
gracious1
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Maybe not *the* best but certainly up there... "Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth. Reply #32. Feb 08 22, 11:51 PM |
Alliebaba777
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Queen Elizabeth I speech when the Spanish Armada was near : " I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm." Reply #33. May 26 22, 8:13 PM |
VBookWorm
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Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech. Reply #34. Jan 02 23, 12:52 AM |
34 replies. On page 2 of 2 pages. 1 2
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