greatest motivational speeches of all time

The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard

Published: July 19, 2023

It was halftime during one of my 7th-grade football games. And we were losing 14 - 0. With our knees planted in the grass, my team was quietly huddled, drenched in sweat and defeat. Suddenly, it was game over.

That's when our assistant coach burst into our circle and shattered our pity party, delivering one of the best motivational speeches I've heard to this day.

I can't directly quote him because he said some inappropriate things for a blog post (and, in hindsight, probably for a bunch of 13-year-olds too).

The point is he harnessed the power of words to rejuvenate a physically and emotionally drained team. And we came back clawing to win the game.

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Motivational Speech

A motivational speech can come from anywhere or anyone, but it usually has a specific audience in mind.

Whether it's a graduation speech, an all-company meeting, a championship sporting event, or a conference keynote, these speeches are designed to change how their listeners see the challenges facing them in the future.

Like in sports, being motivated at work is crucial for your performance. This rings especially true when you have a looming deadline, an important meeting, or colleagues or customers depending on your performance.

Think about the last time you felt generally unmotivated. What brought you out of that feeling? Sometimes all it takes to get you going is a good night's sleep or witnessing the benefits of your labor.

Still, other times, you might listen to someone say something that resonates with you — that alters how you've been looking at a particular task or problem.

Motivational speeches and speakers can come in all different forms, but this is the one thing they have in common — resonance. They resonate with the right listener at the right time and in the right way.

Who knows, this article is doing some for you right now. (I can dream, can't I?)

We selected 24 of the best motivational speeches from business, sports, entertainment, and other fields to help you stay motivated no matter what your work throws at you. Watch these videos if you want to feel inspired by a project.

Trust me, I was wiping my eyes after I saw them. And while the messages vary from speech to speech, they can put you in the optimal frame of mind for tackling and crushing your next big challenge.

(Disclaimer: Some speeches may contain NSFW language.)

Elon Musk: "The Importance of Never Giving Up" (2020)

Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Al Pacino: "Inch by Inch" (1999)

Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

The Best Motivational Speeches of All Time

1. elon musk: "the importance of never giving up" (2020), theme of speech: perseverance and resilience.

Elon Musk's "The Importance of Never Giving Up" speech about perseverance and determination is decisive.

In this speech, Musk emphasizes failing and learning from failures as keys to success. He recounts his life and career, demonstrating how he overcame challenges.

One key takeaway from Musk's speech is his advice to adopt a growth mindset.

Musk encourages listeners to view setbacks as learning experiences. He also highlights the value of perseverance, persistence, and taking risks.

Elon Musk's word serves as an upbeat reminder that perseverance, patience, and the desire to attempt things repeatedly in the face of difficulty are essential for success.

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it."

2. Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Theme of the speech: empathetic leadership....

The "Leading with Empathy" talk by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and compassion in leadership.

According to Ahrendts, leaders must view their employees as whole people with lives outside of work. Leaders can instill trust, respect, and mutual support in their employees and organizations.

Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of team mission as well. Leaders can inspire their teams by connecting them to a greater goal.

She believes that working together fosters creativity, innovation, and growth.

"Leading with Empathy" is a powerful reminder that leadership requires more than technical knowledge. To truly inspire and motivate their employees, leaders must understand their emotional needs and create a supportive, inclusive environment.

"Empathy is the glue that holds relationships together, whether they are personal or professional."

3. Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Theme of the speech: sleep and productivity.

The Huffington Post's founder, Arianna Huffington, emphasized the importance of sleep to overall health. In her 2023 speech, "The Power of Sleep," she discusses how sleep deprivation affects our health, productivity, and happiness.

Huffington observes that we have been taught to sacrifice sleep for success. She also mentions that well-rested employees are more creative, efficient, and effective.

To address these issues, Huffington proposes a cultural shift that recognizes sleep as essential to health and wellness.

She advises individuals and organizations to prioritize sleep, avoid technology before bedtime, and create a restful sleep environment. Sleep, according to Huffington, is a necessity, not a luxury.

By recognizing the importance of sleep, people and businesses can enhance their health, productivity, and general well-being.

Arianna Huffington's "The Power of Sleep" speech in 2023 emphasizes the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

It promotes a culture where getting enough sleep is essential for health and well-being.

"Sleep is the Swiss Army knife of health, it does everything."

4. Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

Theme of the speech: inclusion and diversity.

Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates for inclusion and diversity. He has been instrumental in the company's initiatives to advance fairness and equality inside its ranks and across the technology sector.

Cook has prioritized diversity and inclusion at Apple because he believes it is proper and necessary for innovation and business success.

Unconscious bias training, diverse recruitment, and employee resource groups contributed to his success.

Outside of Apple, Cook has advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform. He has raised awareness of these issues and advocated for social change as a business leader.

Tech leaders and others have lauded Cook's commitment to diversity and inclusion. He has raised awareness of these issues, leading to significant change at Apple and elsewhere.

"Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords, they are fundamental values that drive innovation and creativity."

5. J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Theme of speech: failure.

In J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement speech, the Harry Potter author explored how two phenomena -- failure and imagination -- can be crucial to success.

While failure can help you understand where your true passion lies, and where you should focus your energy moving forward, imagination is what will allow you to empathize with other people so you can use your influence to do good.

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

"You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don't do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it."

6. Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Theme of the speech: gender equality and leadership.

Sheryl Sandberg's 2021 talk, "Lean In," encourages women to lean into their careers and leadership roles. She urges women to stand up for one another and themselves to overcome societal and cultural hurdles.

Sandberg highlights the need to have distinct objectives and goals and be prepared to take calculated risks to achieve them.

She also underlines how crucial it is for more female leaders to advance diversity and gender equality across all industries.

Sandberg's speech also emphasizes collaboration. She urges women to mentor other women and look for sponsors and mentors themselves.

The "Lean In" talk by Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes women's voices and perspectives in all aspects of society.

To remove barriers and foster more inclusive and varied workplaces and communities, Sandberg urges women to pursue their professional ambitions with confidence and with the help of their communities.

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Theme of speech: taking risks.

Jim Carrey might make a living as the goofiest comedian around, but in 2014, he combined classic Carrey humor with unforgettable insight at Maharishi University of Management's graduation ceremony.

Jim Carrey opened his speech dishing punchlines, but he eventually opened up about his upbringing and the role fear plays in our lives. You can actually hear the amazement in the students' reactions in the video above.

“I learned many great lessons from my father -- not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

8. Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Theme of speech: life and career.

Considering the YouTube video of Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement speech has 24 million views, it's likely that you've seen this one already.

In the speech, Jobs plays on two themes: connecting the dots (anecdote: how taking a calligraphy class helped inspire the design of the Mac) and love & loss (anecdote: how getting fired from Apple helped inspire his greatest innovations).

Perhaps the most memorable part his speech comes at the end, when he quotes the (now-famous) lines from the final issue of his favorite publication, The Whole Earth Catalog:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

9. Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Theme of the speech: discovering true happiness and fulfillment in life..

In "The Pursuit of Happiness," famed actor and motivational speaker Matthew McConaughey provides his enlightened viewpoint on obtaining true happiness and fulfillment.

McConaughey presents a genuine and approachable study of what it means to live a fulfilling life through sincere storytelling and personal anecdotes.

The speech discusses the significance of authenticity and remaining true to oneself. McConaughey encourages people to define their success rather than succumb to social pressures or external expectations.

He stresses aligning our behaviors and decisions with our fundamental values and passions.

McConaughey expresses his conviction in the power of thankfulness and the importance of living in the present moment. He encourages people to create a grateful mindset, recognizing the blessings and possibilities surrounding them.

By appreciating the present and finding joy in the journey, individuals can experience more profound happiness and fulfillment.

"Happiness is not a destination. It's a state of mind, a journey, and a choice we make every day."

10. Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

In his 2011 UPenn commencement speech, Denzel Washington highlighted three reasons why we need to embrace failure in order to be successful. First, everybody will fail at something at some point, so you better get used to it.

Second, if you never fail, take that as a sign that you're not really trying. And third, at the end of the day, failure will help you figure out what path you want to be on.

“Fall forward. Here's what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out twenty-six-hundred times in his career — the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs.

Fall forward.

Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't know that—because #1,001 was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

11. Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Theme of speech: perseverance.

Last year at INBOUND, Vera Jones told a moving story about the life lessons she's learned from raising her blind son.

She explains how having faith in your future and letting it lead you toward your true purpose will help you overcome blinding obstacles.

She also discusses how following your passion and trusting your vision develops empathy, which is a critical leadership skill.

“Passionately play your position no matter how bad things get. You are significant. Why we are here is not for our own glory. Ultimately, we're here to lead and serve everybody else. By doing that, we encourage others to do the same.”

12. Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Theme of Speech: Self-Belief and Confidence

Oprah Winfrey's 2020 speech "The Power of Self-Belief" emphasized the importance of self-assurance. She attributed her success to her unwavering self-assurance.

According to Oprah, self-belief is not about being arrogant or overconfident. She stresses the significance of overcoming self-doubt and fear, which can prevent people from reaching their goals.

Oprah used personal stories to demonstrate how self-confidence has aided her in life and work. She encouraged her audience to believe in themselves and to embrace their inner strength.

The Power of Self-Belief" reminded us how important it is to have faith in ourselves and our ability to succeed.

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

13. Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Best known for his role in the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, actor Charlie Day had lots of wisdom to share during the 2014 commencement speech at his alma mater, Merrimack College.

Day explained to the audience how college degrees are inherently valueless, since you can't trade them in for cash. Instead, it's you, your hard work, and the risks you take that provide real value in life.

“You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing the things that will make you great. You cannot succeed without the risk of failure.

You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot love without the risk of loss. You must take these risks.”

14. Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

The video above is an animated excerpt from researcher Brené Brown's speech, " The Power of Vulnerability ." In the speech, Brown explores how our fear of not being good enough (among other fears) drives us to shield ourselves from our own vulnerabilities.

The alternative to wearing this emotional suit of armor: Embrace vulnerability through empathizing with others.

"Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling."

15. Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

Theme of the speech: embracing dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of greatness..

Bryant emphasizes setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. Through captivating storytelling and personal anecdotes, he reveals the sacrifices and relentless effort required to excel at the highest level.

Bryant's speech is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and a growth mindset in attaining greatness.

The speech also explores embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. Bryant shares how setbacks and challenges can fuel personal growth and resilience.

He encourages individuals to embrace failure, learn from it, and use it as motivation to push beyond their limits.

Bryant's speech goes beyond the realm of sports, offering valuable insights and life lessons applicable to all areas of life.

His relentless pursuit of greatness and unwavering commitment to excellence inspires individuals striving to achieve their goals and dreams.

"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.'

We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."

16. David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

From the opening minutes of David Foster Wallace's 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech , in which he questions commencement speech conventions, it's clear that Wallace has some serious wisdom to share.

The crux of his speech: Many of us are oblivious to our own close-mindedness. We picture ourselves as the centers of our own, individual universes, instead of seeing the bigger, more interconnected picture.

“If you're automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important, if you want to operate on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won't consider possibilities that aren't annoying and miserable.

But if you've really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you'll know you have other options.

It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer hell-type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred — on fire with the same force that lit the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.”

17. Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Theme of the speech: cultivating a growth mindset for personal and professional development..

In "The Growth Mindset," Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, and author, delivers an enlightening speech on the power of adopting a growth mindset for personal and professional growth.

Dweck's extensive research on mindset and achievement provides the foundation for her impactful message.

Dweck explains the difference between a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are fixed traits, and a growth mindset, where individuals believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

She demonstrates how a growth mindset fosters resilience, learning, and innovation through relatable stories and compelling examples.

Dweck's speech resonates with individuals seeking personal and professional development, as she provides insights into how adopting a growth mindset can positively impact all areas of life.

Her research-based approach and engaging speaking style make "The Growth Mindset" an inspiring resource for individuals striving for continuous growth and improvement.

"The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset."

Famous Short Speeches With Inspirational Takeaways

18. al pacino: "inch by inch" (1999), theme of speech: teamwork.

Yes, this speech is from a football movie (Any Given Sunday), but trust me: This isn't your stereotypical rah-rah-go-get-'em sports speech. It's deeper than that. It's about life, and loss, and ... gosh darn it just listen to Al Pacino.

He's pouring his soul out!

“Either we heal as a team or we're gonna crumble, inch by inch, play by play, till we're finished. We're in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me.

And we can stay here and get the $&#@ kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

19. Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Theme of the Speech: Empowerment and Collaboration

Satya Nadella's 2023 lecture, "Empowering Others," emphasizes the importance of leadership that empowers others rather than focusing on personal success.

He emphasizes the importance of leaders cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging in which everyone feels respected and able to accomplish their best work.

Nadella also discusses the significance of technology in positive development. Some of society's most important issues may be resolved by technology, but proper development and application are required.

According to Nadella, empathy and emotional intelligence are essential for outstanding leadership. He suggests that Leaders listen to and understand. their team members' needs and motivations.

Leaders can develop a culture of trust and collaboration that will help the team flourish.

Satya Nadella's "Empowering Others" provides a special message about leadership in the current day. By emphasizing diversity, empathy, and responsible innovation, Nadella encourages audiences to strive for excellence while being mindful of their impact on others and the world.

"Success is not just about what we achieve individually, but what we enable others to achieve."

20. Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Theme of speech: never give up.

I had to put this one next since it plays along the same themes as Denzel Washington's UPenn speech. In the scene above, from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, the title character (played by Sylvester Stallone) is having a heart-to-heart with his son.

The advice he gives him: Don't let your failures or the adversity you face slow you down. Keep. Moving. Forward.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

21. Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Theme of speech: don’t let them bring you down.

Here's another speech from the big screen, this time from the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.

In the scene above, Will Smith's character explains to his son why he shouldn't pursue basketball (because he'll end up being "below average") before having a major change of heart.

“Don't ever let somebody tell you ... you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

22. Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Action and Overcoming Self-Doubt

The "The 5 Second Rule" speech by Mel Robbins promotes action to achieve goals and overcome concerns and doubts.

When confronted with a decision or action that needs to be completed but you are hesitating or procrastinating, countdown from 5, and then act. According to Robbins, this method breaks habit loops that keep us unhealthy.

Counting down and taking action may assist us in overcoming uncertainty and self-doubt and moving toward our objectives. For success, Robbins also promotes mentality and self-talk.

She believes that to realize our potential, we must consciously reframe negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

Mel Robbins' presentation "The 5 Second Rule" is a practical and efficient technique to overcome procrastination and achieve goals.

Robbins inspires listeners to take command of their lives and achieve by emphasizing attitude, self-talk, and positive actions.

"You are never going to feel like doing the things that are tough, difficult, or uncertain, but you have a choice."

23. Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Spirit and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth examines the significance of perseverance and resilience in achievement in her book "The Power of Grit." According to Duckworth, grit—passion and determination—is essential for long-term success and overcoming obstacles.

Duckworth addresses grit and mentality, believing that people who view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than threats will develop resilience and determination over time.

She advocates for a growth mindset, which believes people can acquire intelligence and other qualities through hard work. Duckworth places a premium on rigorous practice to achieve skill and mastery.

She recommends soliciting feedback, setting challenging goals, and intentionally improving abilities and succeeding. Angela Duckworth's "The Power of Grit" illuminates long-term achievement.

Duckworth emphasizes attitude, focused practice, and resilience to urge listeners to acquire grit and pursue their passions with tenacity.

"Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."

24. Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

Theme of speech: inspiring and believing in your team.

The Miracle on Ice is still considered the biggest upset in Olympic hockey history. And for good reason. The Soviet Union won six of the last seven Olympic gold medals, and the U.S. team consisted only of amateur players.

It was obvious the Soviets were better. But, in the movie Miracle, which told the incredible story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, Kurt Russell's character — Coach Herb Brooks — knew that this game was different.

The U.S. was better than the Soviets that day. And his speech conveyed such a strong belief in his team that they pulled off one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

“If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game… Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time.”

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10 of the Most Famous and Inspirational Speeches from History

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

What makes a great and iconic speech? There are numerous examples of brilliant orators and speechmakers throughout history, from classical times to the present day. What the best speeches tend to have in common are more than just a solid intellectual argument: they have emotive power, or, for want of a more scholarly word, ‘heart’. Great speeches rouse us to action, or move us to tears – or both.

But of course, historic speeches are often also associated with landmark, or watershed, moments in a nation’s history: when Churchill delivered his series of wartime speeches to Britain in 1940, it was against the backdrop of a war which was still in its early, uncertain stages. And when Martin Luther King stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, he was addressing a crowd who, like him, were marching for justice, freedom, and civil rights for African Americans.

Let’s take a closer look at ten of the best and most famous speeches from great moments in history.

Abraham Lincoln, ‘ Gettysburg Address ’ (1863).

The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history, yet it was extremely short – just 268 words, or less than a page of text – and Abraham Lincoln, who gave the address, wasn’t even the top billing .

The US President Abraham Lincoln gave this short address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 19 November 1863. At the time, the American Civil War was still raging, and the Battle of Gettysburg had been the bloodiest battle in the war, with an estimated 23,000 casualties.

Lincoln’s speech has been remembered while Edward Everett’s – the main speech delivered on that day – has long been forgotten because Lincoln eschewed the high-flown allusions and wordy style of most political orators of the nineteenth century. Instead, he addresses his audience in plain, homespun English that is immediately relatable and accessible.

Sojourner Truth, ‘ Ain’t I a Woman? ’ (1851).

Sometimes known as ‘Ar’n’t I a Woman?’, this is a speech which Sojourner Truth, a freed African slave living in the United States, delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. The women in attendance were being challenged to call for the right to vote.

In her speech, Sojourner Truth attempts to persuade the audience to give women the vote . As both an ex-slave and a woman, Sojourner Truth knew about the plight of both groups of people in the United States. Her speech shows her audience the times: change is coming, and it is time to give women the rights that should be theirs.

John Ball, ‘ Cast off the Yoke of Bondage ’ (1381).

The summer of 1381 was a time of unrest in England. The so-called ‘Peasants’ Revolt’, led by Wat Tyler (in actual fact, many of the leaders of the revolt were more well-to-do than your average peasant), gathered force until the rebels stormed London, executing a number of high-ranking officials, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor, Simon Sudbury.

Alongside Tyler, the priest John Ball was an important leading figure of the rebellion. His famous couplet, ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, / Who was then the gentleman?’ sums up the ethos of the Peasants’ Revolt: social inequality was unheard of until men created it.

Winston Churchill, ‘ We Shall Fight on the Beaches ’ (1940).

Winston Churchill had only recently assumed the role of UK Prime Minister when he gave the trio of wartime speeches which have gone down in history for their rhetorical skill and emotive power. This, for our money, is the best of the three.

Churchill gave this speech in the House of Commons on 4 June 1940. Having brought his listeners up to speed with what has happened, Churchill comes to the peroration of his speech : by far the most famous part. He reassures them that if nothing is neglected and all arrangements are made, he sees no reason why Britain cannot once more defend itself against invasion: something which, as an island nation, it has always been susceptible to by sea, and now by air.

Even if it takes years, and even if Britain must defend itself alone without any help from its allies, this is what must happen. Capitulation to the Nazis is not an option. The line ‘if necessary for years; if necessary, alone’ is sure to send a shiver down the spine, as is the way Churchill barks ‘we shall never surrender!’ in the post-war recording of the speech he made several years later.

William Faulkner, ‘ The Agony and the Sweat ’ (1950).

This is the title sometimes given to one of the most memorable Nobel Prize acceptance speeches: the American novelist William Faulkner’s acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Literature at Stockholm in 1950.

In his speech, Faulkner makes his famous statement about the ‘duty’ of writers: that they should write about ‘the human heart in conflict with itself’, as well as emotions and themes such as compassion, sacrifice, courage, and hope. He also emphasises that being a writer is hard work, and involves understanding human nature in all its complexity. But good writing should also remind readers what humankind is capable of.

Emmeline Pankhurst, ‘ The Plight of Women ’ (1908).

Pankhurst (1858-1928) was the leader of the British suffragettes, campaigning – and protesting – for votes for women. After she realised that Asquith’s Liberal government were unlikely to grand women the vote, the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded by Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel, turned to more militant tactics to shift public and parliamentary opinion.

Her emphasis in this speech is on the unhappy lot most women could face, in marriage and in motherhood. She also shows how ‘man-made’ the laws of England are, when they are biased in favour of men to the detriment of women’s rights.

This speech was given at the Portman Rooms in London in 1908; ten years later, towards the end of the First World War, women over 30 were finally given the vote. But it would be another ten years, in 1928 – the year of Pankhurst’s death – before the voting age for women was equal to that for men (21 years).

Franklin Roosevelt, ‘ The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself ’ (1933).

This is the title by which Roosevelt’s speech at his inauguration in 1933 has commonly become known, and it has attained the status of a proverb. Roosevelt was elected only a few years after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which ushered in the Great Depression.

Roosevelt’s famous line in the speech, which offered hope to millions of Americans dealing with unemployment and poverty, was probably inspired by a line from Henry David Thoreau, a copy of whose writings FDR had been gifted shortly before his inauguration. The line about having nothing to fear except fear itself was, in fact, only added into the speech the day before the inauguration took place, but it ensured that the speech went down in history.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, ‘ Among Us You Can Dwell No Longer ’ (63 BC).

Of all of the great classical orators, perhaps the greatest of all was the Roman statesman, philosopher, and speechmaker, Cicero (whose name literally means ‘chickpea’).

This is probably his best-known speech. At the Temple of Jupiter in Rome, Cicero addressed the crowd, but specifically directed his comments towards Lucius Catiline, who was accused of plotting a conspiracy to set fire to the capital and stage and insurrection. The speech was considered such a fine example of Roman rhetoric that it was a favourite in classrooms for centuries after, as Brian MacArthur notes in The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches .

Queen Elizabeth I, ‘ The Heart and Stomach of a King ’ (1588).

Queen Elizabeth I’s speech to the troops at Tilbury is among the most famous and iconic speeches in English history. On 9 August 1588, Elizabeth addressed the land forces which had been mobilised at the port of Tilbury in Essex, in preparation for the expected invasion of England by the Spanish Armada.

When she gave this speech, Elizabeth was in her mid-fifties and her youthful beauty had faded. But she had learned rhetoric as a young princess, and this training served her well when she wrote and delivered this speech (she was also a fairly accomplished poet ).

She famously tells her troops: ‘I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too’. She acknowledged the fact that her body was naturally less masculine and strong than the average man’s, but it is not mere physical strength that will win the day. It is courage that matters.

Martin Luther King, ‘ I Have a Dream ’ (1963).

Let’s conclude this selection of the best inspirational speeches with the best-known of all of Martin Luther King’s speeches. The occasion for this piece of oratorical grandeur was the march on Washington , which saw some 210,000 men, women, and children gather at the Washington Monument in August 1963, before marching to the Lincoln Memorial. King reportedly stayed up until 4am the night before he was due to give the speech, writing it out.

King’s speech imagines a collective vision of a better and more equal America which is not only shared by many Black Americans, but by anyone who identifies with their fight against racial injustice, segregation, and discrimination.

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TOP 10 MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES OF ALL-TIME

Motivational speeches are like the nuclear option for leaders. And they are typically a part of every good leaders toolkit. The motivational speech is a powerful tool that can be used to motivate and engage an audience into action and delivering a specific set of results. The motivational speech speaks directly to the hearts and minds people, cutting through the fluff and the inessential, to get right to the heart of the matter.

Having said that, chances are you’re here because you’re either looking for some good material to give your own motivational speech to fellow colleagues and team members. Or, you’re here looking to follow the path of self-leadership, by purposely listening to empowering motivational speeches to galvanize yourself into action. Despite the reason, one thing is for sure, you’re looking for the best motivational speeches of all-time, and you’ll find them here.

So, let’s dive in and see how much we can spur ourselves into action with these powerful motivational speeches:

Note: These motivational speeches are listed in order of lives touched, a.k.a. the amount of views they’ve managed to garner over the years. Our list starts from 10 and counts down to the #1 most watched speech.

10. Les Brown, “It’s Possible”

Year: 2014 – Views: 6.8 million

Setting: Les Brown is a legendary motivator, coach, author, and is considered one of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers. He’s given thousands of speeches all of the world, but this motivational speech is one of his most popular. The date for the video is the publication date of when Les added it to YouTube; however, the speech was likely given years before. That said, here’s one of our favorite quotes from his speech:

“Act on your dream as if your life depends on it. Why? Because it does.” – Les Brown

9. J.K. Rowling, “Harvard Commencement Speech”

Year: 2008 – Views: 7.5 million

Setting: J.K. Rowling is arguably one of the most popular and successful author’s in the world, who’s responsible for the famous book series; ‘Harry Potter’. Rowling gave this speech at a Harvard commencement ceremony on the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination. That said, her speech is still one of the most popular motivational speeches of all-time; which is why it’s made our list. Here’s our favorite quote from her speech:

“Rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life”. – J.K. Rowling

8. Any Given Sunday, “Inches”

Year: 1999 – Views: 10.1 million

Setting: This “Inches” speech given by Al Pacino in the hit move ‘ Any Given Sunday ‘ is definitely one of the most powerful motivational speeches ever given in movie setting. Sure, there are other speeches in other movies that may give some competition, but this one hits hard, because it deals with more than just sports, it speaks to life.

Having said that, here’s our favorite motivational speech quote:

We’re in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And, we can stay here and get the sh** kicked out of us… or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell one inch at a time.” – Coach Tony D’Amato

7. Eric Thomas, “You Owe You”

Year: 2015 – Views: 11.7 million

Setting: Eric Thomas is an extremely popular motivational speaker, author, and educator who’s raw and no-nonsense message about what it takes to succeed in life has helped millions of people all over the world. In fact, this “You Owe You” speech, which he gave in one of his workshops in New Zealand, is his quintessential work. And it’s one of his most love speeches of all-time. Here’s our favorite quote from his speech:

“Become a victor, not a victim” – Eric Thomas

6. Rocky Balboa, “Sunshine and Rainbows”

Year: 2006 – Views: 20 million

Setting: This powerhouse speech is from “Rocky Balboa”, just one of the many great movies created as part of the inspiring Rocky series. Certainly there are other great speeches included in all of the other Rocky movies, but this one in particular is a masterpiece. that said, here’s our favorite line from this short but sweet motivational speech.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.” – Rocky Balboa

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger, “Rules of Success”

Year: 2009 – Views: 31 million

Setting: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s classic “Rules of Success” speech was given at USC’s 2009 commencement speech. His speech is so popular, that it’s been chopped up and added to countless other motivational montages over the years, which are not included in the 31 million views Tally. That said, it is by far, one of Arnold’s greatest motivational speeches of all-time. Here’s are favorite line from his speech:

“I wanted to become a champion; I was on a mission. So rule number one is, of course, trust yourself, no matter how and what anyone else thinks.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

4. Mel Robbins, “How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over”

Year: 2011 – Views: 31.2 million

Setting: Mel Robbins  is a former lawyer who became a television host, then best-selling author, and now motivational speaker. She’s already sold millions of books, with her most famous being ‘The 5 Second Rule’. That said, this was one of her first motivational speeches which she gave at a Ted Talk, and before she became the success icon that she is today. Our favorite quote from this speech is the following:

“You wouldn’t hang out with people who talk to you the way you talk to yourself.” – Mel Robbins

3. Denzel Washington, ‘Put God First’

Year: 2015 – Views: 34 million

Setting: Denzel Washington is one of the most famous and highly respected actors in the world. With 60 different films under his belt, three Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and a Tony Award, people want to know what he has to say. So, in 2015 Denzel was invited to give a commencement speech at Dillard University. And it was a speech that would turn out to be one of best motivational speeches of all-time. Here’s our favorite line from his inspiring speech:

“Put God first in everything you do. Everything that you think you see in me. Everything that I’ve accomplished, everything that you think I have – and I have a few things. Everything that I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift.” – Denzel Washington

2. Steve Jobs, ‘Stanford Commencement Speech”

Year: 2005 – Views: 46 million

Setting: Steve Jobs  was the visionary founder and CEO of Apple. He pioneered the personal computer, founded a handful of other companies, and became a multi-billionaire before passing. That said, he was an inspiration to many, and in 2005 he was invited to give a commencement speech at Stanford. It was a speech that would just about break the internet. Here’s our favorite quote form this motivational speech:

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs

1. Admiral William H. McRaven, “Make Your Bed”

Year: 2014 – Views: 51 million

Setting: Admiral William H. McRaven served as the 9th commander of the United States Special Operations Command. In 2014, McRaven gave a commencement speech to UT Austin’s graduating class. His speech would go viral, leading it to become what is now one of the most viewed motivational speeches of all-time. Here’s our favorite quote from this powerful speech:

“If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person, a Washington, a Lincoln, King, Mandela, and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala, one person can change the world by giving people hope.” – Admiral William H. McRaven

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our collection of what we believe to be (and which are supported by the numbers) the best motivational speeches of all-time. If this collection inspired you, please do us, and the world a favor, and the share the page with somebody. You never know who’s life you could touch or change with a few powerful words.

Till you reach your aims,

TOP 25+ YOU ARE A BADASS QUOTES TO HELP YOU LIVE AN AWESOME LIFE

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The STRIVE is on a mission to inspire and uplift 1 billion people by 2032. Our primary aim is to help as many people as possible believe in the uncommon thought, that they can be more than they are, do more than they've done, and achieve more prosperity than they've ever dreamed possible. Let's achieve the impossible together.

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TOP 25 JAMES ALTUCHER QUOTES FOR SUCCESS, MONEY, AND MOTIVATION

To strive means to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. It means to struggle or fight vigorously ; to battle or compete. It is a word that encompasses what many go through day in and day out as they pursue their most cherished goals and aims in life. Without a doubt, it is a powerful word, especially for those who are reaching for more in their lives. And if you are on this page, that person is likely you. As such, we decided to publish the most inspiring strive quotes of all time, and we are dedicating them to you.

So, fellow achiever, if you’re ready for some inspiration to keep you fighting for all the great things you deserve in life, then let’s dive in to these top quotes about striving.

BEST STRIVE QUOTES TO FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESS

1. “It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.” – Seneca 

2. “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” –  Albert Einstein

3. “To strive tirelessly and at all times to reach one’s goal – therein lies the secret of success .” – Anna Pavlova

4. “Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.” – Abraham Lincoln

5. “In this world, you only get what you grab for.” – Giovanni Boccaccio

6. “Life is so much more rewarding if you strive for something, rather than take what’s given to you on a plate.” – Amy Winehouse

7. “Ambition is your inner voice that tells you, you can, and should, strive to go beyond your circumstances or situation in life.” – Lloyd Blankfein

8. “On occasion we need to make a second effort – and a third effort, and a fourth effort, and as many degrees of effort as may be required to accomplish what we strive to achieve.”  –  Thomas S. Monson

9. “Infinite striving to be the best is man’s duty; it is its own reward. Everything else is in God’s hands.” – Gandhi

10. “There is no failure except in no longer trying.” – Elbert Hubbard

11. “If we are to be a really great people, we must strive in good faith to play a great part in the world.” – Theodore Roosevelt

12. “Even when it is not fully attained, we become better by striving for a higher goal.” – Viktor Frankl

13. “I don’t know what my calling is, but I want to be here for a bigger reason. So I strive to be like the greatest people who have ever lived.” – Will Smith

14. “I’m certainly not saying that my life is what success is all about. To me, success is the ongoing process of striving to become more.” – Anthony Robbins

15. “Achievement eventually befalls the person who never stops striving.” – Strive Quote

16. “Never be satisfied with less than your very best effort. If you strive for the top and miss, you’ll still ‘beat the pack.” – Gerald R. Ford

17. “I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life.” – Madeleine Albright

18. “If one advances confidently in the direction of one’s dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”  –  Henry David Thoreau

19. “Once we get the things we are striving for, we rarely remain satisfied with them. The things are just the bait. Chasing after them forces us to evolve, and it is the evolution and not the rewards themselves that matters to us and to those around us. This means that for most people success is struggling and evolving as effectively as possible.” – Ray Dalio

20. “Mistakes are proof that you are trying.” – Anonymous

21. “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” – Newt Gingrich

22. “Success… seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” –  Conrad Hilton

23. “God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.” ―St. Augustine

24. “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. ”  –   Thomas Jefferson

25. “Sometimes a winner is a dreamer who just won’t quit.” – Rudy

26. “Always remember that striving and struggle precede success, even in the dictionary.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach

27. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

28. “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” – Pat Riley

29. “You are what you do, not what you say you do.”  –  Carl Jung

30. “We can not guarantee success, but we can strive to deserve it.” – George Washington

31. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison

32. “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

33. “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” – Moliere

34. “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” – Barry Finlay

35. “If you strive for excellence, success will follow.” – Shreya Ghoshal

36. “Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted.” – David Bly

37. “A vision on its own is not enough. Hard work and dedication is required to make that vision a reality.” – Strive Masiyiwa

38. “We all have wounds, but you can’t let that be an excuse to sit on the sidelines. Sometimes in life you have to play in pain.” – Joel Olsteen

39. “God always strives together with those who strive.” – Aeschylus

40. “Success is always possible for the person who just keeps striving.” – The STRIVE

41. “Throughout the more than 40 years Virgin has been in business we have been continuously striving – striving to deliver wonderful products and services, striving to make a positive difference, striving to change people’s life for the better.  Had we not kept striving, we certainly wouldn’t be where we are today.” – Richard Branson

42. “Be a lot, do a lot, do a lot have a lot. ” – Myron Golden

43. “Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection.” – Kim Collins

44. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

Bonus Strive Quote

Bonus: Out of our entire collection of striving quotes, this one is by far our favorite. We believe it encompasses everything that needs to be said about striving for success. Enjoy!

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly ; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed ; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”  –   Theodore Roosevelt

Takeaways From These Strive Quotes

We hope you enjoyed these strive quotes. Their purpose is to encourage you to stay hell bent on reaching your aims, because that’s what it will take to achieve them.

With that being said, here are some takeaways from these strive quotes:

• Success eventually comes to those who strive hard
• Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value
• Striving doesn’t guarantee success, but shows how deserving you are
• To strive is to reach, and you can’t obtain if you don’t reach

So, keep trying (hard), keep attempting, continue to endeavor, to aim, and make those great efforts towards your goals. Because it is only through dogged persistence, extra effort, and exerting oneself continuously that we move on to better things. Now go out and get what you deserve .

PS – If you enjoyed these quotes about striving, then you’ll love these quotes about hustling .

10 WAYS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN 2024

Setting goals is a crucial part of success. No matter what you want to achieve in life, be it in your career, relationships, or in business, identifying what you want to achieve and then making a plan to move toward that destination is one of the most important steps of all.

When you know what you want and the exact outcome you desire, you can then create a plan and take action to get there. This is why setting goals works. Extraordinary people are able to produce amazing results in life because they have a clear goal that they want to achieve in mind. They know what they want, and then they get to work on their goals, every single day.

With that being said, if you want to master yourself, achieve greater results in life, and ultimately make your dreams a reality, you’ll need to learn how to set and achieve your goals. So, here the top 10 ways to achieve your goals in 2024. Enjoy!

Top 10 Ways To Achieve Your Goals This Year

1. Always Keep Your Goals in Your Mind

One of the most common reasons why some people fail at their goals while others succeed at them, is that those who successfully achieved their goals are really adept at keeping their goals top of mind.

Of course, this is easier said than done. But, it is backed up by the one of the most well-known success phrases of all-time…“You become what you think about most of the time”. It’s a phrase that conveys the fact that your life is organized around your thoughts. Hence, your dominant thoughts will determine how you will live your life.

If you always think about having not enough money, guess what, you will not be having enough money. You will find it hard to come up with extra money and there are always more days left at the end of the money.

Your thoughts dictate your life. Tony Robbins once said, “Where you focus goes, energy flows”, thus, if you always think about your goals and focus on them, that’s what you will create in your life. So, always choose to consciously think about your goals.

This is why you need to write down your goals, review them, visualize them, and see yourself achieve them. Make a vision board for your goals if you want to.

2. Make Sure Your Goals Align With Your Inner Values

Next up on the list of top 10 ways to achieve your goals is to ensure they align with your values. Yes, you have to make sure your goals align with your inner values. You don’t want to set a goal that is not in harmony with your values.

For example, if you are someone who values security more than adventure, setting a goal like traveling alone around the world may not work for you. Even if you force yourself to do it, you will not enjoy the progress and the experience.

Here’s another example, many people set income goals. And if money isn’t their main purpose, their goals will never work. They will find it hard to come up with the drive to put themselves into action and they will find ways to sabotage their own success.

This is what happens when your goals conflict with your values. Instead, learn to set goals that align with your inner values. Set goals that make your heart sing.

Related: Goal Setting Mistakes to Avoid

3. Make Your Goals Measurable

Are your goals measurable? Most people set very general and vague goals like, “I want to become rich”, or “I want to be happy”, etc., but these goals are vague, and they are not measurable.

Let me ask you, if your goal is to live a happy life, how do you know when you have achieved it? That’s the problem. When your goal isn’t measurable, you will never know when you have reached it.

So, make your goals quantifiable. Make them measurable so that you can tell when you have reached them. Plus, when something is measurable, you can then come up with a specific action plan to achieve it.

If your goals are not measurable, you will work day and night without knowing if you have reached them.

4. Identify the Lead Measures

Lead measure is an important measure of your goals. Most people focus on their main target or the results they want, but they don’t focus on their lead measures, and this is why they fail.

Your lead measures are the measures that directly impact the results of your goals.

For instance, if your goal is to lose weight, the two main lead measures are exercise and diet. How much time do you spend to exercise each week? And do you track your diet and calorie intake?

You see, these two measures will directly impact your goal of losing weight. If you want to achieve your goal, then all you need to do is to focus on the two lead measures: exercise and diet.

And you hit your exercise and diet target, you will automatically reach your weight loss goal.

Here’s another classic example. If you want to increase your sales, what should you do? You focus on prospecting and presentation. The more prospects you present to, the higher your number of sales. Therefore, the number of prospects you approach, and sales presentation you deliver are the two lead measures you must work on.

When you achieved your lead measure goals, you will achieve your main goal, which is to increase your sales. So, focus and work on the lead measures.

5. Focus on Making Progress

Next, don’t always think about your goals and the results, when it comes to maintaining your momentum, you need to focus on making progress.

As a blogger, one of my goals is to build a huge responsive subscribers list from my blog. But if I focus on the result, the number of subscribers I get each day, I’m going to fail. Why? When I first started, my blog is new and there are no visitors and subscribers.

So, if I think about my goal of having a ton of subscribers, I will feel dejected, lose my motivation, and eventually give up on my blog. Instead, I choose to focus on making progress.

I know that if I want to grow my subscribers, I will need to publish new articles consistently. Hence, I focus on publishing content. Every time I published a new article, I celebrate and reward myself. I feel good about it and it drives me to continue publishing new content.

And so, day after day, I make progress. And slowly, the number of visitors to my blog increases, and the same goes for my number of subscribers.

Can you notice the difference? Having a goal is important, but to achieve your goal, you need to make progress. Hence, it is more important to focus on the progress than to only think about your goals and do nothing.

Let your progress motivate you and get you to your goals.

6. Work on Improving Yourself Every Day

There is no way you can achieve your goals if you don’t improve yourself. You are where you are because of what you know and what you do. If you want to get to a new place, you need to do something different, and that requires you to improve yourself.

I love to give an example of playing games. If the character in your game is at level 3 and you need to fight a level 5 enemy, you will find the enemy difficult to beat. But as you play the game, gain better experience, and level up your character, say to level 8, the same level 5 enemy will be easy to beat.

Therefore, work on improving your level. When the size of you increase, the problem will become a small problem.

It is the size of you that matters, not the size of the problem. If you think you are having a big problem right now, it is because the size of you is small. You must learn to improve yourself so that the problems become no problem for you.

Related: Motivation Journals for Self-Improvement

7. Set Goals That Are Fun and Exciting

Think about it, if something isn’t fun or exciting, will you have the motivation to achieve it? Obviously, the answer is no. But unfortunately, that’s what most people do. They set goals that are not fun or exciting to them.

You have to understand that if you want to achieve your goals, your goals must be fun and exciting so that you will want to wake up each morning and work on them. If your goals are boring and uninspiring, you will choose to continue to sleep than to wake up and chase them.

Set a goal that makes your heart sing. Be passionate about your goals and make sure you are excited when you think, talk, and work on your goals .

8. Make Your Goals Challenging

Besides making your goals fun and exciting, you must also make them challenging. Why? Because that’s the only way you can grow.

You see, Albert Einstein once said, “A ship is safe at the harbor, but that’s not why it is built for.” Your life is meant to be fun, exciting, and challenging. You want to live a remarkable life, isn’t it? Hence, make your goals challenging.

Think about it, if you are currently earning $5,000 a month, making an additional $100 isn’t going to make you jump out of your bed in the morning. What you want is to have a goal that is challenging and inspiring.

You want your goals to force you out of your comfort zone so that you can grow and become someone better, and worthy of the goals.

9. Take Baby Steps Each Day

It doesn’t matter how big your goals or how difficult they are, as long as you take baby steps and make progress each day, you will eventually get to your goals.

The key is in making progress every day. You can’t achieve your goals by thinking about them, you need to do something.

There is a saying, “If you swing the ax five times, every day, eventually the tree will fall.” Yes, no matter how big the tree, if you just swing an ax at it just five times a day, it will eventually fall.

The same principle applies to your life and your goals. As long as you take action and persist in working on your goals every day, you will eventually arrive at your destination.

Therefore, be consistent. Commit to taking at least 5 baby steps each day, and trust me, you will achieve your goals faster than you thought possible.

10. Believe in Your Goals and Trust Yourself That You Can Do It

Last up on this list of the 10 ways to achieve your goals is related to belief. You need to believe in your goals and trust yourself that you can do it. First, you must believe that your goals are possible. And second, you must trust that you can achieve them.

When you truly believe you can achieve your goals, you will do whatever it takes to reach them. Think about why people buy lottery tickets. Well, it is because they believe that they stand a chance to win, right? If you don’t believe you stand a chance to win, you will never bother buying the lottery ticket.

The same goes for your goals. When you believe that you can achieve them, you will do it with a 100% commitment rather than a half-hearted attempt.

Therefore, believe that your goals are possible and trust that you can achieve them.

There is no way you are going to achieve your goals if you all you do is sit there and do nothing. Reading this article is good because it helps you understand what you need to do to achieve the results you want, but until you implement the knowledge and take action , nothing is going to happen.

“Dream Big, Start Small, But Most Of All, Start.” – Simon Sinek –

Hence, don’t just think and daydream about your goals and the success you want. Make this year your best year ever by using these 10 ways to achieve your goals. If you need a little reminder, you can always print out or save the summarized tips for achieving your goals below:

It is true that this year has been challenging and tough, but if you keep a positive attitude , focus on your goals, and do what is necessary, you can make 2024 a life-transforming year. Use these goal achieving tips to help you.

Till next time,

PS – We hope you enjoyed these top 10 ways to achieve your goals, but never lose sight of this important fact: Achieving goals doesn’t just magically happen. Goal achievement  requires a plan . So, if you truly want to make 2024 a life-transforming year, you’ll want to use this to  make it happen.

100+ INSPIRING EFFORT QUOTES TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR POTENTIAL

One of the key ingredients to achieving success and winning in life, is effort .  In fact, it may be the one sole ingredient to success that each human alive has the ability to control.   Which is why we’ve dedicated this page specifically to effort quotes.

“Effort is the Key to Unlocking Our Potential.”

From most of our research (and life experiences) we’ve observed that the amount of effort and intensity one applies to a given task, goal, or vision; directly impacts the quality and swiftness of that goal’s completion.  Without a doubt, effort is a critical factor in goal achievement. But more importantly, effort is the key to unlocking our potential.

As such we want to help as many people as possible embrace such a philosophy by sharing some of the most powerful quotes on effort we could find.  Please know, that these are the best of the best effort quotes you’ll find. 

There’s no doubt these effort quotes will serve as a reliable reminder of effort’s role in your success. In addition, they will help encourage you to unleash your untapped levels of effort .  And when that happens you will begin unlocking your potential and a bit more success in the process.

So without further ado, here is your new reliable list of the 100 most motivating effort quotes available.  Let them motivate you so you can go forth and unleash your potential!

EFFORT QUOTES TO HELP YOU UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL

1.   “The heights by great men reached and kept, Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2. “For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.” –  Jim Rohn

3. “I am grinding while your sleeping.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

4. Plough deep while sluggards sleep.” – Benjamin Franklin

5.  “All the so-called “secrets of success” will not work unless you do.” – Anonymous

6. “The only thing that has kept me around is my effort.” – Ray Lewis

7. “Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt.” – José Ortega y Gassett

8. “There’s not a person on my team in 16 years that has consistently beat me to the ball every play.  That ain’t got nothing to do with talent, That’s just got everything to do with effort, and nothing else.” – Ray Lewis

9. “Ideas don’t work for people unwilling to do the work.” – Robin Sharma

10. “Effort is grossly underrated.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

11. “Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.” – William James

12.  “A great work demands a great sacrifice, and who is not capable of a great sacrifice is not capable of a great work.” – Muriel Strode

13.  “All I ever knew, was that effort would get me seen on tape, effort would get me noticed to get to the league, effort would one day take care of my mom and my kids.  Effort, which is between you and you. Nobody else can give you effort.  Effort is what is inside” – Ray Lewis

14. “If a man is called a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

15.  “You can’t have a million dollar dream with a minimum wage work ethic.” – Anonymous

16. “ Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still.” – Chinese Proverb

17. “They indeed are fools who are satisfied with the fruits of their past effort and do not engage themselves in self-effort now.” – Swami Venkatesananda

18. “An industrious dunce is often more successful in life than his learned neighbor.” – James Lendall Basford

19. “I CAN is 100 times more important than IQ” –  Anonymous

20. “Success is dependent on effort.” – Sophocles

21. “If you can’t excel with talent, triumph with effort.” – Dave Weinbaum

22. “I’ve got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.” – Larry Bird

23. “Winning is not everything, but the effort to win is.” – Zig Ziglar

24. “When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So I did ten times more work.” George Bernard Shaw

25. “Great effort springs naturally from great attitude.” – Pat Riley

26. “It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” – Theodore Roosevelt

27. “About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age.” – Gloria Pitzer

28. “Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets.” – Anonymous

29. “For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.” – T.S. Eliot

30. “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.” – Mahatma Gandhi

31. “Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men and women who kept on working.” –  Anonymous

32. “Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.” –  William James

33 . “The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” – Emile Zola

34. “Continuous Effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.” – Winston Churchill

35. “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” – Napoleon Hill

36.   “The view is better when it is earned.” – Anonymous

37. “Put in 5% more effort than “there’s only so much I can do” and you’ll be way ahead of the game.” – Terri Guillemets

38. “Sweat is the cologne of accomplishment.” – Heywood Hale Broun

39. “The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.” – Sarah Brown

40.   “Much effort, much prosperity.” – Euripides

41. “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

42. “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln

43. “There’s nothing like biting off more than you can chew, and then chewing anyway.” – Mark Burnett

44. “Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” – Swami Sivananda

45. “The mode by which the inevitable comes to pass is effort.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

46. “In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result.” – James Allen

47. “Nobody ever drowned in his own sweat.” – Ann Landers

48. “The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.” – Anonymous

49. “The level path is easy, but it will not bring you to the mountaintop.” – Dr. Idel Dreimer

50. “Much good work is lost for the lack of a little more.” – Edward H. Harriman

Temperature Check on These Quotes About Effort

One of the things we love most about quotes, is their ability to inspire, uplift, and encourage .  And in the case of these effort quotes, they also have the ability to energize.  If you’ve gotten to this point and have started to feel a bit charged up, then keep reading, because it means the quotes are working.

After you read the next 50 quotes on effort, don’t be surprised if you feel the urge fire up a pot of coffee and start hatching up plans to take over the world!

Related: Work Hard and You Will Succeed

51.  “The elevator to success is not running; you must climb the stairs.” – Zig Ziglar

52. “We all have dreams.  But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” – Anonymous

53. “Men are made stronger on realization that the helping hand they need is at the end of their own arm.” – Sidney J. Phillips

54 . “Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought.” – Napoleon Hill

55. “The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort.” – Colin Powell

56. “Gold medals are made out of sweat, blood, and tears and effort in the gym every day.” – Gabby Douglas

57. “Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer

58. “Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.” – Aeschylus

59. “Sometimes, things may not go your way, but the effort should be there every single night.” – Michael Jordan

60. “Life can be boring unless you put some effort into it.” – John C. Maxwell

61. “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.” – John Wooden

62. “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” – Sam Ewing

63.  “Unwearied ceaseless effort is the price that must be paid for turning faith into a rich infallible experience.” – Mahatma Gandhi

64.  “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.” – Vince Lombardi

65.  “The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply.” – Denis Waitley

66. “You’re always learning.  The problem is, sometimes you stop and think you understand the world.  This is not correct. The world is always moving.  You never reach the point you can stop making an effort.” – Paulo Coelho

67. “Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.” – Napoleon Hill

68. “Make each day count by setting specific goals to succeed, then putting forth every effort to exceed your own expectations.” – Les Brown

69. “It’s the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance, sweeps away all obstacles.” – Claude M. Bristol

70.  “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson

71. “It doesn’t matter if you lose, it matters if you don’t try.” – Unknown

72. “The real tragedy is the tragedy of the man who never in his life braces himself for his one supreme effort, who never stretches to his full capacity, never stands to his full stature.” – Arnold Bennett

73. “God doesn’t require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.” – Mother Teresa

74. “Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

75.   “Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.” – Stephen Kaggwa

76. “I am a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson

77.   “Each man is the smith of his own fortune.” – Appius Claudius

78. “A pint of sweat, saves a gallon of blood.” – George S. Patton

79. “Hard work is the price we must pay for success.  I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.” – Vince Lombardi

80. “The one thing that matters is the effort.” – Antoine De Saint-Exupery

81. “The man who succeeds is a man who has withstood the tests of time, trials, and has made every effort count.” – Hermann J. Steinherr

82. “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” ― Earl Nightingale

83.   “People are rewarded in public for what they’ve practiced for years in private.” – Anthony Robbins

84. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

85. “Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.” – Henry J. Kaiser

86. “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” – Seneca

87. “He who seeks rest finds boredom….He who seeks work finds rest.” –  Anonymous

88. “We are all self-made, but only the successful will admit it.” –  Earl Nightingale

89. “Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.” – Lowell Thomas

90.   “There is no substitute for work.” – Vince Lombardi

91. “Be willing to give that extra effort that separates the winner from the one in second place.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

92.  “Confidence is not something that comes out of nowhere.  It is the result of months and years of practice, constant work, effort, and determination.” – Anurag Prakash Ray

93. “A little more persistence a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn into a glorious success.” – Elbert Hubbard

94.  “As one makes an impartial study of successful people, one is drawn to inevitable conclusion that persistence, concentration of effort and definiteness of purpose are the major sources of their achievements.” – Napoleon Hill

95.  “One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.” – John Wanamaker

96. “I never dreamed about success.  I worked for it.” – Estee Lauder

97. “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” – Vince Lombardi

98. “If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you.” – Michael Jordan

99.   “Success in anything will always come down to this:  Focus & Effort, and we control both of them.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

100. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

101. “Very few people are really capable of sustained effort, and that’s the reason why we have comparatively few outstanding successes.” – James McDonald

102.   “Effort is the route available to the underdog, I may not be able to outspend you, but I can outwork you.” – Malcolm Gladwell

103. “Everything gets easier when you stop expecting it to be easy.” – Tim Grover

104. “Talent without effort is wasted talent. And while effort is the one thing you can control in your life, applying that effort intelligently is next on the list.” – Mark Cuban

105. “Make every effort matter, and always make the following effort better than the last one.” – Hermann J. Steinherr

106. “No matter what you ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.” – Carol Dweck

107. “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

108. “It takes hard work to make it to the top. It takes twice the effort to stay at the top.” – Patrick Bet-David

109.   “Consistency of effort over the long run is everything.” – Angela Duckworth

110. “To double your gains you must triple your effort.” – Anonymous

Bonus Effort Quote

Bonus: Here’s our last and final effort quote. We set this one aside because we believe it’s powerful and says a lot a bout what it takes to succeed, namely, that you just have to be willing to put in the effort. Enjoy.

“Do The Work. Everyone Wants To Be Successful, But Nobody Wants To Do The Work.” – gary vaynerchuck –

Final Thoughts on These Effort Quotes

Alright, you made it through the internet’s most inspiring collection of effort quotes.  Hopefully these quotes got you fired up, and ready to go the extra mile in everything you do.

It’s all about effort friends.  We all have the ability to dial it up, or dial it down in our lives.  We can choose to try valiantly to accomplish, or we can choose to just go through the motions. The choice is ours.

That said, we must never forget that we all have the ability to win . Despite what the world tries to tell you, putting in a little more effort and winning more that normal is an option that is available to us all. We are in complete control of how much winning we get to experience in this life through effort .

So, use these powerful effort quotes as a resource to help you live with more intensity.  Let them encourage and support you in all your efforts towards reaching your potential, maximizing your achievements, and creating your own story of success .

Till you reach those aims,

PS – If you enjoyed these effort quotes, then you’ll love these related quotes:

Hard Work Quotes | Hard Work Pays Off Quotes | Work Hard Play Hard Quotes

Winning takes place by going the extra mile, and this new tool was specifically designed to help you go the distance .

TOP 35 QUOTES ABOUT BETTERING YOURSELF

Personal growth is the process of improving yourself over time. It consists of developing new skills, improving your attitude and actions, and it can have a dramatic effect on your over all well-being and outlook on life. In short, bettering yourself is one of the easiest ways to better your life. So, to inspire you to dig deep and put in the time and effort to change your life for the better, we’ve rounded up these handful of bettering yourself quotes.

Use them to remind yourself how important it is to change yourself before you can change your life. That said, if you’re ready to be inspired, let’s dive right into these quotes:

BEST BETTERING YOURSELF QUOTES

1. “The time is now. Stop hitting the snooze button on your life.” – Mel Robbins

2. “Every morning, we get a chance to be different. A chance to change. A chance to be better.” – Alan Bonner

3. “Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” – William Faulkner

4. “There’s always room for improvement.” – Joey Logano

5. “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn

6. “Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.” – Marcus Aurelius

7. “By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid only of standing still.” – Benjamin Franklin

8. “Be yourself, but always your better self.” – Karl G. Maeser

9. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass

10. “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” – Paulo Coelho

11. “I’m a big believer in growth. Life is not about achievement, it’s about learning and growth, and developing qualities like compassion, patience, perseverance, love, and joy, and so forth.” – Jack Canfield

12. “Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.” – Bruce Lee

13. “The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” – William James

14. “No matter where you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’re from, you can always become a better version of yourself.” – Madonna

15. “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” – John C. Maxwell

16. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.” – T.D. Jakes

17. “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. “The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.” – Simon Sinek

19. “You’ve got to have rule to live by, and one of mine is always say yes. Put yourself in danger of something amazing happening to you.” – Tom Bilyeu

20. “Always be a work in progress.” – Emily Lillian

21. “Make the most of yourself….for that is all there is of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

22. “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” – Ernest Hemingway

23. “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

24. “You’re either green and growing or you’re ripe and rotting.” – John Addison

25. “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.” – Max DePree

26. “Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy, strength and peace. By right choice, and true application of thought, man ascends to divine perfection. By the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast.” – William James

27. “If you truly want to become a better you, it is imperative that you learn to feel good about yourself.” – Joel Osteen

28. “No matter how good you get you can always get better, and that’s the exciting part.” – Tiger Woods

29. “If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control – myself.” – Stephen R. Covey

30. “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.” – Joe Paterno

31. “There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” – Aldous Huxley

32. “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.” – Nelson Mandela

33. “The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development.” – Robin Sharma

34. “We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”  – Oprah Winfrey

35. “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”  – Rick Warren

Related: Inspiring One Word Quotes

FINAL THOUGHTS

Great job making it to the end of these quotes about bettering yourself. We hope they inspire you to reach for your potential in all that you do.

Remember, if you’re trying to better yourself, you’re further ahead than most. Why? Because most people don’t try to be better, and because the don’t try they rarely hit the mark.

So aim high, reach for the stars, and strive for your potential, and someday you will.

PS – If you enjoyed these bettering yourself quotes then you may also enjoy these self-growth quotes or even these quotes on progress and growth .

TOP 100 SUCCESS AND MOTIVATIONAL BLOGS FOR 2024

They say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – and that’s why we recommend you check out some of these top motivational blogs daily.

The Official Top 100 Motivational Blogs From Around The World

Why do we recommend such a thing? It’s because we know striving for goals and dream-chasing isn’t easy.  Hustling, grinding, and reaching for our dreams is no walk in the park. 

In fact, just about every person who is striving for a goal or a dream will at some point lose their motivation during their pursuit. Of course you won’t fully lose your motivation, nor will it be forever.

But you’ll have your down days. As such, it is our aim is to minimize such occurrences.  So how do we plan on doing this?

Well, here’s how…

We plan to help you better strive for your potential and reach for your dreams by providing you with a few awesome resources…100 of them actually.  But, these are not just any resources, these are 100 of the most encouraging and motivational blogs from around the world. 

Our hope is that you’ll be able to at least find some of these motivational blogs useful for maintaining your motivation. Certainly you’ll be able to find something within these blogs to stay fired up for consistent achievement throughout the year.

NOTE:  The following list of motivational blogs have been updated recently

We’ve been keeping track of the very best and most popular motivational blogs since 2017. And without fail, we’ve updated this list every year since.

Some of the blogs listed have an inspirational and self-improvement focus, but the common thread among them all is their ability to motivate you to be, do, and have more.  A handful of the motivational blogs listed are quite mainstream, so you may already be aware of them.

However, there are others that are up-and-coming sites that provide immense value, and are highly motivational as well.

“People Often Say That Motivation Doesn’t Last. Well, Neither Does Bathing – That’s Why We Recommend It Daily.” – Zig Ziglar –

What is Motivation?

Before we get into the rankings, let’s briefly discuss what motivation is.  Why?  Because clarity leads to awareness, awareness leads to better decisions, and better decisions leads to better results.

One of our favorite definitions of motivation, is simply, “Motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals.” We like it because it sums up why we all want to be motivated.   We all want to achieve something.

Another great definition of motivation is “Motivation as the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something.”

Both definitions speak to the fact that most people want to be motivated to achieve.  They both demonstrate that we all wish accomplish those things we’ve made up their minds to do, and know that feeling motivated plays a big part in how much success we find.

How to Use This Resource

To get the most out of this resource, bookmark it.  This way, when , not if , you start to run low on motivation, you’ll have a reliable resource you can easily come back to when you need to find more resources to help you stay motivated.

Start Taking Action on  Your Goals

In a way, you can consider using this page as type of motivational refueling (or recharging) station.   If you start to run low of motivation , just come on back and pick one of the 100 listed motivational sites to help you refuel your empty tank or recharge.

“Without Ambition One Starts Nothing. Without Work One Finishes Nothing. The Prize Will Not Be Sent To You. You Have To Win It.” –  Ralph Waldo Emerson –

Use this motivational resource and stay fired up to win it .

The Ranking

In the past the ranking used for these motivational blogs was acquired by using Alexa rankings; however, Alexa was unplugged last year. As such we’ve employed a different ranking methodology for this year’s list. The rankings below have been determined by the popularity of each site. We’ve compiled an estimated monthly search volume for each site listed using the combined services of Ahrefs, SEMRush, and UberSuggest.

Now, we know traffic doesn’t necessarily convey how “motivational” a blog or site is, but it does demonstrate a level of value that the market and search engines have placed on them, which is why we’ve chosen to use monthly traffic as a ranking factor.

With that being said, the rankings on this resource page may change over the course of the year, as traffic volumes for sites change seasonally.  Also, some of the motivational sites listed may be ranked lower than you’d expect based off your own experience with the brand, but that’s because the site’s listed below do not account for a blogs/brands YouTube traffic and audience.

At the moment, this is the most comprehensive list of motivational blogs on the internet for 2024. So, check each of them out, and allow them to keep you fired up to unleash your potential daily. 

Without further ado, here is your list:

Top Motivational Blogs

Note: The traffic volumes listed above are estimates based off of our research at the time of our rankings. The figures do change from month to month.

Got Motivation?

Want to achieve your goals – but can’t stay motivated long enough to find success?  Then  this is f or you .

Stay Motivated

As students of human potential, we are always looking for ways to improve.  But just like you, we are only human, and some days our fire wanes.  And well, a fire half lit leads to potential half fulfilled. 

As such, we lean on many of these resources to keep us motivated to put forth the effort and enthusiasm necessary to live and work to our potential every single day, and so should you.

The STRIVE  supports big thinking and deep self-belief , and aims to produce as much motivation as possible to get you striving towards your grand ideas, so you can become  all that you were born to be. Our hope is that these top motivational blogs will contribute to your motivation as well, and as a result, to your overall success in life.

Without a doubt, happy, actualized, confident people, fired-up and fearlessly following their dreams are the ones truly set to make this world better.  So, if you found value in this resource, please share it with your friends, family, or colleagues by using the share buttons on the bottom of this page.  You never know what kind of magic a little motivation will create in one’s life.

“It’s Hard To Beat a Person Who Never Gives Up.” – Babe Ruth –

PS – If you enjoyed this list of top motivation blogs, then you’ll absolutely love our list of top inspirational sites .

If you’re seeking out some of the greatest warrior quotes of all-time, then you’ll love this page. However, before we dive into them, consider this fact. There is an animating force within us that we’ve increasingly suppressed over the years. This innate and extremely valuable energy that exists within us all has been ignored, devalued, and diminished with each passing decade.

Unfortunately, this animating force is none other than your fighting warrior spirit. And it’s a fighting spirit that needs to be cultivated, because we all go to battle daily — we battle with internal demons, like our struggles to get motivated, to conquer bad habits, or improve our personal lives — or our external battles, like striving to create a life, business, and career that we can be proud of.

“We Are All Warriors.” – stephen pressfield –

In short, we are all warriors in a sense. And because we are all warriors, it is important to keep our fighting spirit strong. As such, we aim to reignite this heroic quality of yours with these exceptional and highly motivational warrior quotes. We hope these quotes will reanimate that heroic warrior spirit within you, so that you can lean into your challenges. But most importantly, we hope these Warrior Quotes guide, motivate, and better equip you to be victorious over those daily battles you experience in your day-to-day life.

BEST WARRIOR QUOTES AND SAYINGS

1. “Every victorious warrior draws his strength from the highest source; his love.” – Tapan Ghosh

2. “Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but soon or late the one who wins is the one who thinks he can!” – Walter D. Wintle

3. “There has been a constant war, a war with fear. Those who have the courage to conquer it are made free and those who are conquered by it are made to suffer until they have the courage to defeat it.” – Alexander The Great

4. “In the warrior’s code there’s no surrender, though his body says stop… his spirit cries, never!” – Survivor, Burning Heart

5. “Strategy is the craft of the warrior.” – Miyamoto Musashi

6. “All men are warriors and life for everything in our universe is nothing but war.” –  David Zindell

7. “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” – Bruce Lee

8. “Warriors want a worthy opponent. There is no redress in fighting the pathetic.” – Donna Lynn Hope

9. “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” – Sun Tzu

10. “Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.” – Karl Von Clausewitz

11. “Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” – Sun Tzu

12. “Feel no fear before the multitude of men, do not run in panic, but let each man bear his shield straight toward the fore-fighters, regarding his own life as hateful and holding the dark spirits of death as dear as the radiance of the sun.” – Spartan Proverb

13. “The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy but where are they.” – Plutarch

14. “We choose whether to be warriors or to be ordinary.” – Carlos Castaneda

15. “ Discipline is your best friend. It will take of you like nothing else can.” – Jocko Willink

16. “Victory are reserved for those warriors who are willing to pay it’s price.” – Sun Tzu

17. “You should reach the limits of virtue before you cross the border of death.” – Aristodemus, Spartan Warrior

18. “A warrior’s greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius.

19. “Rise up, warriors, take your stand at one another’s sides, our feet set wide and rooted like oaks in the ground. ‘‘…learn to love death’s ink-black shadow as much as you love the light of dawn. ‘Here is courage, mankind’s finest possession, here is the noblest prize that a young man can endeavor to win.” – Tyrtaeus, Spartan Poet

20. “He who sweats more in training bleeds less in war.” – Spartan Warrior Creed

21. “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by sheep: I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” – Alexander The Great

22. “To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead.” – Miyamoto Musashi

23. “A true warrior fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” – G.K. Chesterton

24. “You should reach the limits of virtue before you cross the border of death.” – Aristodemus, Spartan Warrior

25. “To hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.” – Miyamoto Musashi

26. “A warrior has to believe, otherwise he cannot activate his intent positively.” – Theun Mares

27. “The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to win.” – Miyamoto Musashi

28. “Be a warrior, not a worrier.” – Warrior Saying

29. “But if you choose the way of the warrior, living a life of service, it will demand of you the best you have. You may not need to be great, but the world needs your greatness.” – Erwin Raphael McManus

30. “A warrior seeks to act rather than talk.” – Carlos Castaneda

Fearless Warrior Quotes

One attribute that separates a great warrior from the average is their fearlessness. A great warrior knows that being fearless is not about never being afraid, but it’s about feeling the fear, and diving in anyway. With that said, here are some powerful fearless quotes to inspire that fearless warrior that resides within you.

31. “It’s natural to feel fear. All great warriors are afraid. Only the stupid and the delusional are not.” – Rick Riordan

32. “There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within.” – Miyamoto Musashi

33. “All men die, but not all men really live.” – William Wallace

34. “But where life is more terrible than death, it is then the truest valor to dare to live.” – Inazo Nitobe

35. “The warrior stands, ready to defend, ready to fight for those he serves. He is a warrior of virtue, A knight of conscience. He is who we all wish to be.” – Anthony Hincks

36. “Toil and risk are the price of glory, but it is a great thing to live with courage and die leaving an everlasting fame.” – Alexander The Great

37. “Fear is the first taste of defeat! The Warrior only breathes the air of the brave and Warrior only feasts on the fruit of victory!” – The Ultimate Warrior

38. “Warriors should suffer their pain silently.” – Erin Hunter

39. “A warrior with a cause is the most dangerous soldier of all.” – Michael Scott

40. “There is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child.” – N.K. Jemisin

41. “You’re a warrior. Warriors don’t give up and they don’t back down. Pick up your sword, your shield, and fight.” – Warrior Quotes

42. “A warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think he has finished acting.” – Carlos Castaneda

43. “A warrior never worries about his fear.” – Carlos Castaneda

44. “To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.” – Chogyam Trungpa

45. “A warrior must only take care that his spirit is never broken.” – Shissai

46. “I do what I do because it is the right thing to do. I am a warrior, and it is the way of the warrior to fight superior odds.” – Paul Watson

47. “The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.” – Steven Pressfield

48. “Warriors don’t raise to the level of expectations , they fall to the level of their training.” – Archilochu

49. “Any great warrior is also a scholar, and a poet, and an artist.” – Steven Seagal

50. “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time” – Leo Tolstoy

Motivational Warrior Quotes

Life challenges us constantly. And this goal and dream chasing stuff can make our daily battles seem all the more challenging. But the great news is, we got your back. We are here to encourage and push you forward when setbacks come your way.

With that being said, keep digesting these powerful warrior quotes. Each one consumed only strengthens and emboldens that heroic fighting spirit.

51. “The big difference between a warrior and a victim is that the victim represses and the warrior refrains.” – Don Miguel Ruiz

52. “A warrior must believe in his strength of will, of purpose, of heart and soul.” –  David Gemmell

53. “Competition doesn’t scare a true warrior, it makes him better.” – Andrew Whitworth

54. “Come back with your shield, or upon it.”  – Spartan Mother

55. “A fool is ‘happy’ when his cravings are satisfied. A warrior is happy without reason. That’s what makes happiness the ultimate discipline” – Dan Millman

56. “Every great warrior must learn to endure and overcome the adversities of life.” –  Lailah Gifty Akita

57. “One mark of a great soldier is that a great soldier fights on his own terms or fights not at all.” – Sun Tzu

58. “Warriors know when to pick their fights.” – Sara Maa

59. “Surprise is the warrior’s greatest weapon.” – Erin Hunter

60. “The warrior fights with courage not with anger.” – Ashanti Proverb

61. “Fear doesn’t go away. The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.” – Steven Pressfield

62. “The wise warrior avoids the battle” – Sun Tzu

63. “Tomorrow’s victory is today’s practice.” – Chris Bradford

64. “Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You can not withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.'” – Warrior Quote

65. “Defeat exists but not suffering. A true warrior knows that when he loses a battle, he is improving the skill with which he wields a sword. He will be able to fight more skillfully next time.” – Paulo Coelho

66. “A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does.” – Dan Millman

67. “Some warriors look fierce, but are mild. Some seem timid, but are vicious. Look beyond appearances; position yourself for the advantage.” – Deng Ming-Dao

68. “Silence is the warrior’s art — and meditation is his sword. With it, you’ll cut through your illusions.” – Dan Millman

69. “A cowardly man thinks he will ever live, if warfare he avoids; but old age will give him no peace, though spears may spare him.” – Havamal

70. “Come and take it.” – Leonidas

71. “A warrior must only take care that his spirit is never broken.” – Shissai

72. “Before a battle, planning is everything. Once the fighting has begun, it’s worthless.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

73. “Protecting yourself is self-defense. Protecting others is warriorship.” – Bodhi Sanders

74. “The essence of warriorship, or the essence of human bravery, is refusing to give up on anyone or anything.” – Chogyam Trungpa

75. “When you become fully responsible for your life, you can become fully human; once you become human, you may discover what it means to be a warrior.” – Dan Millman

76. “ God doesn’t give the hardest battles to his toughest soldiers, he creates the toughest soldiers through life’s hardest battles” – Warrior Saying

77. “Weapons may be carried by creatures who are evil, dishonest, violent or lazy. The true warrior is good, gentle and honest. His bravery comes from within himself; he learns to conquer his own fears and misdeeds.” – Brian Jacques

78. “You are a warrior! Built to endure. Able to conquer. Nothing can hold you down.” – Beatrice Garrett

79. “Untroubled, scornful, outrageous – that is how wisdom wants us to be: she is a woman and never loves anyone but a warrior.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

80. “Better to fight and fall than to live without hope .” – Volsunga

Inspirational Warrior Quotes

This next batch of warrior quotes when reflected upon will inspire and encourage you. Read them out loud, embrace them, and then allow them to unleash the courage that resides deep within you.

81 . “In case of doubt, push on just a little further and then keep on pushing.” – George S. Patton

82. “Warriors do not lower themselves to the standards of other people; they live independently; according to their own standards and code of conduct.” – Bohdi Sanders

83. “Some must be warriors, that others may live in peace.” – Mercedes Lackey

84. “We are all warriors.” – Steven Pressfield

85. “The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn’t look like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, he’s going to keep digging, he’s going to keep trying to do right and make up for what’s gone before, just because that’s who he is.” – Joss Whedon

86. “A true warrior, like tea, shows his strength in hot water.” – Warrior Quotes

87. “Cowards shrink from challenges, weaklings flee from them, but warriors wink at them .” – Matshona Dhliwayo

88. “Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” – Heraclitus

89. “During times of persistent hardship is when the warrior learns the most about his fortitude.” – Bodhi Sanders

90. “Being a warrior is an attitude!!” – Santosh Kumar

91. “Warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no on has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is on who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who can not provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity.” – Sitting Bull

92. “Of every one-hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are nothing but targets, nine are real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one of them is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” – Heraclitus

93. “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” – Emiliano Zapata

94. “Being a warrior is not about the act of fighting. It’s about being so prepared to face a challenge and believing so strongly in the cause you are fighting for that you refuse to quit.” – Michael J. Asken

95. “A warrior is not a person that carries a gun. The biggest war you ever go through is right between your own ears. It’s in your mind. We’re all going through a war in our mind, and we have to callus our minds to fight that war and to win that war.” – David Goggins

96. “I am a warrior not because I always win but because I will always fight.” – Warrior Quotes

97. “Hard work, dedication, and discipline – these are the keys to becoming a successful martial artist and warrior. Without them, you will never achieve your full potential.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

98. “The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.” – Carlos Castaneda

99. “To be heroic is to be courageous enough to die for something; to be inspirational is to be crazy enough to live a little.” – Criss Jami

100. “Weakness is strong. I must be stronger.” – Jocko Willink

101. “Long is the way and hard, that out of hell leads up to light.” – John Milton

102. “Nothing can resist a human will that will stake its very existence on its purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli

103. “A responsible Warrior is not someone who takes the weight of the world on his shoulders, but someone who has learned to deal with the challenges of the moment.” – Paulo Coelho

104. “It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.” – Aristotle

105. “I don’t know how I’m going to win, I just know I’m not going to lose.” – Gokham Saki

106. “I will either find a way or make one” – Hannibal

107. “I’ll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to do a job that you know has to be done.” – Audie Murphy

108. “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” – George S. Patton

109. “Warriors don’t hide from their fears; they embrace them.” – Brittain Ladd

110. “It’s time to go to war with yourself.” – David Goggins

111. “You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat.” – Joel Olsteen

112. “A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free.” – John Stuart Mill

113. “For glory gives herself only to those who have always dreamed of her.” – Charles De Gualle

114. “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight — it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

115. “ Your mind is a battlefield, be its commander, not its soldier.” – Anonymous

116. “I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive.” – Geronimo

117. “The warrior is always first a servant… The warrior does not serve because they cannot lead; they know that a person cannot lead if they do not serve.” – Erwin Raphael McManus

118. “In war, there is no substitute for victory.” – General Douglas MacArthur

119. “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” – George Washington

120. “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” – Alexander The Great

121. “An action committed in anger is an action doomed to failure.” – Genghis Khan

122. “If you are a true warrior, competition doesn’t scare you. It makes you better.” – Andrew Whitworth

123. “Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.” – Miyamoto Musashi

124. “Be a warrior when it comes to delivering your ambitions. And a saint when it comes to treating people with respect, modeling generosity, and showing up with outright love.” – Robin Sharma

125. “Warrior poets are lovers of truth and lovers of people, and we’re defenders of both.” – John Lovell

126. “Messenger boy: The Thessalonian you’re fighting, he’s the biggest man I’ve ever seen.  I wouldn’t want to fight him. Achilles:  That is why no one will remember your name.” – Troy

127. “I don’t believe a champion is the biggest, baddest, meanest dude in the world. I think the champion is like a warrior; it’s like the head knight or lead samurai: humble men of integrity, respect, and honor that treat people kindly.” – Jon Jones

128. “A true warrior isn’t measured by the size of their strength, but by the strength of their heart.” – Anonymous

129. “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human who led an easy life.” – Teddy Roosevelt

130. “It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than to be a gardener in a war.” – Miyamoto Musashi

131. “The road of life is long and unforgiving, no place for a child.” – Anonymous

132. “Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste death but once.” – Julius Caesar

133. “Real men despise battle, but will never run from it.” – George Washington

Bonus Warrior Quote

Bonus: Want to know how to become mightier than the mightiest warrior? If your answer is yes, then you’ll want to heed the insight of this last warrior quote. It is by far one of our favorites, and we stand behind it 100%.

“He Who Conquers Himself Is The Mightiest Warrior.” – Confucius –

There you have it, the most powerful warrior quotes and sayings ever uttered. No doubt, life is a battle. So is work, raising a family, and chasing your dreams, all of it. So, never forget, you are a warrior.

With that being said, we hope these warrior quotes have not only helped you reanimate your fighting spirit, but also reawakened within you the spirit of victory. To get the most out of them, bookmark the page, and come back often. Use them whenever you need a little encouragement as you take on life’s battles head on. Use them to help you WIN !

PS – If you enjoyed these warrior quotes, then you’ll probably love these Spartan Quotes , and you may even enjoy this write up about the warrior mindset and success .

STOP WAITING, START DOING:  100+ QUOTES ABOUT TAKING ACTION

I had a mentor in my younger years who would always tell people about this special poem his father had him memorize while he was growing up.

The father posted this special poem on their fridge so that he and his brother could see the words from this poem every single day before going to school.  You could say it was the father’s way of ensuring his kids realized the importance of taking action and striving to realize their life’s potential.

A Story of Action

This is what the poem read:

“Spring has past, summer has gone and winter is here…. And the song that I was meant to sing…. remains unsung, for I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument.”

That poem was powerful because it was written by a man whose heart was filled with regret over living a life half lived.  It’s was written by a man who was always getting ready to sing the great song of his life, he was always getting ready to start achieving, he was always getting ready to start fulfilling all the possibilities of what his life was meant be…but he got busy being busy.  He didn’t take action, and so his life became a story of inaction.

Unfortunately, far too many people can relate to this poem. Far too many people have already become stuck in a similar cycle of never getting started on “that thing”, be it a dream, a desire, or that goal that really stirs their heart.

The result?

Potential unrealized.  Happiness unrealized.  A great and fulfilling life… unrealized.

If you’re reading this, and you feel like you’ve been waiting on the sidelines of life for far too long, perhaps today is the day you stop stringing and unstringing your instrument .  Perhaps today is the day you stop waiting and start doing .  The day that you decide your story will be a story of action.

Here’s Your Nudge

So is it?  Is today the day you start taking action on all the things you want for you and your life? If you’re not sure, let me nudge you in the right direction. Here are some of the best stop waiting quotes and quotes about taking action. If you’re ready to get off your couch and into action let’s dive right in:

TAKE ACTION QUOTES TO INSPIRE YOU TO STOP WAITING AND START DOING MORE TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY

1. “Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”  –  Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. “Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.” – J. Paul Getty

3. “Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”  –  Thomas Jefferson

4.  “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”  –  Dale Carnegie

5. “If you want to become a multi-millionaire in three years, no matter how much you pray and think positively, it will not happen if you do not take action.” – Robin Sharma

6.    “God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.” – St. Augustine

7.    “We uncover our nature through action.” – Steven Pressfield

8.  People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.”  –  Lewis Cass

9. “Your doubts create mountains. Your actions move them.”  –  Mel Robbins

10.   “Start small and dream big.” – Robert Kiyosaki

11. “Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear.”  –  Norman Vincent Peale

12. “Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.”  –  Peter Marshall

13. “You are what you do, not what you say you do.”  –  Carl Jung

14. “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” –  Confucius

15.  “If you never want to be criticized, for goodness’ sake don’t do anything new.”  –   Jeff Bezos

16. “There is only one proof of ability—action.”   –  Marie Ebner-Eschenbach

17.  “Clarity comes from action, not thought.” – Marie Forleo

18.   “Doing nothing gets you nothing.”  – Sean Reichle

19.   “Work never killed anyone. It’s worry that does the damage. And the worry would disappear if we’d just settle down and do the work.”  –  Earl Nightingale

20  “Action is the foundational key to all success.”  –  Pablo Picasso

22. “Nothing will work unless you do.”  –  Maya Angelou

21. “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”  –  Tony Robbins

23.   “The longer you’re not taking action the more money you’re losing” – Carrie Wilkerson

24.  “If you wait until you are ready, as the saying goes, you will wait forever.”  –  Gene Simmons

25. “For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded.”  –  Jack Canfield

26. “Don’t rest and don’t stop – ever. Most valuable chips you have are your mind-set, actions, persistence, and creativity.” – Grant Cardone

27. “I’m not a person who defends myself very often. I kind of let my actions speak for me.”  –  Tom Brady

28. “Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.” –  Theodore Roosevelt

29. “ Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.” – T. Harv Eker

30. “Take action in order to move toward your goals.” – Les Brown

31. “Take action! An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention.” – Steve Maraboli

32. “You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.” – Irish Proverb

33 . “Men of action are favored by the goddess of good luck.” – George S. Clason

34 . “Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid only of standing still.”  –  Chinese proverb

35. “One day or day one. It’s your decision.” – Take Action Quote

36. “Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.” – W. Clement Stone

37. “The greatest wisdom not applied to action and behavior is meaningless data.” – Peter Drucker

38. “Believe. Take action. Have confidence. Be Disciplined .” – Take Action Quotes

39 . “Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” – E. H. Chapin

40. “I knew that if I failed, I wouldn’t regret that, but the one thing I might regret was not trying” – Jeff Bezos

41. “Knowing is not enough: we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

42. “The best way to create a future is to set a goal and take action.” – Debasish Mridha

43. “Don’t wait until you are ready to take action. Instead, take action to be ready.” – Jensen Siaw

44. “You take action based on where you want to be, not based on where you are.” – Terry Crews

45. “It is easy to sit up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up and taking action.” – Honore de Balzac

46. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

47. “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

48. “To wish for change will change nothing. To make the decision to take action right now will change everything.” – Nick Vujicic

49. “Our emotions are the motivating kicks in the rear that alert our bodies that it’s time to take action and make a thought a physical reality.” – Jen Sincero

50. “An acre of performance is worth a whole world of promise.” – James Howell

Halfway There

Alright, you are more than halfway through our take action quotes. Be sure to keep reading till the end to fully prime yourself for massive action. Let’s go!

Related: Hustle Quotes to Inspire Action

51. “Action will destroy your procrastination.” – Og Mandino

52. “Insight without action is worthless. Taking action is the only path to change.” – Marie Forleo

53. “The momentum of continuous action fuels motivation, while procrastination kills motivation.” – Steve Pavlina

54. “I never worry about action, but only inaction.” – Winston Churchill

55. “Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” – Benjamin Disraeli

56. “Words can inspire but only action creates change.” – Simon Sinek

57. “The undertaking of a new action brings new strength.” – Richard L. Evans

58. “Disciplined, consistent, and persistent actions are more of a determining factor in the creation of success than any other combination of things.” –  Grant Cardone

59. “The key to success is action, and the essential in action is perseverance.” – Sun Yat-Sen

60. “Stop waiting, start doing.” – The STRIVE

61. “Actions speak louder than words man.” – Kevin Hart

62. “If you actually get up everyday and you got that action, and you got that energy that’s like ‘I have to go and do this because I’m trying to get here.’ You know everyday you’re working towards that, well you’re going to get there. It may take you longer, some may do it shorter. But,  you’re not going to lose .” – Kevin Hart

63. “If you have ambition, your actions have to match that, and too many people are just like not putting in the work.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

64. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton

65. “Ambition is the first step to success. The second step is action.” – Mel Robbins

66. “Let your actions do your talking for you.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

67 . “Take big, audacious action in the direction of your dreams and do not let the fact that you’re wetting your pants stop you.” – Jen Sincero

68. “The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Ghandi

69. “What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations … is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of being able to change things by one’s own efforts.” – Hannah Arendt

70. “Well done is better than well said.”  –  Benjamin Franklin

71. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. You only have to be right once and then everyone can tell you that you are an overnight success.” – Mark Cuban

72. “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.” – Alexander Graham Bell

73. “Knowledge without action cost money .” – David Bach

74. “Stop thinking, stop pondering, stop strategizing, stop debating. go do.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

75. “Action is the antidote to despair.” – Joan Baez

76. “Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan

77. “Take action: If you win , you will be happy, if you lose, you will be wise.” – The STRIVE

78. “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” – Confucius

79. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

80. “Action is the bridge between your dreams and its fulfillment.” – Nathan Lee Morales

81. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

82. “We all have the same 24 hours a day. You ever stop to think about that? But how we use that 24 hours makes the difference between success and failure.” – Mary Kay Ash

83. “Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you did not do than the ones you did.” – Mark Twain

84. “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.” – Seneca

85. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

86. “Do it now. Sometimes ‘later’ becomes ‘never.'” – Anonymous

87. “If we seek for the best times to act, we may miss some opportunities. We must seize the moment and make it great.” – Orly Wahba

88. “Do something now. If not you, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?” – Theodore Roosevelt

89. “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” – Alexander The Great

90. “The path to success is to take massive determined action.”  –  Tony Robbins

91. “Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.” – Anonymous

92. “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford

93. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

94. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

95. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” – Amelia Earhart

96. “The Universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions.” – Dr. Steve Maraboli

97 . “The perils of overwork are slight compared to the dangers of inactivity.” – Thomas Edison

98. “If one advances confidently in the direction of one’s dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau

99. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

100. “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” – Wayne Dyer

101. “Either you make a mark on the world, or the world will make a mark on you.” – Paulo Coelho

102. “Dream big, start small, but most of all, start.”  –  Simon Sinek

Related: Seize Your Moment Quotes

Bonus Take Action Quote

Bonus Quote: This is our last and final quote on taking action. If there is any quote you remember from this page, it should be this one. Read it, embrace it, live it!

“Whatever You Can Do, Or Dream You Can, Begin It. Boldness Has Genius, Power, And Magic In It.” – johann wolfgang von goethe –

Stop Waiting, Start Doing

Today is the day my friend.  No more excuses , no more wasting time, no more putting off your dreams till tomorrow.

Leverage these take action quotes to stop waiting and start doing.  You got this!  Now go take some action today!

PS – If you enjoyed these take action quotes, then you’ll love these encouraging quotes to help you follow through on your dreams .

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16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches & What You’ll Gain from Them

It’s all very well reading about ways to get ahead in life, but no account will ever reach you in quite the same way as hearing someone speak about their own experiences. While these people may be household names now, it wasn’t always that way, and this collection of some of the best motivational speeches will move you and inspire you to make your own dreams come true.

From Arnold Schwarzenneger talking about how he filled every moment of every day with steps to fulfil his ambition of becoming Mr. Universe, to J.K. Rowling’s life as an impoverished single mother, these speeches will fill you with the drive and determination to reach your full potential, and not let anything stand in your way.

Some are long, and some last just a few minutes, but each one will make you want to grab life with both hands and go for what you want, whatever it is.

“Most people have done all that they’re ever going to do – they raise a family, they earn a living, and then they die.”

That’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Wrong! Life is made for greater things, and you are meant for greater things.

When Les Brown was a child, he was labeled ‘educable mentally retarded’, and until a chance encounter with another teacher, he believed that he would amount to nothing. But this one teacher planted the seeds in Les’ head which would blossom and grow, and eventually make him one of the best motivational speakers of all time.

This speech will give you permission to rise above other people’s opinions, to break free of their prejudices, and make a success of whatever you do. Watch ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible’ and take those first steps towards following your passion and making your dream come true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f0nIhDpXuU

“Stress doesn’t come from the facts, stress comes from the meaning that we give the facts.”

Life is about choices. Every day we’re faced with hundreds of choices, and this speech by Tony Robbins will help you see that it’s the choices, not the conditions, which shape our lives.

Take a moment during this speech to pause and reflect on some choices you have made in the past, and really think about the direction your life took because of them, both good and bad. Tony Robbins explains in his inimitable way that we have the choice to focus on what we want, and that when we focus, we can achieve whatever we want.

Part of Tony’s speech explains how, when the economy is down, some people thrive and some people crash and burn, and the COVID 19 pandemic is the perfect example. Small businesses took a huge hit, and while some of them threw up their hands in despair and said ‘that’s it, it’s over for us’, others adapted, and saw it as an opportunity to expand, diversify, and turn the situation to their advantage.

And that’s the cornerstone of this video – how we react, how we adapt, and how we choose is the difference between success and failure.

“So every rep that I do gets me closer to accomplishing the goal to make this goal – this vision – into reality.”

Be inspired by Arnold Schwarzenneger as he talks about his goal of becoming Mr. Universe. Never wasting a second of his day, Arnie worked in construction, spent 5 hours in the gym, and went to acting classes, all of which took him further along his journey to making his dream come true.

We all have a propensity to waste time, but if you have a goal, if you have a passion that smolders away, take a leaf out of Arnie’s book and make sure that everything you do propels you forward.

And don’t be afraid to fail.

“Your conviction and your convenience don’t live on the same block.”

If you are a fan of The Secret, you will be familiar with Lisa Nicholls. In this video, Lisa tells Tom Bilyeu how she was willing to leave everything and everyone behind in order to grow into the version of herself that she knew she wanted.

Lisa explains how, as a young mother, she was forced to wrap her baby in a towel for two days because she had no money for diapers, and how it was at that moment that she vowed never to be that broke or that broken again.

Change, success, drive…they’re all inconvenient and disruptive, and Lisa Nicholls demonstrates that wonderfully in this emotional and highly motivating interview in which she declares “your story is not meant to be your fortress, your story is meant to be your fuel.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toQmqLwNtho

Eric Thomas had a dream, a goal, and that goal was to be the best motivational speaker in the world. He didn’t achieve this by giving 70%, or 80%…he didn’t achieve it by staying in bed late in the mornings. He achieved it by giving 100% every minute of every day.

Listen to Eric’s words, hear the passion in his voice, and feel the lessons he is giving to you if you want to be the best at whatever you do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuHZC-ObA8

“If we don’t take control of our environment, it takes control of us.”

This short piece by Tony Robbins has been designed to show you that you are in control of your own environment. Whether you realize it or not, what goes on around you has a massive influence on the way you feel and the way you act.

By taking leadership of your own life, you can defy outside influences and set your own tone for the day ahead, regardless of whatever or whoever is exerting pressure from the outside.

Follow Tony’s example of taking 10 minutes for yourself at the start of every day – for gratitude, prayer or wishes for family and friends, and a recap of what you want to accomplish that day, and your day will continue on that same path of thankfulness, hope, and goals.

“Your mind doesn’t know the difference between something you vividly imagined and something that’s real, literally!”

If you want to emulate the way successful people behave, take these 10 billionaires’ habits and adopt them yourself for 21 days.

Billed by Jim Kwik as being ‘like a magic pill’, these habits will rewire your brain into thinking and behaving like some of the world’s most successful people.

In this 8 minute clip, Jim shares how, for instance, your brain reacts the same way when you imagine your dog walking in as it does when your dog actually walks in, and this can apply to anything. What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

As much as this applies to positive things, it also can be applied to negative things, so if you imagine failure, that’s what you will get. Fill your mind with thoughts of success and that’s what will happen.

None of these habits are difficult to accomplish, but in doing so you will change your entire mindset into one of a hugely successful person, no matter what you want to achieve in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzGPwY40Cw

“Don’t leave crumbs.”

If this sounds more like a housekeeping hint and less like a motivational affirmation, you’re 50% right. Our lives do need housekeeping, and not leaving crumbs – i.e. regrets – which will come back and rob your tomorrow of joy, is one of the chores you need to do on a daily basis.

Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful speech in a gentle way at the University of Houston Commencement Address.

Discussing the five rules he lives by, he will show you how to avoid falling into a trap of entitlement, and why ‘Unbelievable’ is the stupidest word in the dictionary.

With some invaluable life lessons contained inside a highly watchable speech, Matthew McConaughey is an unlikely but very inspiring speaker who has stayed humble despite all his successes.

“There are a lot of sharks in the world; if you hope to complete the swim, you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.”

Spoken with eloquence and quiet assuredness, this six-minute speech draws on US Navy Admiral William McRaven’s experience of survival in the Navy Seals.

He explains how making your bed, while seemingly insignificant and even pointless, will set a series of tasks in motion which will ensure that at best, the first job of the day is done, and at worst, you have a neat, tidy bed to fall into at the end of a trying day.

The world is full of people who want to bring you down (the sharks) but if you stand your ground, they will eventually swim away, leaving you to go on to bigger and better things.

“Sometimes life’s gonna hit you in the face with a brick…don’t lose faith.”

Steve Jobs, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Apple Inc. was hit in the face with more than one brick during his 56 years on earth. From being given up for adoption as a baby, to being fired from the very company which he founded, he never let anything get in his way.

In this commencement speech at Stamford University in 2005, Steve explained how his love for what he did spurred him on to rebuild his life in spectacular fashion.

Life dealt a further blow when, in 2003, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This speech focuses on three stories which, when combined, show how life offers opportunities for change and growth, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Steve Jobs never graduated college, but when he died in 2011, aged just 56, he had a net worth of US$7 billion. He achieved this by doing what he loved, and in this speech he will inspire you to do the same.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously than you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.”

Let J. K. Rowling inspire you with this 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University. Extolling the virtues of failure and imagination, she tells the graduates how being at rock bottom set her free to pursue her dreams of being an author.

As poor as it is possible to be without being homeless, she created the world of Harry Potter and went on to amass a fortune of £795 million, but that without her failures in life, she would never have had the opportunity to do so.

Let her words become your own mantra, and view every failure in your life as a future success.

“We shine, because baby you just can’t dim the sun.”

A beautiful antidote for anyone who has ever felt or been told that they are ‘too much’, Gina Hatzis’ winning Speaker Slam speech of 2018 will give you permission to be unashamedly you.

Although written by a woman for women, this powerful and sometimes humorous speech about being your own authentic self will inspire anyone – man or woman – to shine and never dim their own light to suit other people.

“The first step you need to take is just that…step.”

If you are in need of a short, sharp burst of motivation, listen to this speech by ex Navy Seal, Jocko Willink.

Running for less than three minutes, this recording will inspire you to take a step into whatever you want to achieve. Awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for service, Jocko Willink is no stranger to taking those brave steps, having come face to face with Iraqu insurgents in Ramadi. He will spur you on to put one metaphorical foot in front of the other, and will leave you in no doubt as to what you need to do to achieve your goals.

“On the other side of your maximum fear are all of the best things in life.”

If you like your motivation with a side order of laughter, watch Will Smith as he talks about fear. Agreeing to skydive on a night out with friends, Will realizes that he actually has to go through with it.

Discussing how fear ruins things (he couldn’t sleep or eat before the jump), Will also discloses that beyond fear was the most blissful experience of his life, and how that principle can be applied to anything in life.

“Only those that can see the invisible, can do the impossible.”

Tyrese Gibson knows success, and in this speech he talks about how it can be achieved, by anyone who wants it.

Actor, singer, author, model…Tyrese seems to have the Midas touch, but he didn’t get it by luck. Follow his words as he gently but passionately guides you along the path you need to take if you have goals and dreams in life.

“I refuse to be another man who lived and died, and wasn’t significant’”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzl3CQXMRVo

“If it is written, so shall it be.”

When Steve Harvey’s teacher crushed his dreams of being on TV, the one person who believed in him was his father. He told him to put a piece of paper with his dreams on in his drawer, and to read it every morning and every night.

His dreams came true.

It didn’t always come easy for Steve Harvey though – he spent years living in his car when he had nowhere else to go, but the one thing he never lost was his ambition and determination to see his dreams through to fruition.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, Steve still has vision boards and still commits his dreams to writing, and encourages you to do the same in this speech that made Obama cry.

These motivational speeches, and many more like them, show how having guts, determination, and a vision will get you anywhere you want to go, no matter your beginnings in life. These inspirational speakers have suffered loss, sickness, and unbelievable hardships, but the one thing that got them through was their desire to win and their belief that they could.

Immerse yourself in their words of wisdom, and take that next step into your best life.

More on Motivation

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• Motivational Quotes

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Personal Development and Growth

10 "best motivational speeches of all time" that will inspire you to achieve greatness.

Inspiring millions, these 10 iconic motivational speeches will ignite your passion, fuel your ambition, and transform your life forever.

Key Takeaways

• Steve Jobs' iconic Stanford Commencement Address showcases the transformative power of inner strength and determination to pursue dreams.
• Al Pacino's passionate plea in "Any Given Sunday" urges listeners to push themselves to the limit to achieve victory and excellence.
• Nelson Mandela's fight against apartheid inspires individuals to stand up against injustices and fight for equal rights and justice.
• Les Brown's motivational speeches empower individuals to break free from self-doubt and tap into their inner potential to achieve greatness.
• J.K. Rowling's triumph over adversity serves as a testament to the importance of resilience, determination, and perseverance in overcoming obstacles to achieve success.

Unleashing Inner Strength With Steve Jobs

Al Pacino's Passionate Plea

• The significance of every minute and second in overcoming obstacles
• The importance of pushing through challenges to achieve success
• The value of small margins for error in the pursuit of victory

J.K. Rowling's Triumph Over Adversity

Overcoming Rejection and Failure

• Embracing failure as a stepping stone to success : Rowling emphasizes that failure is an essential part of the journey to success, and that it's how we respond to failure that matters.
• The importance of resilience : Rowling's personal struggles with poverty and rejection serve as a proof of the power of resilience in overcoming adversity.
• Learning from setbacks : By sharing her own experiences, Rowling encourages individuals to persist in the face of rejection and failure, and to learn valuable lessons from their setbacks.

Rising From Rock Bottom

Bill gates' call to action.

• Take action and explore opportunities for growth and development
• Embrace innovation and creativity to drive positive change
• Make a meaningful impact on society, using their skills and knowledge to improve the world

Jim Carrey's Quest for Authenticity

Finding Inner Truth

• Embracing authenticity and overcoming fear allows individuals to tap into their true potential.
• Pursuing personal growth and staying true to oneself is essential for finding inner truth.
• Choosing love over fear is a transformative power that can shape one's life journey.

Embracing Vulnerability Fully

Breaking free naturally.

• Getting to know oneself is essential in breaking free from fear and embracing one's true path.
• Embracing love over fear allows individuals to tap into their full potential and live a life true to themselves.
• By choosing to follow their dreams, individuals can break free from the constraints of societal expectations and forge their own paths to greatness.

Will Smith's Pursuit of Happiness

Sheryl Sandberg's Empowering Message

• Embrace the jungle gym : Sandberg encourages graduates to view their career as a jungle gym, where they can climb, jump, and explore different opportunities, rather than a traditional corporate ladder.
• Communicate honestly : She emphasizes the importance of honest communication in all aspects of life, whether personal or professional.
• Embrace change and learning : Sandberg inspires individuals to push boundaries, embrace career changes, and find innovative ways to approach challenges, advocating for a mindset of continuous learning and adapting to new opportunities.

Nelson Mandela's Fight Against Apartheid

Defying Racial Segregation Laws

• Refusing to accept the unjust laws that segregated South Africans based on their race
• Organizing peaceful protests and demonstrations to raise awareness about the injustices of apartheid
• Advocating for the rights of non-white citizens, who were denied basic human rights and dignity

Leading the Anti-Apartheid Fight

Eric thomas' hip-hop preacher.

• Hard work and perseverance are key : Eric Thomas emphasizes the importance of putting in the effort required to achieve success, and persevering through challenges and setbacks.
• Believe in yourself : Eric Thomas' messages often focus on the importance of self-belief and confidence in overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.
• Make sense of your struggles : Eric Thomas encourages his audience to make sense of their struggles and use them as opportunities for growth and learning.

Les Brown's It's Possible Mentality

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Tea uglow: the visionary creative who's redefining digital.

Stepping into Tea Uglow's world, discover how she's revolutionizing digital interactions with a focus on inclusivity, diversity, and human-centered design.

• Tea Uglow innovates at Google Creative Lab APAC, reshaping human experience through technology and pushing boundaries of norms and inclusivity.
• She advocates for embracing true self and unique identity, working with uncertainty, and questioning norms for innovation, well-being, and growth.
• Uglow explores the intersection of culture and technology, collaborating with cultural institutions to address digital divides and disparities in access.
• Her approach prioritizes emotional resonance, human-centered design, and innovative storytelling, resisting simplicity in connections and exploring diverse perspectives.
• Through personal storytelling and identity navigation, Uglow challenges traditional boundaries, embracing uncertainty and guiding self-discovery in the digital era.

Radical Transformation Through Technology

Challenging Societal Norms and Truth

• Embrace uncertainty and adapt to change, rather than fearing it
• Question post-Covid office norms and explore new ways of working
• Celebrate individuality and promote inclusivity in all aspects of life

Embracing Identity in the Digital Age

Mental Health and Creative Expression

• Embracing uncertainty and change can lead to personal and professional growth .
• Using technology to create and express yourself can be a powerful tool for self-discovery.
• Maneuvering societal norms and expectations can be challenging, but it's worth it to find your true self.

The Nexus of Culture and Technology

Cultural Digital Divide

• The gap between those who've access to technology and those who don't, which is often tied to socio-economic status and geographic location .
• The differences in how various cultures perceive and utilize technology, leading to unique challenges and opportunities .
• The need for cultural institutions to adapt to the changing technological landscape , embracing uncertainty and pushing boundaries to remain relevant.

Tech-Driven Art Forms

Redefining human experience online.

Digital Empathy in Action

• By prioritizing user well-being and emotional resonance, she's creating more inclusive and compassionate online spaces .
• Her projects focus on enhancing empathy, authenticity, and meaningful connections in the digital domain.
• By revolutionizing how people interact and engage with technology, she's fostering deeper emotional connections online.

Humanizing Online Interactions

Emotional Connection Matters

• Emotional resonance : Uglow's work prioritizes emotional connection, ensuring online interactions feel more authentic and meaningful.
• Human-centered design : By focusing on human connection, Uglow's approach creates digital experiences that are more relatable and engaging.
• Innovative storytelling : Uglow's Creative Labs explores new ways to tell stories online, making digital interactions more immersive and impactful.

The Power of Personal Storytelling

Navigating Complexities of Identity

• Embrace uncertainty : Recognize that uncertainty is a natural part of growth and change.
• Question societal norms : Challenge the norms that dictate how you should live your life and instead, forge your own path.
• Advocate for adaptation : Be open to change and adapt to new experiences and perspectives.

Digital Landscapes and Cultural Shifts

Evolving Relationships in the Digital Era

• Embracing uncertainty : Radical transformations require embracing the unknown, and Tea Uglow's work encourages you to resist simplicity and think deeply.
• Rethinking self-perception : Technology alters how we perceive ourselves, offering new perspectives and dimensions to our relationships.
• Questioning traditional norms : Tea Uglow's work challenges you to rethink traditional structures and norms, embracing diverse perspectives and new ways of connecting.

How Does Tea Uglow Balance Creativity With Technological Advancements?

Are digital identities a reflection of our true selves or just a facade?, can technology be used to promote mental health and self-care?, how does tea uglow's work impact the relationship between humans and machines?, can digital landscapes be inclusive and accessible to all?, jamilia gordon: a tech pioneer transforming industries.

From nomadic roots to blockchain innovation, Jamila Gordon's remarkable journey is rewriting the future of industries, but what drives her relentless pursuit of transformation?

• Jamila Gordon is a tech pioneer who has transformed industries with her innovative spirit and commitment to positive change.
• She founded Lumachain, a company that leverages blockchain and computer vision technology to provide transparency in supply chain management.
• Gordon has received numerous awards, including the 2020 NSW Tech Entrepreneur of the Year and the 2021 Women in AI Awards Innovator of the Year.
• Her work promotes sustainability, ethical sourcing, and worker safety, setting a new standard for the meat industry and inspiring underrepresented innovators.
• Through her philanthropic efforts, Gordon advocates for diversity and inclusivity in tech, supporting refugees, and driving positive change through volunteer work and advocacy.

Early Life and Education

Career Milestones and Achievements

Early Breakthroughs Achieved

• Solectron Manufacturing : Jamila led a massive deal for this global electronics manufacturing services company, showcasing her expertise in negotiating and executing large-scale agreements.
• AXA Insurance : Her work with this multinational insurance company demonstrated her ability to navigate complex industries and drive results.
• ABN AMRO Bank : Jamila's deal with this Dutch bank further solidified her reputation as a master negotiator and strategist in the tech industry.

Notable Industry Impact

Revolutionizing supply chain management.

• Transparency : By utilizing blockchain technology, Lumachain provides an immutable record of transactions, enabling real-time tracking and tracing of products throughout the supply chain.
• Worker Safety : Lumachain's platform prioritizes worker safety by monitoring and reporting on working conditions, ensuring a safer environment for those involved in the meat industry.
• Sustainability : By identifying and addressing broken links in the supply chain, Lumachain's technology helps reduce waste and promotes sustainable practices, ultimately benefiting the environment and the food industry as a whole.

Blockchain Technology Innovations

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing

• Transparent supply chains : Lumachain's software tracks and verifies the origins of products, making certain that consumers know exactly where their meat comes from.
• Fair labor practices : By preventing fraud and promoting ethical sourcing, Lumachain's technology helps ensure that workers in the meat industry are treated fairly.
• Sustainable sourcing : Lumachain's platform promotes sustainable sourcing practices, reducing the environmental impact of the meat industry.

Leadership and Industry Impact

Awards and Recognition Received

• 2020 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur : Jamila was honored as the New South Wales Tech Entrepreneur of the Year, a confirmation of her innovative spirit.
• Microsoft's Global Awardee : In 2018, she was recognized as a global awardee in the International Women's Entrepreneurship Challenge, solidifying her reputation as a pioneer.
• La Trobe University Distinguished Alumni Award : Jamila received this esteemed award in 2009, showcasing her commitment to excellence.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Early Life Experiences

• Demonstration of strength in adversity : Jamila's ability to thrive despite the challenges she faced is a reflection of her strength and determination.
• Compassion for others : Her experiences have given her a unique perspective and deep understanding of the struggles faced by others.
• Devotion to philanthropy : Jamila's early life experiences have fueled her passion for giving back to her community and supporting those in need.

Giving Back Initiatives

Legacy and future of tech.

• Diversity and Inclusion : Gordon's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity in tech will inspire a new wave of innovators from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Sustainable Impact : Her pioneering work in software development for industries like agriculture will continue to drive sustainable practices and transparency.
• Innovative Applications : Gordon's legacy will continue to inspire the development of innovative tech applications that address real-world problems and improve lives.

Who Is the CEO of Lumachain?

Female christian speakers and authors who inspire faith.

Journey with remarkable women of faith who have overcome adversity, sharing their stories to empower and inspire others.

• Dr. Bernice King, Paula McDade, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, and Star Parker are impactful Christian women leaders inspiring faith-driven work.
• Female Christian speakers and authors empower others through personal stories of overcoming adversity and finding strength in their spiritual journeys.
• Trusting in God's plan offers solace in tough times, and inspirational female Christian speakers highlight the transformative power of faith in overcoming challenges.
• Women of faith like Lysa TerKeurst, Beth Moore, Jennie Allen, and Christine Caine amplify God's message through their impactful work and inspire spiritual growth.
• Christian women speakers offer messages of hope and empowerment, providing insights, biblical wisdom, and practical guidance for spiritual growth.

Inspirational Christian Women Leaders

Empowering Faith Through Storytelling

Overcoming Adversity With Faith

Trusting in God's Plan

Finding strength within, women of faith making a difference.

Empowering Women in Ministry

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Amplifying god's message.

Christian Women in Leadership Roles

Transformative Messages of Hope

Balancing Faith and Everyday Life

Prioritizing God's Will

• *Integrate faith into daily decisions * by seeking God's guidance in prayer and scripture
• *Align your desires with God's plan* by surrendering your will to His
• *Seek practical advice * from female Christian speakers and authors who've walked the path
• *Trust in God's direction * even when the road ahead seems uncertain
• *Find peace in knowing * that God is always in control, even in the midst of chaos

Managing Daily Struggles

Finding peaceful balance.

• Prioritize faith : Make time for prayer, meditation, and reflection to nurture your spiritual growth.
• Integrate spirituality : Incorporate faith-based practices into your daily routine, such as reading devotionals or listening to inspiring podcasts.
• Set boundaries : Learn to say 'no' to commitments that drain your energy and say 'yes' to those that nourish your soul.
• Practice self-care : Take care of your physical and emotional needs to maintain a healthy and peaceful balance.
• Seek community : Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your values and support your spiritual journey.

Finding Strength in Spiritual Growth

Women's Ministry and Faith Development

• Through inspirational teachings and guidance from female Christian speakers and authors, you can deepen your understanding of God's Word and find strength in your faith.
• Women's ministry events, such as conferences and retreats, provide opportunities to connect with like-minded women and build lasting relationships .
• Women's ministry leaders offer valuable insights and encouragement, helping you navigate life's challenges and find purpose in your faith.
• By fostering a sense of sisterhood and community , women's ministry helps you feel seen, heard, and supported in your spiritual growth.
• Through service and outreach opportunities , women's ministry empowers you to make a positive impact in your community, living out your faith in meaningful ways.

Faith-Driven Inspiration for All

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10 Famous Motivational Speeches You Need to Hear

• Carolyn Manion Kinnie
• April 1, 2024

Table of Contents

At The Speaker Lab, we’re dedicated to helping you launch and scale your speaking business. Since we’re dedicated to helping speaking professionals succeed, it stands to reason that we have a few favorite examples of our own! Today, we want to share some of the motivational speeches that our team thinks are most worth the listen. While you can find hundreds of inspirational talks on the internet, we think there’s something really special about these ten talks. Whether you want to be a speaker yourself or just need a mood boost, each of these examples is sure to leave you ample fuel for motivation and reflection! 

Topics of the speeches we cover today range from psychology and relationships, to goal-setting and growth, to effective leadership, to personal stories that carry weighty lessons. For each speech, we’ll include some insights into what really sets these talks apart. We also highly recommend setting some time aside to give each on its own and form your own opinions! Let’s dive into some of these amazing motivational speeches so you can see (or hear!) for yourself why we love them so much. 

1. Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

We’re going to start with almost a too-obvious choice. You will see Brené Brown’s name pop up on just about any  list of important motivational speeches. And with good reason! This 2011 TED talk isn’t just one of the most-watched TED talks of all time. It’s an incredible investigation into the roles that connection, shame and vulnerability play in human relationships. It’s also an eye-opening exploration into why we all tend to shrink from vulnerability and what could happen if we flipped the script. And from a purely public speaking standpoint, it’s a great display of Brown’s wit and charisma. If you struggle with vulnerability in your own life or are trying to understand why a loved one keeps shutting you out, Brown’s short but impactful talk might have some answers for you. 

We covered this motivational speech in our recent article about pathos because Brown is a master of emotional connection. She backs up her argument with ample academic research, but connects her message to real, relatable experiences throughout. As she narrates her own experiences in a therapist’s office, she invites the audience to walk through those experiences with her. Making psychological research accessible to the masses is no easy feat, but Brown manages to do it with storytelling and humor. Her greatest lesson, perhaps, comes in how vulnerability can teach how to treat ourselves kindly.

“Our job is to look and say, “You know what? You’re imperfect, and you’re wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”

2. Simon Sinek: “How great leaders inspire action”

Simon Sinek is a world-renowned author and speaker with an incredible knack for delivering profound and easily intelligible advice on leadership, business, and success. He has written several books and delivered many motivational speeches. His TED talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” which grew out of his first book, is perhaps the most well-known. Similarly to Brown’s speech, we think no list of the best motivational speeches would be complete without it. In short, it’s an analysis of how people like Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King Jr., and the Wright Brothers managed to accomplish amazing, unheard of things. Sinek theorizes that there is a unique way that great leaders communicate, and that’s how they get things done. 

If you’re a leader but don’t understand why your marketing and sales fall flat, or if you long to start a company but don’t know how to tap into what makes people excited about a business, Sinek has wisdom to share for you. His speech is for you if you’ll ever be in a leadership position or struggle to pinpoint your professional mission. And if you’re curious about why people trust certain political leaders and not others, you’ll want to listen to this speech. Sinek is a master of words and he distills a lot of fascinating information into simple stories and lessons about innovation and leadership. Give this one a listen to get fired up about what you believe and how you can make an impact with those beliefs. 

“ People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe.

3. Steve Jobs: Stanford Commencement speech  

Commencement addresses can be hit or miss. Sometimes they fill graduating seniors with energy and inspiration for the life ahead, other times they get a few laughs and more than a few yawns. Even celebrities and business leaders aren’t always up to the task of sending young adults off into the world. But in 2005 at Stanford University, Steve Jobs not only rose to the task, but outstripped expectations by delivering an iconic motivational speech that today is the most-watched commencement speech on YouTube. 

If you’ve been around The Speaker Lab for a while, you know we’re big fans of storytelling . Steve Jobs illustrates our favorite speaking strategy by structuring his remarks as three stories. The first: his experience as a college dropout and how it paved the path to his future. The second: his expulsion from Apple that allowed him to found Pixar and meet his wife, among other endeavors. And finally: his first brush with cancer and the second chance at life he was provided. While the last story rings differently in light of Jobs’s death in 2011, the wisdom he draws from the twists and turns of his life is applicable to far more than college seniors. 

The lessons of Jobs’s commencement address are myriad, and it’s a speech you’ll keep coming back to at different points in your life. Fortunately he summed them up himself:

“ Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” 

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4. Randy Pausch: “The Last Lecture: Really Achieving your Childhood Dreams”

Randy Pausch was a pioneer in software and virtual reality development and a longtime professor at Carnegie Mellon University. In his 40s, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just a few months to live. He delivered a final lecture as part of a series where academics were asked to give a talk on a topic that was deeply important to them–and he spoke about his childhood dreams.

Pausch showed his cancer scans at the start of his presentation, letting his audience sit with the reality of his terminal diagnosis. But his regular jokes (including onstage pushups) lightened the mood and allowed his audience to embark on a journey following his personal and professional ambitions. His lecture became a viral motivational speech and even landed him an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show a few weeks later.

Everybody has childhood dreams. Some people don’t accomplish them, but few forget them. Pausch’s lecture testifies to how having those big dreams can bear great fruit in your personal and professional life. He also provides great examples from his own journey of how going the extra mile–even if it seems crazy–can help you achieve those dreams. This is a long speech, but we encourage you to listen (or read ) in full because it’s so full of inspiration. But in the meantime, here are a few of our favorite lines: 

“Never lose the childlike wonder. It’s just too important. It’s what drives us.” 

“Remember, brick walls let us show our dedication. They are there to separate us from the people who don’t really want to achieve their childhood dreams. Don’t bail. The best of the gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.”

5. Kelly McGonigal: “ How to make stress your friend “

Stress is something we all deal with, sometimes to an overwhelming degree. Many people try every possible hack to eliminate stress for their lives or live in fear of it. But what if we treated stress as something helpful–or even as a friend? What if we trusted ourselves to cope appropriately with stress rather than letting it ruin our lives? That’s what health psychologist Kelly McGonigal explores in this viral TED talk. 

Challenging the common parlance of stress as the bogeyman is no small task. McGonigal backs up her research with several studies to show that while stress can have deleterious effects on health, it doesn’t have to. She also undertakes some of our favorite tactics here at The Speaker Lab by interacting with her audience to further engage them. While a pop quiz from the stage probably wasn’t on their bingo cards, her in person audience members got a real-time taste of the “social stress test.” (To fully appreciate McGonigal’s point, we recommend pretending you’re in the auditorium with her and attempting to perform what she commands.) Then, she walks her audience through the stress reaction they just experienced and explains how, equipped with new strategies for leveraging stress, they could use that same reaction to approach the situation constructively.  

McGonigal’s research, which has also been published in book form, is not without controversy in the psychology space. But in an ever increasingly stressed out society, her talk could be the motivational speech you need to tackle your stressors head-on. The best part? Turning to the communities around you during stressful events can help you rather than drain you! As McGonigal says:

“People who spent time caring for others showed absolutely no stress-related increase in dying. Zero. Caring created resilience.”

6. Carol Dweck: “The power of believing that you can improve ” 

You’ve probably heard the term “growth mindset” thrown around in the professional and educational space. But do you know who coined it? Carol Dweck is a Stanford psychologist who researches the impact of mindset on how we approach failure and success. She has studied how believing in one’s ability to learn and improve can radically affect our reaction to challenges. Her research claims that by focusing on effort and strategy, we can help students expand their minds and overcome barriers by having a “growth mindset” rather than a “fixed mindset.” 

While her research focuses on students, her TED talk discusses principles with universal application, such as the profound impact of believing we can change for the better. She also explores ideas for constructive communication with the next generation to set them up for success. Do you feel limited by externally applied standards? Have you been put in a box your whole life that you struggle to break out of? Do you throw in the towel easily because you feel that you just can’t win? Dweck’s motivational speech might give you more confidence in your abilities. Our favorite line?

“…praising the process that kids engage in, their effort, their strategies, their focus, their perseverance, their improvement. This process praise creates kids who are hardy and resilient.”

7. Malala Yousafzai: “16th birthday speech at the United Nations”  

Malala Yousafzai is the world’s youngest Nobel laureate and one of the best known human rights advocates of her generation. Her speech before the U.N. in 2014 is a passionate appeal for setting worldwide injustices right. From her harrowing story of being shot in the head, to her advancement of nonviolence, this motivational speech is a moving reminder of how much work each and every one of us can do to lift the burden of the oppressed. 

Though her audience at the time of the speech was a group of world leaders, we can all learn a lot from Malala that applies to our own lives. In addition to her stirring personal story, she lays out a variety of action items that we can all undertake in our communities to lay a foundation for justice. Furthermore, she emphasizes how education and tolerance rather than violence and politics can help win the fight against terrorism. If you ever feel at a loss for what you can do to change the word, Malala is the motivator you need. This speech is also a great model for using your personal story and character or ethos to persuade your audience, which we cover here .

“Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced.”

“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.”

8. Joel Osteen: “The power of I am”

Oprah described this sermon by pastor Joel Osteen as life-changing, and you might find it so too! Osteen is a clergyman, but many of his sermons are functionally motivational speeches that can inspire your life regardless of whether you’re religious or not. “The Power of I Am” is about how excessive negativity can control our lives. Osteen argues that when we say “I am ______,” we’re inviting whatever that is into our lives. If we repeatedly say “I am” statements followed by something negative or something we hate about ourselves, we are just digging ourselves deeper into that hole. 

Osteen’s words are badly needed in a world where the internet encourages negative comparison and loneliness is epidemic. He uses examples from Scripture and from his own life to show how talking yourself down becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. This is something we all experience at some point! You mess up, say “I’m an idiot,” and for the rest of the day your idiocy, clumsiness, or incompetence suddenly seems like the most noticeable thing about you. Or maybe an authority figure once identified you with your failures and you internalized it for years and years. Osteen’s sermon is an amazing call to do better. We can carry ourselves with confidence, not pride, and disconnect our flaws from our sense of self. 

“My encouragement is never say negative things about yourself. Most of us would never go up to another person, at least to their face and criticize them yet we have no problems criticizing ourselves. “I am so slow. I am so unattractive. I am so undisciplined”. That is cursing your future. Do yourself a favor and zip that up. We have enough in life against us already. Don’t be against yourself.”

9. Nicole Walters: “Why Excuses Are the #1 Thing Keeping You From Your Goals”  

Nicole Walters is an incredible entrepreneur and businesswoman who quit her successful corporate career to start her own company when she realized her blog was generating her significant passive income. This keynote from a conference for online creators outlines how she managed to do it all…with blood, sweat, tears, and no excuses! 

While Nicole dishes out amazing strategies for building your business and avoiding excuses, this is also an incredible example of how to give a great motivational speech. Our founder Grant Baldwin even did an analysis of her professional speaking performance here . Nicole uses humor, storytelling, and credible examples from her career to show how to avoid excuses and maintain sustainable innovation as you build your personal brand. If you want to start a business or expand your content creation but struggle with ambition and motivation, Nicole is your girl.

Get ready for some hard truths and a lot of humility, because it’s not easy! You can hear even more of her tips on our podcast here . She also came on our podcast for a conversation about race in the speaking industry , sharing her experience as a black woman who speaks professionally. This is a must listen if you’re interested in DEI and how the speaking industry can improve its diversity and inclusivity. 

Nicole is an abundant source of amazing one-liners and truth bombs. Here are two of our favorites to finish off: 

“Excuses are tools of incompetence. Those who specialize in them, are seldom good at anything else.”

“You’re not Kim Kardashian.” 

“Automate systems, not relationships.” 

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10. William Faulkner: Banquet Speech  

For our final must-listen motivational speech, we’re heading back in time. William Faulkner delivered this speech when he received the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. The threat of nuclear war hung heavy at the time Faulkner received the award. Faulkner himself eschewed the acclaim and reward that his talent deserved. His speech is a testament to the immortality of art and literature. His words elegantly express how art and literature can help humanity survive beyond dark times. 

Especially in an age of AI, media cycles, and overwhelming access to information, a reminder of the power and importance of art is badly needed. Faulkner’s speech is short, but it’s extremely moving. Every sentence drips with the weight of writers and artists who went before him, carrying humanity through crises and catastrophes and helping rebuild and process their wake. Faulkner himself says it best: 

“I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet’s, the writer’s, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.”

Mastering how to deliver a great motivational speech is no easy task. We think these paragons of motivational speaking deserve special attention for their mastery and inspiration! And having a solid list of inspirational content to fall back on when you’re feeling down, bewildered, or uninspired is always a good idea.  If you want to become a motivational speaker yourself , taking inspiration from these great talks will help you find your own voice in the speaking industry. ( We can help too! ) 

• Last Updated: April 4, 2024

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10 uplifting speeches from history that will inspire you in times of crisis

• Throughout history, leaders have made speeches that inspired millions and changed the course of history. Those speeches still inspire us today. 
• Famous speeches like Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address still resonate today. 
• Lesser-known speeches like Hillary Clinton's "Human Rights Are Women's Rights" and Nora Ephron's commencement address are considered inspirational. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

While history is no stranger to crises, there are always leaders who come forward to help usher in more hopeful times by crafting and delivering impactful speeches. 

Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Maya Angelou have all delivered speeches that inspired millions — and some even changed the course of history. 

Take a look back at some of the most famous speeches from history that still move us today. 

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in 1863 reminds people to honor those we have lost.

President Abraham Lincoln gave a relatively short speech at the deadliest battle site during the Civil War on November 19, 1863. Although it wasn't meant to be monumental, some call it the best speech in history. In it, Lincoln tells his people that they must remember each and every person who fought and died on the battlefield, especially because every human is created equal. 

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here," Lincoln says in the address. "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

In 1938, Lou Gehrig gave his "Luckiest Man" that celebrated the beauty of life.

On July 4, 1938, Lou Gehrig delivered a speech at Yankee Stadium after it was revealed that the baseball player had ALS. Although he was delivering devastating news to his fans in the speech, he instead focused on everything life has to offer. 

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said in the speech. "I have been in ballparks for 17  years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans … So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."

Winston Churchill delivered the "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech in 1940, showing the strength of the human spirit.

On June 4, 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed Parliament during a particularly difficult time in World War II. Smithsonian Magazine called it "one of the most rousing and iconic addresses" of the era. In the speech, the prime minister told his people that they would fight together and use all their strength to defeat their enemies. 

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, 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," Churchill says in the famous speech . 

In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave his "Quit India" speech, which encouraged peaceful protests.

The day before the Quit India movement started, Mahatma Gandhi delivered an inspiring speech, on August 8, 1942 . In the speech, he told his people to resist the British government but to do so in a peaceful, organized manner. He focused on the benefits of a nonviolent uprising, which became the cornerstone of his beliefs. 

The most famous line from the speech is: "I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours."

John F. Kennedy delivered "The Decision to Go to The Moon" speech in 1961, proving humans know no bounds.

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced to Congress and the world that the US was committed to sending an American to the moon. In the inspiring speech , the president explains the ambitious goal as one of necessity. 

"Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, 'Because it is there,'" Kennedy said in his speech. "Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked."

Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream Speech" in 1963 reminds people there is always something better on the horizon.

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., delivered what is arguably the most famous and most inspiring speech in American history. Before the historic March on Washington, King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and addressed the 250,000 attendees, calling for the end of discrimination and racism by dreaming about a brighter future. 

"I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice," he said in the speech. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today."

In 1993, Maya Angelou read her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration in an attempt to bring the global community together.

On the morning of President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, poet Maya Angelou delivered a moving speech when she read out her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning." It was the first time a poem had been recited at the ceremony since 1961 . In it, Angelou touched upon topics of equality and inclusion, and she attempted to inspire the world to unite under these principles.

Part of the poem reads:

"The river sings and sings on. There is a true yearning to respond to The singing river and the wise rock. So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew, The African and Native American, the Sioux, The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek, The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the teacher. They hear. They all hear The speaking of the tree."

Hillary Clinton delivered the "Human Rights Are Women's Rights" speech in 1995, saying those who are suppressed also have a voice.

As the first lady, Hillary Clinton attended the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. She was pressured to water down her message, but instead, she delivered a moving speech that still resonates today. In it, she said women who are held back by sexist governments should be set free and heard. 

"If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights once and for all," Clinton said in the speech. "Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely — and the right to be heard."

Nora Ephron encouraged people to break the rules in her commencement address to Wellesley College in 1996.

While Nora Ephron is known for penning some of the most famous films in the '80s and '90s, she also made a legendary speech at the 1996 Wellesley College graduation ceremony . In it, she inspired women to break free of the mold placed on them. 

"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there," Ephron said in the speech. "And I also hope you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women."

She also said, "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

In 1977, Harvey Milk gave his "Give Them Hope" speech, urging people to celebrate their differences and to hold on to messages of hope.

When he was running for local office in California, Harvey Milk delivered his "Give Them Hope" remarks as a stump speech . It was meant to rally supporters behind him, but it quickly became a speech of hope and celebration for the LGBT community. 

"And the young gay people in Altoona, Pennsylvanias, and the Richmond, Minnesotas, who are coming out and hear Anita Bryant on television and her story. The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope," Milk said in his speech . "Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only are the gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the 'us-es.' The 'us-es' will give up."

• 8 inspirational speeches from Martin Luther King Jr. that aren't 'I Have a Dream'
• The most impactful event in every state that shaped US history
• 4 famous lines from legendary speeches that were made up on the spot
• 9 influential speeches that changed the world

• Main content

Great Talks Most People Have Never Heard

Not long ago, I came across a little-known speech titled, “You and Your Research”.

The speech had been delivered in 1986 by Richard Hamming, an accomplished mathematician and computer engineer, as part of an internal series of talks given at Bell Labs. I had never heard of Hamming, the internal lecture series at Bell Labs, or this particular speech. And yet, as I read the transcript, I came across one useful insight after another.

After reading that talk, I got to thinking… what other great talks and speeches are out there that I’ve never heard?

I’ve been slowly searching for answers to that question and the result is this list of my favorite interesting and insightful talks that are not widely known. You may see a few famous speeches on this list, but my guess is that most people are not aware of many of them—just as I wasn’t when I first started looking around.

As far as I know this is the only place where you can read transcripts of these speeches in one place.

Famous Speeches and Great Talks

This list is organized by presenter name and then speech topic. Click the links below to jump to a specific speech. On each page, you’ll find a full transcript of the speech as well as some additional background information.

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story”
• Jeff Bezos, “Statement by Jeff Bezos to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary”
• Jeff Bezos, “What Matters More Than Your Talents”
• John C. Bogle, “Enough”
• Brené Brown, “ The Anatomy of Trust “
• John Cleese, “Creativity in Management”
• William Deresiewicz, “Solitude and Leadership”
• Richard Feynman, “Seeking New Laws”
• Neil Gaiman, “Make Good Art”
• John W. Gardner, “Personal Renewal”
• Elizabeth Gilbert, “Your Elusive Creative Genius”
• Albert E. N. Gray,  “The Common Denominator of Success”
• Bill Gurley, “Runnin Down a Dream”
• Richard Hamming, “Learning to Learn”
• Richard Hamming, “You and Your Research”
• Steve Jobs, “2005 Stanford Commencement Address”
• Peter Kaufman,  “The Multidisciplinary Approach to Thinking”
• C.S. Lewis, “The Inner Ring”
• Admiral William H. McRaven, “Make Your Bed”
• Arno Rafael Minkkinen, “Finding Your Own Vision”
• Charlie Munger, “2007 USC Law School Commencement Address”
• Charlie Munger, “A Lesson on Elementary, Worldly Wisdom”
• Charlie Munger, “How to Guarantee a Life of Misery”
• Charlie Munger, “The Psychology of Human Misjudgment”
• Nathan Myhrvold, “ Roadkill on the Information Highway “
• Randy Pausch, “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”
• Randy Pausch, “Time Management”
• Anna Quindlen,  “1999 Mount Holyoke Commencement Speech”
• John Roberts, “I Wish You Bad Luck”
• Sir Ken Robinson, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”
• J.K. Rowling, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure”
• George Saunders, “Failures of Kindness”
• Claude Shannon, “Creative Thinking”
• BF Skinner, “How to Discover What You Have to Say”
• Jim Valvano, “Don’t Give Up”
• Bret Victor, “Inventing on Principle”
• David Foster Wallace, “This is Water”
• Art Williams, “Just Do It”
• Evan Williams,  “A Journey on the Information Highway”

This is an on-going project. If you know of another great talk, please contact me .

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The 15 greatest speeches of all time, by 15 inspirational women

We celebrate the greatest speeches of all time, spoken by women who have changed the world for the better

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Let these greatest speeches of all time empower you as a woman and unite us all in a quest for positive change. Words can be incredibly powerful, as is shown in these insightful, spine-tingling and, at times, revolution-inspiring speeches, spoken by great women throughout history, such as Maya Angelo and Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as modern change-makers like Amanda Gorman and Emma Watson . 

It's easy for women's voices to get lost in a sea of historical rhetoric. The most quoted speeches of all time are often those delivered by men, the words of many great women swept under the carpet. Swimming against the current, women have had to speak louder to get their voices heard. In the words of Virginia Woolf, they've had to create a room of their own. So we've rounded up fifteen inspirational women to celebrate those who found a room and encouraged others to do the same. 

Many of these speeches remain relevant for women fighting for equality in a social and political landscape where women are still under-represented. Take for example, Emma Watson's UN "He For She" speech— a decade later, we are still fighting for  equal pay . Or Hillary Clinton's impassioned delivery of "women's rights are human rights"—a quote that feels more relevant than ever considering the overturning of  Roe Vs Wade  in the US and ongoing regressive and oppressive policies worldwide. 

Now more than ever, women must support other women and not only allow their voices to be heard but help amplify the message they share. To inspire you to do the same, these are fifteen of the greatest speeches of all time. 

The greatest speeches of all time by women

1. virginia woolf, "a room of one's own" (1928).

"My belief is that if we live another century or so—I am talking of the common life which is the real life and not of the little separate lives which we live as individuals—and have five hundred a year each of us and rooms of our own; if we have the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think..."

Based on a series of lectures Woolf delivered in October 1928, A Room Of One's Own has since been heralded as a feminist manifesto. Her words continue to inspire women in 2015 nearly a century after she first spoke them. 

The speech strikes at the heart of patriarchy and argues that without financial independence and access to education—ideological, social and creative freedom is out of reach. Virginia knew this truth all too well: her own father believed only boys profited from schooling. As a result, she didn't go. Her strength of spirit defied even her own father: "Lock up your libraries if you like", she said, "but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."

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2. Emma Watson, "Gender equality is your issue too" (2014)

"I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights."

In 2014, Emma Watson partnered with UN Women to launch their HeForShe campaign fighting to end gender inequality and it's still relevant nearly a decade later.

"In 1995, Hilary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women’s rights. Sadly many of the things she wanted to change are still a reality today." Watson continues, and speaking of Clinton... 

3. Hillary Clinton, "Women's Rights Are Human Rights" (1995)

"If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard."

Five words that said it all: "Women's rights are human rights".

In 1995, Hillary Clinton's speech at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing marked a watershed moment for women's rights. What makes this speech so inspirational isn't just the words she spoke but where she spoke them. Defying both US administration and Chinese pressure to dilute her remarks, she went for the jugular. It was a full-blown attack against policies abusing "unheard" women around the globe—not just China.

4.  Malala Yousafzai's "I am here to stand up for their rights, to raise their voice" (2014)

"I am those 66 million girls who are deprived of education. And today I am not raising my voice, it is the voice of those 66 million girls. Sometimes people like to ask me why should girls go to school, why is it important for them. But I think the more important question is why shouldn’t they? Why shouldn’t they have this right to go to school?"

At the age of 17 Malala Yousafzai was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her work fighting for every child to receive an education. As the youngest winner of the prize,  the activist's powerful acceptance speech is not one to be forgotten. 

"Let us become the first generation that decides to be the last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods and wasted potentials. Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory. Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage.

"Let this end with us. Let’s begin this ending . . . together . . . today . . . right here, right now. Let’s begin this ending now."

5. Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I A Woman" (1851)

'I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that?'  

Named Isabella Baumfree , it says a great deal about Sojourner that she called herself Truth. She spoke it. An African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist, Truth was born into slavery in New York, sold at auction with a flock of sheep for $100 in 1806, escaping with her baby daughter in 1826. 

Oprah Winfrey has recited Truth's inspirational speech many times since.

6. Nora Ephron, "Commencement Address To Wellesley Class Of 1996" (1996)

"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women."

Nora also spiked her speech with words of caution: "Understand: every attack on Hillary Clinton for not knowing her place is an attack on you," she rallied. Her words still echo today and one sentence rings eternally true: "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

7. Aung San Suu Kyi, "Freedom From Fear" (1990)

"Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as 'grace under pressure'—grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure."

Burma's "woman of destiny" has inspired millions during her lifetime of political activism and captivity, held under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years in Burma. Receiving the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990, this now-famous speech followed in acceptance appeals to the spirituality of human nature: it's bravery, compassion and conviction.

8. Gloria Steinem, "Address to the Women of America" (1971)

"This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race, because they are easy, visible differences, have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups, and into the cheap labour on which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen, or those earned. We are really talking about humanism."

In 1971 Gloria Steinem delivered an inspiring Address to the Women of America . It would soon be regarded as one of the most memorable speeches of the second-wave feminist era. What made her speech so powerful wasn't just its attack on sexism, but its focus on the intersectional issues of racism and class.

9. Greta Thunberg, "We'll be watching you" (2019)

"I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, and yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, people are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth."

Greta Thunberg was only a teenager when she gave one of the most powerful speeches on climate change . Thunberg's United Nations speech in 2019 is the one everyone remembers when the name Greta Thunberg comes to mind. Albeit only a teenager, she has made many a powerful speech since, including asking world leaders to stop delivering ‘empty promises’. 

10. Maya Angelou, "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993)

'"Here on the pulse of this new day, you may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, Into your brother's face, your country And say simply Very simply With hope Good morning."

Maya Angelou was only the second poet in history to read a poem at a presidential inauguration, and the first African American and woman. Touching upon the themes of change, inclusion and responsibility, it has since been called Angelou's "autobiographical poem".

Maya Angelou was an extraordinarily wise woman . One of her most inspiring quotes to live by? 

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

11. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, "The Value of Diversity" (2009)

"As you leave here and proceed along life’s paths, try to leave tracks. Use the education you have received to help repair tears in your communities. Take part in efforts to move those communities, your Nation, and our world closer to the conditions needed to ensure the health and well-being of your generation and generations following your own."

Ruth Bader Ginsberg delivered this passionate keynote speech to graduates at Sciences Po in 2009. Nicknamed the 'notorious RBG' for her fighting spirit and tireless pursuit towards equality, in terms of both gender and race, this speech emphasises the importance of 'repairing the tears' in communities and coming together to build a stronger world for the generations after us. 

She explains earlier in the speech: "We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good."

After her passing in 2020, former President of the United States Barack Obama published a statement that read: “She was someone who believed that equal justice under law only had meaning if it applied to every single [individual].”

12. Julia Gillard "Misogyny speech" (2012)

"I rise to oppose the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition, and in so doing I say to the Leader of the Opposition: I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. The government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man—not now, not ever.

"I hope the Leader of the Opposition has a piece of paper and he is writing out his resignation, because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia he does not need a motion in the House of Representatives; he needs a mirror. That is what he needs."

In an iconic moment in feminist history, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave an impassioned speech on misogyny that has continued to hold its power to this day. Julia's speech was in response to opposition leader Tony Abbott accusing her of sexism, calling for her to sack Speaker Peter Slipper following an accusation of misogynistic text messages. 

Julia later said of the speech : "After every sexist thing directed at me that I’d bitten my lip on, now I was going to be accused of sexism – the unfairness of that. That anger propelled it.”

13. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "We should all be feminists" (2011)

“Why the word feminist? Why not just say you are a believer in human rights, or something like that?” Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general - but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. It would be a way of pretending that it was not women who have, for centuries, been excluded. It would be a way of denying that the problem of gender targets women. That the problem was not about being human, but specifically about being a female human. For centuries, the world divided human beings into two groups and then proceeded to exclude and oppress one group. It is only fair that the solution to the problem acknowledge that.”

Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TedTalks is widely regarded as one of the platform’s best-ever speeches. So much so, that it’s been published as a book and translated into 32 languages. 

In the thirty-minute talk address, she argued for women’s rights and inclusivity and drew on her own experiences. Oh, and Beyonce sampled the speech in her song Flawless .

14. Amanda Gorman "The Hill We Climb" (2021)

“We are striving to forge our union with purpose.

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colours, characters, and conditions of man.

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.”

The first person ever to be named National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman — then only 22 — was catapulted to fame after she performed her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden. Her work addresses sustainability, feminism, racism, and inequality. 

15. Michelle Obama "The 2018 United State of Women Summit" (2018)

“I wish that girls could fail as bad as men do and be OK. Because let me tell you, watching men fail up, it is frustrating. It’s frustrating to see a lot of men blow it and win. And we hold ourselves to these crazy, crazy standards.”

Speaking to Tracee Ellis Ross at the 2018 United State of Women Summit in Los Angeles, Michelle Obama called on the need for girls to be believed in, invested in, and nurtured the way that boys and men are. “If we want our daughters to dream bigger than we did, then we have more work to do,” she said. The speech launched a global petition calling lawmakers to #LeveltheLaw to “empower girls and women around the world”. 

If you're searching for more inspiration on the themes in these speeches, we've rounded up all the best feminist books to add to your reading list and four feminist petitions to sign. 

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The Greatest Motivational Speeches Of All-Time

• March 24, 2016
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With the Sweet 16 kicking off tonight, there’s no better time than now to revisit one of our favorite posts from 2013! Below is a list of our favorite motivational speeches from the best sports movies. Not only do these coaches understand the preparation, strategy, and drills behind a great team — but they also understand how important it is to master emotions and get the team’s mind in the right place.

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t like an empowering, energizing, and all-around inspirational speech before the big game? A well-executed speech can focus your players, teammates, and coaches on the road ahead. But, above all, it gets the athlete’s head in the game, giving him or her the desire and willpower to make a serious difference out on the field, pitch, or court. However, that begs the question: who did it best?

CoachUp, of course, doesn’t shy away from these hard-hitting issues and we’ve put together a list of our favorite motivational speeches. Be careful, though, these may inspire you to grab a ball and get out there right afterwards!

5. “Pain Heals”  —  Shane Falco, The Replacements Keanu Reeves has received loads of criticism over his long acting career, but nobody can doubt his moving performance in 2000’s The Replacements . Short and sweet, Shane Falco, the team’s washed up quarterback, gets right to the point in order to motivate his teammates before the biggest play of the game.

In fact, Falco actually admits to giving a bit of an anti-motivational speech when he says: “I wish I could say something classy and inspirational — but that’s not our style.” Unfortunately for too-cool-Keanu, he ends up delivering a killer line just a few moments later —  Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever!

4.   “This is your time, now go out there and take it!”   — Herb Brooks, Miracle This is just some good, old fashioned advice that Brooks gives to his players before the Gold Medal game against the Soviets. If you want something, you’re going to have to go out and take it yourself. Nobody is willingly going to give you the game, the win, or the glory — want it? Go get it. And, ultimately, that’s what Brooks says here — nothing fancy, wordy, or mystical — just the truth.

3.   “It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward!” — Rocky, Rocky Balboa Most everybody will be familiar with Rocky’s epic speech to his son, but if you aren’t, try listening to this on repeat for a couple hours. Rocky reminds his son that life is tough, but you can’t let it win. Most importantly, if you want something, you’ve got to believe in yourself and work hard to get it. Try not to get caught up in what other people think and do whatever it takes for you achieve your goals. That’s it, it’s really that simple.

2.  “You don’t have to prove nothin’ to nobody but yourself!”   — Fortune, Rudy This is a particularly moving speech for a number of reasons — especially given its context for the student-athlete, even today! Of course, this speech reminds Rudy that he’s already defied the odds by training each and every day to earn his spot on the field. Rudy, “five-foot nothin’,” found something he wanted and worked his butt off until he got it. Athletes these days can get obsessed with touchdowns, dunks, and home runs, but for those that are lucky enough to attend school for their talents, make sure to take the good with the bad. Being a well-rounded person is just as important as being an elite athlete — so don’t take your education for granted!

1. “I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book, we’ll be winners!” — Norman Dale, Hoosiers Perhaps one the greatest motivational speech in one of the greatest sports movies of all-time, Coach Norman Dale begs his team to ignore everything going against them. Forget the crowd, forget their skill, forget it all, none of that matters, Dale says. Instead, he gets Hickory High to focus on on the fundamentals, promising that if his team plays the way he knows they can, they’ll be winners no matter who’s up at the final whistle.

In today’s community, we often deal with coaches that have a win-at-all-costs mantra, those who put aside the feelings of their athletes in an attempt to win glory for themselves. However, it’s refreshing, even after all these years, to see Coach Dale focus on the right stuff. Remember, being a winner doesn’t depend on wins and losses!

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Best TED Talks: 10 inspirational speeches you absolutely have to hear

Looking for a good TED Talk to expand your worldview? Here are 10 of the best

The best TED Talks make you think, leave you inspired and, very often, make you laugh as well. We've been watching Ted Talks evolve and grow over the last 15 years and have come to treasure the nuggets of wisdom they impart. 

But if you're just discovering Ted Talks for the first time - or feel like you've missed a bunch throughout the years - we want to help you dive head-first into the heady lecture series with a round-up of our absolute favorites: What you'll find below is a collection of personal picks from the TechRadar team that we feel best exemplify what a Ted Talk can be. 

Not seeing one of your favorite talks below? Drop me an email and I'll try to add it to the list.

How to gain control of your free time by Laura Vanderkam 

There’s a certain irony in watching a YouTube video on how to save time, but Laura Vanderkam’s talk is worth the 10 minutes of your life. It’s all built on the basic idea that shaving 5 minutes here and there from your favorite activities isn’t really going to give you more control of your life - rather, you need to set priorities for yourself and then build a schedule around those priorities. 

The hilarious example Vanderkam offers is that, instead of skipping commercials to save eight minutes of every half hour of TV you watch, maybe you could just watch a little less TV and do something else with your time. The message is simple, effective and engaging, all the hallmarks of a good TED Talk.

What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness by Robert Waldinger 

“Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period.” That’s the results of a landmark study of happiness conducted by more than four generations of researchers over the last 75 years, tracking hundreds of participants and measuring every facet of their lives. 

This Ted Talk takes awhile to get to the juicy details but the story of this preternatural study on happiness illustrates the lengths the researchers have gone through to get this invaluable data that shows us what makes people happy at the end of their lives. The results sound simple - almost infuriatingly so - but the lesson here is that anyone can be happy with the right relationships in their lives. 

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The game that can give you 10 extra years of life by Jane McGonigal 

Gamers, it turns out, are pretty awesome. They’re committed to saving virtual worlds and with the right skills and focus they might be able to save the physical world, too. McGonigal, a game developer and author, has spent years creating different apps and games that use in-game rewards to push players to solve real world problems. 

The talk, which is a bit long at 20 minutes, walks the audience through her previous experiences creating these games and the research data that she uses to get gamers engaged before diving into Superbetter, the app she developed to make everyone who plays it live better, fuller lives.  

 The art of asking by Amanda Palmer 

Former busker-turned-successful-musician Amanda Palmer has a key lesson for everyone: don’t be afraid to ask. Society puts an inherent shame on those who ask - whether that’s for financial help or security, emotional help or even basic requests like where to find something - when, in fact, asking for help is one of the best things we can do. Asking, Palmer says, is inherently human and powerful, it allows us to create connections and leverage those connections to do more. That was evident when she wanted to crowdfund her band’s next CD, asking for $100,000, and raising over a million dollars instead. 

The point here is that next time you look down on someone asking, instead view them with compassion and make a connection - because in the long run that’s more powerful, more effective and, well, more human.  

The first 20 hours -- how to learn anything by Josh Kaufman 

Have you ever heard the old adage about needing to spend 10,000 hours to learn a skill? Good news, it's wrong. As it turns out, the research that factoid is taken from was studying experts in their respective fields, and not, say, the average trombonist. 

In this talk, new father Josh Kaufman walks us through how long it actually takes to learn a skill - which, incidentally, is only around 20 hours. Now sure, 20 hours of practice isn't going to make you the next Bobby Fischer, but it will be enough time to teach you the basics and, most importantly, how to auto-correct yourself when you've done something amiss. If you've ever felt like the ship has sailed on learning a new language, playing an instrument or learning a new skill, this talk is for you.

Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong by Johann Hari 

Journalist and author Johann Hari (Lost Connections, Chasing the Scream) offers a wide-ranging look at addiction in this 14-minute talk, whether that’s addiction to hard drugs, alcohol, or the endlessly-updating feeds on our smartphones.

We tend to think of addiction as a problem caused by the substance itself. We say that phones are addictive, or heroin is addictive – but Hari makes a case for a more nuanced understanding, one that sees how social circumstance affects our propensity for addiction, and the difference that strong bonds to those around us can make.

The power of vulnerability by Brené Brown 

With over 47 million views, Brené Brown’s Ted Talk on the power of vulnerability is one of the most watched Ted Talks of all time, and for good reason. 

In this 20-minute presentation, Brown shares what she’s learnt about the nature of shame, and how our fear of vulnerability prevents us from being able to fully embrace ourselves. As a researcher trained to “control and predict” phenomena, she shares her difficulty accepting the idea that to live fully is to stop attempting to “control and predict” at all.

An incredibly powerful talk that shows you – rather than just telling you – what it means to be vulnerable, and explores what a world that embraces vulnerability might look like.

Meeting the Enemy: A feminist comes to terms with the Men’s Rights movement by Cassie Jaye 

What filmmaker Cassie Jaye does here that’s so special is that she walks us through an immense period of growth in her life thought-by-thought. At one point a stringent feminist, Jaye began a documentary about the Men’s Rights movement that asks for the acknowledgement of certain, specific issues that men face - a movement she thought ran counter to the central points of feminism. 

What she learned in over a hundred hours of interviews with men’s rights activists is that these men didn’t want fewer rights for women, but some of the same care and devotion to some of the issues impacting men like veteran care, suicide, disproportionate parental control, length of prison sentences and others that do well and truly impact the life of men. The evolution of Jaye’s thoughts and the admission of her own preconceived notions is enthralling from beginning to end. 

How I climbed a 3,000-foot vertical cliff without ropes by Alex Honnold 

If you don’t have time for the excellent - but nearly two-hour - documentary Free Solo, check out this 10-minute Ted Talk by legendary rock-climber Alex Honnold who did something many thought to be impossible - or at least incredibly dangerous - when he climbed El Capitan, a sheer rock face in Yosemite National Park without ropes. 

Honnold’s Ted Talk gives a great overview of the climb, as well as his previous experiences leading up to it. Listening to Honnold describe certain parts of the trek are legitimately sweat-inducing and his experiences post-climb are both hilarious and heart-warming. It’s well-worth the watch. 

This is what happens when you reply to spam email by James Veitch 

Not all Ted Talks have to be heady ventures to the core of who we are. They can, in fact, just be funny and lighthearted, too. There’s no better example of these kinds of talks than the ones given by James Veitch (yes there’s more than one) wherein he takes annoying-but-easily-ignorable situations like unsubscribing from an email chain and turn them into absurdly funny matches of verbal wit between two utterly committed individuals. If you need a laugh after all this profound introspection, Veitch’s talks are the best bet. 

BONUS: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale 

OK, while this one technically isn’t a Ted Talk, it has the spirit of one and includes Bobby McFerrin, which really just sells itself. 

Just try not to sing along, it's impossible not to.

• Looking for more things to watch? Check out our list of the best Netflix shows

Nick Pino is Managing Editor, TV and AV for TechRadar's sister site, Tom's Guide. Previously, he was the Senior Editor of Home Entertainment at TechRadar, covering TVs, headphones, speakers, video games, VR and streaming devices. He's also written for GamesRadar+, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade, and he has a degree in computer science he's not using if anyone wants it.

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21 Uplifting and Powerful Famous Speeches That You Can’t Miss

Life is not always rainbows and sunshine – we have all had days when nothing seems to be going as planned and when we find ourselves demotivated, bogged down and engulfed in sadness. On such days, when you are unable to motivate yourself, do you know what helps? Listening to great speeches — empowering ones.

Great communicators have this innate power of moving you with their brilliant command over words. Their words echo in your head for days, while filling you with hope and inspiration.

Isn’t it wonderful how just hearing a set of people who you’ve never met or known personally can leave you with such a lasting impression?

Here is a list of 21 famous speeches (and likely the best speeches) that are sure to give you goosebumps :

1. Steve Jobs’ Commencement Address at Stanford University, 2005

The Chairman and Co-Founder of Apple Inc., Steve Jobs delivered an inspiring commencement address at the graduation ceremony of the 114th batch of Stanford University. 13 years later, his speech still holds relevance.

In a span of 15 minutes, Jobs imparted crucial life lessons through 3 stories that were inspired from his personal experiences. From love and loss to the inevitability of death – his words resonated with people of all ages.

Ending on a high note, he advised the audience to “stay hungry, stay foolish” – a phrase that became synonymous with Steve Jobs and till today, drives people to push themselves to become better versions of themselves.

2. J.K. Rowling’s Commencement Address at Harvard University, 2008

Author J.K Rowling who is best known for the Harry Potter book series delivered an empowering speech to the graduating class at Harvard University in 2008. Her speech was centered around two key points.

First being the benefits of failure and how there can be no success without it. Second, was the power of imagination and how we carry all the power in ourselves to change the world.

Even though J.K Rowling might have touched upon topics that we have been listening to or reading about for years, her knack of putting it together so perfectly strikes a chord like nothing else.

3. Jim Carrey’s Commencement Address at Maharishi University, 2014

Jim Carrey, who is known for his splendid comic timing and exceptional performances, took everyone by surprise at the graduation ceremony of the class of 2014 at Maharishi University wherein he delivered an inspiring speech with such aplomb.

In his life-changing advice wrapped in wit and humor, he speaks of fear, failure and the importance of doing what we love.

4. Barack Obama’s Election Victory Speech, 2008

Who doesn’t remember Obama chant “Yes we can!” as the entire world looked on and watched him inspire and instill national pride in the people of the United States of America.

One of the most powerful speeches of recent times, Barack Obama’s election victory speech in 2008 marked a historic moment that brought hope, promised change and responsibility, in the anticipation of a better future.

5. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech, 1963

On 28th August 1963, Martin Luther King delivered one of the most iconic speeches in history during the March on Washington in front of over 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial.

An American activist, Martin spoke with utmost clarity and purpose as he made a plea for racial equality and justice through this speech. The words “I have a dream” reiterated his vision of what America could be – a country that breaks away from the shackles of discrimination.

6. Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Do or Die Speech, 1942

Talking about orators, one cannot leave Mahatma Gandhi out from the list. Gandhi, the pioneer of non-violence launched the Quit India movement to demand India’s freedom from the 200-year British colonial rule wherein he announced the slogan – Do or Die, with determination.

His speech oozed infectious passion which went on to inspire India to fight for freedom or die in the process.

7. Nelson Mandela’s ‘I Am Prepared to Die’ Speech, 1964

The torchbearer of Africa’s freedom, Nelson Mandela fought all his life against apartheid. During his 3-hour long speech as a defendant at the Rivonia trial, he uttered the powerful words “I am prepared to die” which showed how he was willing to go to any length to grant equality to the people of Africa.

Even though he got imprisoned for 27 years shortly after, his speech did leave a tremendous impact.

8. Ellen DeGeneres’ Commencement Address at Tulane University, 2009

The multi-talented Ellen DeGeneres never fails to disappoint with whatever she does and the same can be said about her commencement address at Tulane University, where she shared her experiences and learning with the graduating class.

From quoting Lady Gaga to speaking about the major turning points in her life – Ellen kept the audience hooked with her uplifting speech.

9. Michelle Obama’s Commencement Address at Eastern Kentucky University, 2013

Michelle Obama addressed the 2013 graduating class of Eastern Kentucky University. She challenged the graduates to seek and learn from different perspectives and turn their weaknesses into strengths, just the way she did.

She also highlighted the importance of volunteering in community services and the impact it has on our lives.

10. Sheryl Sandberg’s Commencement Address at Harvard Business School, 2012

Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg imparted wisdom to the graduating class of 2012 of Harvard Business School.

While drawing parallels to her own experiences, Sheryl shared observations and precious advice with the students. She ended the speech on a humorous note as she said,

“Tomorrow, you get something that Mark Zuckerberg does not have. A Harvard degree.”

11. Oprah Winfrey’s Commencement Address at Harvard University, 2013

Oprah Winfrey is known to stir people’s emotions and motivate them with her powerful words. During her commencement address at Harvard, she emphasized on learning from mistakes and embracing failure, while reflecting on the setbacks she faced. Her encouraging words serve as a reminder to never let failure bog you down.

12. Bill Gates’ Commencement Address at Harvard Business School, 2007

Microsoft founder, Bill Gates addressed Harvard Business School’s class of 2007, urging them to change the world, eradicate poverty and tackle inequality. He emphasized on the role of technology in putting an end to global issues and encouraged students to take risks and not get intimidated by ‘complexities’.

13. Malala Yousafzai’s Address at the UN Youth Takeover, 2013

Activist Malala Yousafzai is an inspiration to many and her speech at the first ever UN Youth Takeover further reinforces that.

Malala, who was just 16 years old then, stunned the audience with her powerful and moving take on the right to quality education. Having seen difficult times during her childhood, she was determined to fight for what she believed in and inspire a change.

14. Winston Churchill’s ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ Speech, 1940

Another famous speech is that delivered by Winston Churchill, on 4th June 1940 to the House of Commons. The speech was meant to instill courage in the people during World War II, while the threat of Nazi invasion loomed over England.

He kept his speech concise, realistic and to the point as he reminded everyone about the strength and perseverance England has always exhibited.

15. Hillary Clinton’s Address at the Women in The World Summit, 2015

Calling women the ‘agents of change’, Hillary Clinton delivered a passionate speech at the Women in the World summit, speaking about the struggles women face in all walks of life due to unequal rights.

While remaining optimistic about seeing a positive change in future, she spoke about issues that often go overlooked such as equal pay, reproductive rights, paid maternity leave, living wage, LGBTQ rights, affordable child care among others.

16. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, 1863

The Gettysburg Address, delivered by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, is known as one of the greatest speeches in the world and makes a fundamental part of American history.

In just 272 words, Lincoln made valid arguments surrounding equality and concluded with the famous line,

“government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

17. Elizabeth Gilbert’s ‘Your Elusive Creative Genius’ TED Talk, 2009

Known for the international bestseller, ‘Eat, Pray, love’, Elizabeth Gilbert gave an inspiring TED Talk wherein she shared her wisdom on creativity.

She spoke about the pressures it comes with and how one can go beyond what society says and connect with the ‘genius’ that resides in each one of us.

18. Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ Speech, 1947

The first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru addressed India on the eve of independence with the speech, Tryst with Destiny. This historic speech celebrated the non-violent victory, acknowledging the struggle that had gone behind it and the belief he has in India, as a powerful, independent nation.

19. Mark Zuckerberg’s Commencement Address at Harvard University, 2017

The Founder and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg addressed the 2017 graduating class of Harvard University.

Being a Harvard dropout, Mark commenced the speech by recalling his times spent at Harvard and how they shaped him. His thought-provoking talk highlighted the importance of purpose – finding our own and creating one for others. He left the audience with practical advice that ranged from tackling global issues to building communities.

20. Gloria’s Steinem’s Women’s March Speech, 2017

Feminist icon, Gloria Steinem, addressed over 500,000 women who gathered at the Women’s March in Washington DC, with fearlessness and conviction.

She took on topics plaguing the society such as the role of women in the world and equal rights, while sending a bold message to the government to not undermine the power of women.

21. Denzel Washington’s Commencement Address at University of Pennsylvania, 2011

“Fall forward,” – the two words that encompassed Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington’s commencement address at University of Pennsylvania in 2011. He encouraged students to take failure in the right spirit and never let it discourage them. He beautifully summarized why we must embrace failure, while recalling experiences during his growing up days.

Final Thoughts

Even though these best speeches stem from different premises, what binds them together is the wonderful feeling they leave you with.

Each of these famous short speeches contains the power to strike an emotional chord and help you find your feet amidst all the chaos. So, take a page from their books and let their words inspire you to keep going and never lose hope.

More Inspiring Thoughts

• 20 Most Inspiring TED Talks Of All Time You Should Not Miss
• 15 Inspiring Ideas to Boost Your Motivation for Success
• 50 Positive Quotes for Work That Will Put Your Motivation on Overdrive
• You Are What You Listen To: 11 Podcasts To Inspire Yourself

Featured photo credit: Matthias Wagner via unsplash.com

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10 Motivational Speeches That Will Inspire You to Take Action Today

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Whether you’re looking to increase team productivity or turn your daydreams into a reality, motivation is key. But, in the day-to-day of working life, it’s easy to lose sight of end goals and become distracted. Thankfully, the wise words of entrepreneurs, writers, and fictional characters can offer a reinvigorating perspective. The following motivational speeches may give you the push you need to reach your full potential.

1. Steve Jobs: How to Live Before You Die (2005)

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

In this commencement address, the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. shared one of the keys to his success: love. His love for the work he did kept him excited about going to work every day and working toward new goals. Often, there is a big difference between what you want versus what other people want for you . Discovering what you’re passionate about, and working toward it with achievable goals , will lead you to success and satisfaction. This is why it is our staff’s number one pick for motivational speeches that will inspire you to take action today. 

2. Ellie (Jodie Foster) Meets An Alien In  Contact  (1997)

“You’re an interesting species, an interesting mix. You are capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone. Only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing that we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable… is each other.”

While this Sci-Fi classic might seem removed from reality, it offers uplifting advice for the workplace and beyond. In this scene, Ellie finally makes contact with an alien who offers insight into the human condition and the larger universe. To apply the alien’s words to the workplace, think of the power of teamwork. Establishing a diverse and talented team can improve employee happiness and performance. For example, burnout is a common problem at companies. Sharing the workload,  and knowing you can rely on team members and managers for support, can re-motivate employees. When the going gets tough, it’s a comfort to know you’re not alone. 

3. Timo’s (Rick Gonzales) Answer In Coach Carter (2005)

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In this scene, Timo, a member of the basketball team central to the movie, responds to the question the coach asks throughout the movie: “What is your greatest fear?” Timo’s words touch on the importance of self-efficacy. By believing in yourself, you can deepen your interest and commitment to a given task, and recover faster from setbacks . If you lead a team or company, others will soon be influenced by your can-do attitude. So, stop fearing your own power and shine.

4. Chris (Will Smith) Gives His Son Advice In the Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

“Don’t ever let someone tell you, you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

In a world full of naysayers, it’s easy to become discouraged. In this scene from the heart-warming film, Chris offers his son priceless advice: to pursue his dreams mercilessly, without letting other peoples’ ideas of him get in the way. While this motivational speech is noble and beautiful, you might find it challenging to apply to your own life. Here’s where building a strategic plan — with short- and long-term goals— can make pursuing your dreams concrete. With a clear and concise vision for the future, you can put these words into action.

5. Rosalinde Torres: What it Takes to be a Great Leader

“So what makes a great leader in the 21st century? I’ve met many, and they stand out. They are women and men who are preparing themselves not for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow.”

Rosalinde Torres asserts that exceptional leaders are attuned to the world around them. They pay attention to the latest trends in their field and aren’t afraid to abandon tried and true practices for ones that are the future. Basically, she’s advising the opposite of that popular saying, “Keep your head down.” Because, if you do that, you’ll end up reacting to the future instead of making it. Further, you won’t benefit from a broadened perspective that includes different cultures, industries, and readings. Ask yourself, “When is the last time I looked around me and toward the future?” This is the start of great leadership.

6. John Keating’s (Robin Williams) Motivational Speech About Seizing the Day From Dead Poets Society (1989)

​​” Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? – – Carpe – – hear it? – – Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

John Keating motivates his students with a simple sentiment— seize the day. It might seem like a cliché, but it’s a useful sentiment for those stuck in careers they don’t like or struggling to achieve their next milestone. Most working people will spend around 8 hours a day at the office; that’s a lot of time to spend on something you dislike. So, if you’re feeling uninspired or sick of your career, take Mr. Keating’s advice and don’t waste any more time. What are your strengths and weaknesses and how can your harness them into a fulfilling career?

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Motivational Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

“When I was about 28, after a decade as a professional comedian, I realized one night in LA that the purpose of my life had always been to free people from concern, just like my dad. And when I realized this, I dubbed my new devotion the Church of Freedom From Concern, the Church of FFC. And I dedicated myself to that ministry. What’s yours? How will you serve the world? What did they need that your talent can provide? That’s all you have to figure out.”

The comedian’s advice for a successful and rewarding life is simple: find how you want to serve the world, and pursue it. While it may take years of exploring to find your talent, sometimes it can be as simple as stepping back and reflecting on those moments when you felt yourself excelling and having an impact on others. Finding your calling might seem overwhelming, but asking yourself what the world needs that you can provide will surely set things in motion. 

8. Rocky’s (Sylvester Stallone) Motivational Speech to His Son In Rocky Balboa  (2006)

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

Rocky’s motivational speech is all about not letting failure define you. This is good advice, no matter your industry. In 2019, 90% of startups failed . But, many successful business people, including Bill Gates and Walt Disney, failed before they succeeded. So, even if the odds are against your, it doesn’t helo to fixate on the negative. In fact, a positive attitude can improve mental and physical health , which will improve your performance in the workplace.

9. Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation (2009)

“There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. Here is what science knows. One: Those 20th century rewards, those motivators we think are a natural part of business, do work, but only in a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances. Two: Those if-then rewards often destroy creativity. Three: The secret to high performance isn’t rewards and punishments, but that unseen intrinsic drive– the drive to do things for their own sake. The drive to do things cause they matter.”

There is an outdated belief that rewards and punishments are vital to improving employee performance. Pink argues that intrinsic drive— doing things because of internal satisfaction as opposed to external factors—is the real secret to high performance. So, whether you’re a manager or a new employee, consider why your work matters. Aside from your salary, what gets you to work every day? If these questions are hard to answer, you might need to incorporate or seek out a more creative approach. Pink gives the example of companies giving employees flexible schedules, where they can use their time as they want to accomplish set tasks. The schedule allows for more creativity and independence, and thus improves employee performance.

10. Coach Tony D’Amato’s (Al Pacino) Motivational Speech In Any Given Sunday (1999)

“I’ll tell you this, in any fight it’s the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I’m gonna have any life anymore it’s because I’m still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that’s what living is, the six inches in front of your face. Now I can’t make you do it. You’ve got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think you going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him.”

This emotional scene drives home an important point: There is no “i” in team. Both entrepreneurs and executives who work their way up the corporate ladder know that they won’t achieve success all on their own. Attracting and retaining exceptional team members is the foundation of any lasting business. So, think about the skills you’re looking for in an employee and implement a process that’ll allow you to root out those people who will go the extra inch for you. If you’re not in a leadership position, think about the skills that will make you an invaluable hire. 

The Bottom Line on Motivational Speeches

No matter what industry you’re in, you can harness the wisdom of real and fictional characters to achieve your wildest dreams. So, get out there, explore your interests, make connections, and create a fulfilling career.

Related Readings on Motivation

• Four Basic Motivations of Employees
• Extrinsic Motivation in the Office
• The Value of Intrinsic Motivation on Employees
• 25 Powerful Leadership Quotes That Will Motivate You

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Digital Marketing Agency For Online Small Business Entrepreneurs

Inspirational quotes and digital marketing content to help small business entrepreneurs start a blog, get traffic, and make money online in the new emerging AI (Artificial Intelligence) economy

Written by: Joseph Nyamache Last Modified: August 16, 2022

25 Best Motivational Speeches By The Top Motivational Speakers In The World

​We’ve curated a list of the best motivational speeches to inspire you today. These inspirational speeches by famous motivational speakers will help you succeed and be a better person today than where you were yesterday!

Have you ever met someone new who made you feel special?

The way that they treat you makes you feel loved.

They bring the good out of you.

You wish they had come into your life much sooner because they make you want to be a better person.

Maybe you discovered something new, and it made you excited.

You started thinking about the new possibilities and opportunities waiting for you in the immediate future. You begin fantasizing about the new places you’ll visit and how much fun it will be!

Now that you start to see and think differently, you are wondering…

Why did it take so long?

Quote by Maya Angelou, at the University of California, Riverside

Best motivational speeches to inspire you.

Well, if only you knew how I wish, at least I’d watched the motivational videos on this page before August 1997, especially motivational video #23!

I remember it vividly like it was yesterday!

August 1997, I met a girl.

And right there and then, I knew she was the one.

The most beautiful girl I’ve been dreaming and waiting for all this time. Her disarming smile, soothing voice, and impeccable posture! An Angle. Perfect. The one and the only one.

How can I forget August 23rd, 1997?

On that day, suddenly, there was an insurmountable obstacle.

What does love, at first sight, has to be like this?

Love quote by Jackie Collins

Is this how love feels, or is it just infatuation?

I don’t know. Either way, I now had a big major problem to solve.

How in the world was I supposed to get this fantastic dazzling angel to ever agree to go out on a date with me, talk, laugh, hold hands and hug! Please tell me. How?

If only she loved me back; life would be full of joy and fun!

So I tried, planned, devised, and improvised. Finally, the day and moment of reckoning came, and I was face to face with the love of my life.

I had to say something.

I know how to speak. Yet I said nothing! Not a single word. I tried to talk. My lips and mouth went dry, then I mumbled something and stammered.

My dream girl was right in front of me, gracious and generous with her time, waiting for me to say something; instead, she received the most awkward smile she had ever seen.

Can you believe it!

I just could not get myself to utter a single word. Meanwhile, while I was still thinking about what a fool I was making out of myself…

The unthinkable happened.

Natalia stepped forward, shook my hand, and asked me out on a date. I could not believe it! Did she just do that? Ask me out on a date!

The rest, my dear friend, is history.

A story to be told and narrated at the right moment, day, and occasion to my great-great-grandchildren. That was back when I was single and a young man chasing gorgeous women all over town!

That I was romantic, charming, splendid, challenging, and heroic.

And that brings me to the topic of today’s post. I don’t know why you are here, but generally speaking, you are probably here for 3 main reasons:

• You want to be inspired,
• Improve and hone your public speaking skills,
• You are just surfing around the internet to pass the time.

Without further ado,

You’re about to listen to the best motivational speeches ever!

These motivational speeches are going to encourage, inspire and boost your morale. In addition, the lessons, knowledge, and wisdom you’re about to acquire are priceless!

List Of 25 Best Motivational Speeches – Table of content

What is the impact of motivational speech.

Motivational speeches can have a profound impact on people’s lives. They can inspire people to change their behavior, set and achieve new goals, and overcome challenges.

Motivational speeches can positively impact people by helping them feel more confident and optimistic about themselves.

They can also help change people’s perspectives and give them new insights into their lives. Additionally, motivational speeches can inspire people to take action and change their lives.

What is the one thing that constantly puts people down and prevents them from achieving their goals and the lifestyle they desire?

Of course, there are many other reasons why people fail, but…

Nevertheless, quitting is terrible!

One of the biggest reasons most people fail to succeed is the inability to keep trudging forward and believing in yourself despite what everybody else and their dog says.

Listen, the only secret to success is that success is gradual.

Success requires hard work, persistence, and discipline. But unfortunately, most people will give up on their goals the minute the road gets rough.

You’re not like most people who quit, right? But, here is something you need to remember, every successful person was initially a beginner at something.

In most cases, it’s only through hard work and dedication that people become successful. Losing your faith and questioning yourself will only slow down your progress.

Quote by Winston Churchill

Giving up on what you believe in is the beginning of a life of mediocrity.

Never giving up is not a guarantee of success; it validates your zeal and promises of future things.

When you vow never to give up!

That decision elevates you a notch higher because you manage to get rid of all the ‘what ifs’ that dictate the lives of regular folk.

Again you’re not regular folk. You’re destined for success.

You can accomplish big things, even if, at this point, you might not think so. But, first, you need to understand that you and your end goal are connected, only separated by a few obstacles and the usual naysayers.

Listen up now…

Your belief in yourself is more vital than anyone’s doubt.

The fact that you believe in something is a good starting point. However, pushing that belief to the next level and being able to keep going in the face of adversity is another kind of animal altogether.

It takes a lot of character to hop back on your feet after a nasty fall, but it is what you must do to achieve your goals and become successful.

Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders By Sheryl Sandberg

In this video, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women are less likely to reach the top of their industry than their male counterparts.

Did you know that only 6% of CEOs are females?

In other words, a staggering 94% of CEOs are men!

According to the Center for American Progress , did you know that women account for 50.8% of the U.S. population, but just a small number of females hold top-level leadership positions?

If you wonder why we have too few women leaders, you must check out Sheryl Sandberg’s TED talk . At the date of this publication, she is Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer.

Quote by Sheryl Sandberg

Are you a woman trying to break the glass ceiling?

Sheryl Sandberg’s TED talk offers powerful pieces of advice for women trying to break the glass ceiling. It’s one of the best motivational speeches for women to watch.

You’ll learn about the obstacles women must overcome in the workplace and inspirational success stories from women at the top of their field.

If you’re a woman who is trying to climb the career ladder, Sheryl Sandberg’s TED talk video will provide you with a boost of confidence and a new determination.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture, “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

How about listening to the most powerful motivational speech, “the last lecture,” given by a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University?

Professor Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and knew he had only three to six months of good health to live on this planet!

Instead of retreating to his own corner and feeling sorry for himself, Professor Randy Pausch decided to make the most out of the little time he had left to live.

The last lecture by Randy Pausch is one of the most epic motivational speeches that will inspire you to achieve your childhood dream, have fun and love your life.

If you want to make your childhood dreams come true, then the last lecture by Randy Paush could be the most important video you’ll ever watch.

After all, making your childhood dream come true isn’t much more challenging than dealing with your everyday task.

To tackle your dreams, you need to remember your dreams as a child.

Making a childhood dream come true requires an abundance mindset.

The more you think the world is abundant, the more you’ll recognize the potential for making dreams come true.

Indeed this is one of the best informative and motivational speeches about life that will inspire you to achieve your dream.

Professor Randy Pausch educates and explains why regaining childish ability and experience is essential. In fact, it is one of the secrets to unlocking the power of your subconscious mind.

Oprah Winfrey Stanford Speech For Class 2008 Graduates

Oprah Winfrey’s speech to the Class of 2008 at Stanford’s 117th Commencement address was powerful, memorable, and the most-must-watch motivational speech for students!

By drawing from her own experiences from the day she started her career in 1976, she touched the graduates by sharing three very crucial lessons about life, namely:

• Feelings and,
• Finding happiness.

In this speech, Oprah talked about how important it is to make decisions based on what you really want.

She emphasized that feelings are the GPS system in life, which can guide you if you can only follow your instinct.

Motivational quote by Oprah Winfrey

The trick, she said, is to learn to check and let your internal motivation guide you. If you don’t feel it now, it’s better to wait until it shows you the way.

Above all, Oprah said that it is crucial to learn lessons from your failings and how to pick yourself up and move on.

Eventually, you’ll find your happiness. Oprah Winfrey’s speech is one of the best motivational speeches for students.

Steve Jobs Commencement Speech At Stanford University

Like most bloggers, during my line of work, I have watched, listened to, and read several famous motivational speeches, but I have to say it to you,

None of the great motivational speeches I have read, watched and listened to are as moving and memorable as Steve Jobs’s commencement speech at Stanford University.

This is a remarkable speech! It will truly inspire you.

Steve Jobs was the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. He was invited to give a commencement speech at Stanford University.

To say the least, his inspiring speech to Stanford graduates is one of the most-watched commencement speeches on YouTube.

In his speech, Steve narrates how he dropped out of college after six months; it took him another 18 months to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.

He quit college because his parents were struggling financially, and he didn’t like the way that was draining all his parents’ life savings to get him to college.

Quote by Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs could not stand it.

He says that dropping out of college was his best decision. Dropping out of college enabled him to focus on what he really liked.

According to Steve Jobs Stanford’s commencement speech , there are setbacks in life, including death, but death is an opportunity.

Death helps people make better choices by remembering that they will die one day.

Another good reason why death is an opportunity, according to Steve Jobs, is that death paves the way for the new by clearing out the old.

“Death is very likely the single best invention of life.”

Steve Jobs Stanford speech insists on the importance of acquiring knowledge even when you don’t know when, how, or where you’ll apply the education you receive.

He uses his personal life experiences to encourage young graduates to pursue their dreams because there is no reason why they should not pursue their dreams.

Pamela Meyer “How To Spot A Liar” TED Talk

Pamela Meyer gives a critical TED talk about the value of speaking the truth and why it is worthwhile to keep telling it no matter what.

If you’re wondering how often the average person lies, spoiler alert!

Most people, a lot of people, lie every day! From seemingly harmless white lies to sinister lies meant to deceive others into responding in a certain way.

Pamela Meyer explains that your identity is tied strongly to what you say and how you portray yourself to others. Therefore, lying can distort your sense of identity and cause you to be confused about the truth of who you are.

Pamela Meyer beautifully backs her claims about how to spot a liar with science, and that is precisely why this is an incredible motivational video about lie spotting.

Quote by Pamela Meyer

So next time…

You feel demoralized because you’ve been criticized and isolated for telling the truth; why not re-watch Pamela Meyer’s – How to spot a liar TED talk video ?

Don’t underestimate the power of good motivational speeches. Experts agree that motivational speakers can inspire us to literally change our lives.

A good motivational speaker can help students, corporate teams, and enterprising individuals apply their experience and expertise that will lead them to succeed.

Barack Obama DNC Speech In 2004 That Made Him President

In 2004, very few people knew who Barack Obama was.

Before the Democratic National Convention speech, Barack Obama was just another ordinary one-term senator from Illinois.

The junior senator’s speech from the state of Illinois was filled with hope and determination. It set the tone for what was to come.

By the end of Barack Obama’s first public speech at the DNC, the Democratic Party had seen its future and the attendees knew that they were witnessing history in the making.

This is the speech that made Obama president of the United States.

When the young senator from Illinois walked onto the stage in Boston at his party’s convention, he delivered a powerful speech that turned the party on its ear.

Inspirational quote by Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s speech gave millions of people hope for a better future.

Using warmth, personal stories, and an understanding of the American need to grow closer as a nation.

Barack Obama introduced himself to people as one of them, a person from ordinary beginnings who intended to make a difference.

Working with the theme of uniting the country across racial, political, and class boundaries, the attendees were on their feet with excitement within minutes!

Within his lifetime, very few people can say that they have given such a powerful, inspiring, and unifying speech at the Democratic National Convention!

Monica Lewinsky TED Talk | The Price Of Shame

Did you know that Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky’s sexual relationship was one of our modern digital age’s first sensational internet scandals?

And that Monica Lewinsky scandal was used by the online gossip columns as click-bait and by the mainstream media to sell newspapers!

Sounds familiar, right?

Monica Lewinsky still deals with the fall-out nearly twenty years later.

If you’re looking for short motivational speeches about public shaming and humiliation, then Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk is the right video to watch.

Monica Lewinsky discusses the repercussions of internet shaming and social media bullying on young people in her honest and sometimes painful TED talk.

Based on her own life experience, Ms. Lewinsky will inspire you to overcome extreme emotional and psychological distress caused by negative gossip spread over the internet about you.

Quote by Monica Lewinsky

From death threats to suicide, Ms. Monica Lewinsky’s speech offers an open, candid, and uncompromising look at what happens to people when public shaming goes viral.

She also talks about what can be done to change the currently ingrained social response.

The repercussions can often be fatal, from gossip websites to hacked photographs leaked onto the internet when a single youthful mistake goes viral.

The price of shame speech by Ms. Monica covers the devastating personal cost of the culture of humiliation that has become a booming business worth millions.

Art Williams – Just Do It Speech

So, let’s do a quick self-audit!

• Have you stopped chasing your childhood dreams?
• Do you keep postponing what needs to be done?
• Do you have work assignments you really feel like not doing?

If you answered yes to at least one of the above questions, why not listen to Art William’s “just do it” speech?

The most famous motivational speeches for work ethics. Art Williams says that what people do with their lives makes them great.

What you do daily will determine what you’ll earn at the end of the day.

That is why two different individuals in the same situation in life and with the same characteristics become different.

You have to save more and invest more. Art Williams says that if you want to be a winner in business, you have to be a leader.

Towards the end of his speech, Art Williams uses the phrase “just do it” to encourage people to do the things that will make them achieve their dreams.

To become what you want to be, you should just start doing it now instead of planning to do something in the future. That will make the difference.

Cameron Russell TED Talk | Looks Aren’t Everything

To be a model, you must be tall, beautiful, and have a perfect body. Is that not what most people believe to be true about modeling?

Not so fast. Hold that thought myth right there!

One of the top American fashion super-models who has been modeling since her teen years has a shocking and honest twist about beauty and looks!

Cameron Russell says, “Looks aren’t everything in her TED talk video!”

In her speech, Cameron Russell gives an honest insider’s look by explaining how the shallow assumption that beauty is everything doesn’t prove true.

She admits that her pictures are not really her; they’re edited versions of her body that have an unhealthy effect on beauty standards in today’s women.

Quote by Cameron Russell

Her advice for attaining genuine happiness and peace in life is simple;

Who you are matters more than what you look like.

If you think being more beautiful will make you happy, you should think again! You’ll be satisfied in life when you start being yourself.

The fashion industry has its mind set on convincing the masses that being beautiful will make your life easy and happy.

Cameron Russell’s TED talk video is one of the best motivational speeches to straighten the record.

Jim Carrey Commencement Speech At Maharishi University

Jim Carrey, the famous actor, gave a fun and emotional commencement speech.

He spoke to the graduates of Maharishi University, in Iowa, in the management class of 2014, where the university granted degrees to 285 students from 54 countries around the world.

The famous comedian offered the students powerful and inspiring words about life and the future.

He urged them to never settle for anything less in life.

The most memorable point of Jim Carrey’s commencement speech was when he told students the story of his father and how his father’s career choice inspired him.

Motivational quote by Jim Carrey

The paradox of life.

His father had the chance to become a comedian, but he preferred a safe job as an accountant.

The paradox of his story is that eventually, his father lost his accounting job that was supposed to be safe.

This vital lesson inspired him to follow his own path in life. That path has made him become one o the most renowned comedian.

During the Maharishi University of Management ceremony, Jim received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree for his significant lifetime achievements.

Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy TED Talk | Power Poses

Stand up tall or sit straight.

Uncross your arms and stop fidgeting!

I thought my parents taught me basic human respect and good manners as a kid.

Little did I know that, in reality, those suggestions can go a long way towards boosting confidence, self-esteem, and dignity.

In 2012, social psychologist researcher Amy Cuddy gave an excellent presentation at the TED talk forum about the importance of “power posing” and how body language can make people more powerful.

More importantly, your body language affects how you see yourself and interact with your job and others.

According to Amy Cuddy’s TED talk video , you can boost your confidence using your body language by the way you stand and by just using some simple tweaks of your body language.

A healthy confidence level can, in turn, lead you to success in life.

Is This The Best High School Valedictorian Speech Ever?

This was a viral valedictorian speech by Valedictorian Carl Aquino, who at the time of this speech was a graduate of West Hall High School for the class of 2010.

Carl Aquino relates school life during the last four years of high school using a Rubix cube. He humorously narrates how anxious, nervous, and scared we all are.

As the music played in the background, he kept on solving the cube.

He compares the start of junior college with the love of your life and how you keep searching for the perfect love of your life until you finally find her.

Once you find your love, you become amazed.

You find her incredible, fun, intelligent, and sexy, and you decide to propose to her. Unfortunately, it takes months to prepare for the proposal.

Finally, she says she will get back to you in like 4-5 months when you propose.

They rejected you. Is this the perfect college that you want?

Time goes by, and before you know it, the final year arrives. Carl compares the last year with a more giant and complex Rubix cube.

He concludes by saying that friends will always be remembered, no matter where they go. If you haven’t watched the video, it’s one of the best valedictorian speeches .

J.K Rowling Commencement Speech At Harvard University

Most ordinary people fear failing at anything in life. Do you fear being a loser?

Most people fail to recognize that failure isn’t such a bad thing.

When you take the right approach, failing and learning from failure can make you do better in life and be the best.

Do you see failure as something horrible, and therefore, you do not want to experience the pain of failure in your life?

If you fear failing, you really need to listen to J.K Rowling Harvard commencement speech that will inspire you to look at failure differently and help you embrace failure when it knocks you down.

In June 2008, Joanne K. Rowling delivered an encouraging speech at the Annual Meeting of the HAA (Harvard Alumni Association) held at Harvard University.

Her speech titled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination” became the most viewed video on Harvard University’s website and is one of the best motivational speeches on YouTube.

Inspirational quote by J. K. Rowling

Drawing from personal stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author gets to address some of the most important life issues with much acuity and emotional force.

She warns the new Harvard graduates about the inevitability of failure and the necessity of risk for a living. She quotes Plutarch, saying, “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”

J.K Rowling’s speech is finally available in book form.

In the book “Very Good Lives,” Rowling asks the most profound and provocative question, “How can one embrace failure?”

Tony Robbins TED Talk | Why We Do What We Do

Tony Robbins is one of the most famous motivational speakers, authors, and life coaches, best known for self-help books, seminars, and infomercials.

Having said so, Tony Robbins’ inspirational speech, why do we do what we do, will make you appreciate what drives you towards achieving your goals.

What is it that drives us?

What motivates us to do our daily activities?

These are some of the questions that Tony Robbins TED talk video helps us explore and define ourselves.

We can explore ourselves, appreciate others, and contribute more to society by asking these questions.

In life, there are two master lessons that you need to understand.

The first one is the science of success.

That is how one can convert their dreams into reality and change the invisible into the visible.

The second master lesson is about the art of fulfillment.

This is about appreciation and contribution. It’s about what you do for others. It gives us a sense of more profound satisfaction and makes us want to do more.

But what happens when we fail? We give a lot of excuses, right?

Excuses like we didn’t have enough resources, we didn’t have the right technology, we didn’t have a good manager, and the list goes on.

The reason why we failed is simple; we were not resourceful. However, we did not exhaust our resourcefulness. With enough psychological strength, we can achieve our set goals and dreams.

We are on our own path to success.

Human needs and wants make us do what we do. They drive us towards achieving our goals. They’re the reasons why we work so hard.

Problems play a part in shaping us.

They make us wake up and look for solutions. But in doing what we do, we must ensure that we are confident of success. It’s the faith that will keep us working until success shows up.

Lupita Nyong’o Speech on Essence Magazine Breakthrough

The phenomenal award-winning star, gorgeous, intelligent, and poetic Lupita Nyong’o, gave a sensational speech after clinching the Essence Magazine’s Black Women In Hollywood Breakthrough Performance Award.

Lupita began by sharing a letter she got from a young girl who was taunted for a long time by her dark-shaded skin.

The girl thought of Lupita as quite fortunate to have quickly succeeded in Hollywood, bearing in mind her complexion.

The girl mentioned in her letter that she often attempted to make an arrangement with God and prayed that one day she would eventually wake up in the morning with a lighter complexion.

The result was only sadness and displeasure because her wish never came true.

What is the meaning of black beauty?

Having inner beauty enchants the heart and lightens up the soul.

When you’re gorgeous both externally and internally, you become compassionate.

Lupita Nyong’o’s speech concludes that black beauty is not a thing that can be acquired or consumed. Beauty is never about how your looks sustain you.

Al Pacino Any Given Sunday Speech – The Best Football Speech!

Some people won’t go the extra mile, and yet that extra mile is what really differentiates winners from losers.

To be the winner, you should try to go the extra mile. That’s how winners win!

Every day, the little things you do will move you closer to achieving your dream. This is one of the greatest motivational speeches about putting a little more effort.

Al Pacino’s speech, any given Sunday, is one of the most famous motivational speeches I have watched, and I’m sure this speech will inspire you too.

His main goal is to motivate all the players on his football team to do whatever it takes to ensure they win.

He insists on the importance of working as a team to win. So he is trying hard to convince the players how important it’s for them to put in a little more effort.

Al Pacino, any given Sunday speech applies to all areas of life. If you want to succeed in anything you do, you have no choice but to do your best.

The little things that you do daily despite experiencing some setbacks make the difference between being successful and being a failure.

Lizzie Velasquez TED Speech | How Do You Define Yourself?

Lizzie Velasquez’s TED speech is one of the best motivational speeches that will transform your thoughts and how you generally look at life.

Lizzie Velasquez’s TED talk is based on her true-life story.

Lizzie Velasquez was born with a unique syndrome that prevents her body from gaining weight. She can eat anything, but her body can’t gain weight.

It is a unique situation that has made people label her the ugliest woman globally. But people’s sentiments did not discourage her.

Lizzie manages to get motivated by the negative things people say about her. This is because she has a philosophy where she never lets other people define what she is.

In her speech, she encourages people not to let negative comments made by other people let them down.

Quote by Lizzie Velásquez

How do you define yourself?

When Lizzie Velasquez was born, there was no amniotic fluid; doctors told her parents that as she grew up, she would not be able to do many things like other normal children.

For example, she would not be able to talk, crawl or even do anything.

Despite all that, her parents told the doctor they were ready to take the child home and care for her just the way she is.

She never felt like she was different from other children in her early life.

One day she was in school, and she felt like other pupils were feeling something different about her; she, therefore, discussed it with her parents, but her parents told her she was just a tiny kid.

Lizzie has now accepted her condition and uses it to motivate her to become a better person; she has written three books and recently graduated.

She does not let her appearance define her and what she does.

Lizzie Velasquez remembers when someone shared her photo on the internet, and people joked about her as the ugliest woman on earth.

Nonetheless, she has stayed motivated and keen on accomplishing her goals in life and has vowed never to let her outer appearances define her.

Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk | Do Schools Kill Creativity?

You should really watch Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk; it’s only 20-minute long and With more than 14 million views [at the time of this publication]

This TED talk viral video will definitely change how you see the current school system.

Sir Ken Robinson – author and international advisor on education in the arts, argues that society should favor an education system that nurtures creativity rather than ignoring it.

He champions a complete overhaul of the current system.

Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk titled “ Do schools kill creativity? ” poses this question to his audience:

He argues that we’re encouraged to become good workers rather than using our creativity.

Sir Ken Robinson explains why we should move towards a school system that acknowledges different types of intelligence and creativity. He observes that students who use their curiosity are ostracized.

The Danger Of A Single Story By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TED talk is a thought-provoking speech about the dangers of taking a single source to accurately represent people, culture, or place without fact-checking other reliable sources.

In her speech about the danger of a single story, she focuses mainly on how people hear a single story about a place or people, assuming that a single source represents the place fully or the people in the story.

A single story about people can be misleading.

There was extreme poverty in the humble Nigerian village where she grew up.

Her mother always reminded her to finish food because other people in the neighborhood couldn’t afford the food she was refusing to eat.

She felt pity for poor people who could not afford food.

Then one day, she narrates how she paid a visit to one of the family homes, which her mother was referring to be extremely poor.

She remembers how she was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were traditional items in that home that she found very attractive.

Motivational quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The danger of a single story…

As a young child, she liked reading books.

She remembers reading about ginger beer made in the West and admired it. However, she never knew that there was a traditional beer made only in Nigeria that could not be found in the West.

When she went to the United States for her high school studies, her roommate sympathized with her because she had heard a single story about Nigeria.

According to her roommate, Nigeria is a poor country in Africa where people are poverty-stricken. In fact, her roommate was amazed that she could speak fluent English.

In summary, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TED talk about “ the danger of a single story ” reminds us to never judge people based on a single story. It is the message Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s speech passes across.

Nick Vujicic Youtube Video About Overcoming Hopelessness

I don’t know about you, but right now…

Thousands of people worldwide struggle with depression, addiction, unemployment, a failed marriage, failed business, bullying, sexism, peer pressure, legal issues, and the list goes on and on…

According to Nick Vujicic YouTube video about overcoming hopelessness,

We all have a purpose in life to pursue no matter what we’re going through, and the most crucial thing that depressed people are looking for in life is hope.

Nick Vujicic has faced many challenges in his life.

Like every responsible parent will tell their kid, his parents constantly said to him that he was handsome and a great child, but he did not believe them!

His disability of not having arms and legs made him feel that he was different from others, a factor that made him think of taking his own life.

Quote by Nick Vujicic

There was a time when Nick Vujicic thought of committing suicide because he thought there was nothing worth living for.

Lucky for him, he did not.

Nick managed to overcome his hopelessness, and to date, he has helped millions of people, including the head of states and billionaires, overcome despair and be hopeful again.

Nick was mainly hopeless because he focused so much on what he did not have. But unfortunately, by doing so, he overlooked the precious gift that God had given him.

You can have both arms and legs but not have any positive influence on other people. On the other hand, you may lack both arms and legs but positively influence others.

Nick encourages people to overcome hopelessness by always focusing on God’s gift and avoiding focusing on their weaknesses.

If Nick Vujicic can do it. Believe me, you can turn around your life and make your big dream come true.

Mel Robbins Ted Talk – How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over

There are many challenges, obstacles, and other bad luck in an average person’s life!

That is why many people end up dissatisfied with their lives; they lose hope, sit back and never lift a finger to change their situation for the better!

Mel Robbins TED talk is about helping people realize their inner potential.

Because people are afraid to change for the better, they put off their problems by thinking and saying that they are fine when it’s apparent that they are not okay.

For example, people assume that they are okay with losing their job. However, other people are in a not working relationship but say they are just fine.

Quote by Mel Robbins

How to stop screwing yourself over…

Mel Robbins’ motivational speech explains to people that for anything to change in life, one has to actively do something that will make their life better.

If you do nothing, nothing changes!

As a motivational speaker, she tries to help her audience do something about their problem and achieve their goals in life irrespective of their situation.

Some of the areas she covers in her speech include relationships, health, and career life.

According to Mel Robbins TED talk, it is simple to get whatever you want in life. But it requires some form of force and energy to be inserted.

Mel Robbins tries to explain to people how they can tap into their activation energy.

She outlines different areas where one can force themselves to make life better because the body acts automatically to other stimulants.

Kid President Pep Talk | The Most Viral Motivational Speech!

Everybody needs motivation and encouragement from time to time, and no one motivates and encourages better than the kid president pep talks viral video.

Is this the most famous speech ever given by a kid president ?

Below is a brief summary of a pep talk from Kid President.

This world does not need boring people. Being boring is easy but does not add value to your life or the people around you.

It is time to get up and do something to improve this world.

Don’t stop believing in your dreams.

Regardless of how often you fail, keep moving because you will make it one time. No dream cannot become true if you stay focused and believe in yourself.

Ask yourself what you can do to make the world awesome. But, of course, you will do nothing if you keep sitting there pitying yourself.

This is your time; this is our time to make this world a more incredible place.

Let us stand for each other and be our brother’s keeper.

Sit down and decide which side you want to be on. Do you want to be on the side that strives to make this world a better place or on the side where you keep complaining?

We all have work to do! ​

You were not born mediocre; we were created to be remarkable. So get out there and do something to make this world a more incredible place.

Create something that will make the world a better place to live.

God has allowed us to change this world and make it a better place. Therefore, if you just sit down and do not utilize this ability, you are not only failing yourself, but you are also failing God.

A pep talk from Kid President encourages everyone to get out there and do something for this universe. So, starting today, get out there and do something!

Make this world a better place for everyone and the next generation.

Ways to Make a Conversation With Anyone By Malavika Varadan

Initiating a conversation with a stranger can be an awkward experience.

This uncomfortable problem is one that Malavika Varadan set out to conquer in her speech about 7 ways to make conversation with anyone .

Malavika Varadan’s first tip of how to have a conversation is to let your first-word “floodgate,” That is, don’t psych yourself out or agonize over what to say,

Just turn to a stranger and say ‘hello.’ (After all, the worst thing they can do is not talk to you–which they’re already doing anyway.)

Varadan’s second strategy is to skip the small talk and ask a more personal question. This way, the other person’s answer is unique and exciting, and as a result, your conversation is more memorable.

The third tactic is to find the things you have in common, or the “me-toos,” with the other person.

Varadan explains that having something in common almost instantly makes the conversation easier since you’re both on the same page.

However, the radio host talks about paying the other person a unique compliment in her fourth tip.

The compliment should be genuine and maybe even unusual–not something the other person probably hears a million times a day.

Her fifth strategy is one of the most useful: Ask for an opinion. Who doesn’t want to share their side of things or be validated?

The sixth tactic doesn’t even require words: just be present. In other words, make eye contact, listen, and don’t stare at your phone.

Lastly, Varadan says that remember a “name, place, animal and thing” when meeting someone.

When you see them again, repeat what you’ve learned about them, like their name, pet, or other little things they brought up before.

If you remember something about them, this will make the other person feel like you’re an investor in their well-being, making them feel responsible for keeping the conversation going.

Once you master these tactics about the different ways to start a conversation, you will find it easy to start a conversation with anyone, even if it’s a total stranger.

Malavika Varadan’s speech is probably the best motivation to listen to if you constantly have trouble talking to strangers.

Denzel Washington’s Speech At Dillard University

Denzel Washington is more than just a celebrity to many of his fans.

He’s a role model, a person to look up to, and an all-around good man.

In delivering the commencement speech at Dillard University, the Academy Award-winning actor had a few words of wisdom to share with the graduates.

Mr. Washington emphasized the importance of putting God first in everything we do.

He acknowledged that he wouldn’t be the Academy Award-winning actor we know and love today without God.

Fear of failure .

Mr. Washington’s following advice to the graduates was to lose the fear of failure.

If they wanted to succeed, the graduates needed to be fearless at chasing their dreams no matter how crazy they were.

He told them the importance of not only having a dream but also having goals to help make those dreams a reality.

The graduates needed discipline and short- and long-term consistency to achieve these goals.

The next piece of advice Mr. Washington shared with the graduates was the importance of hard work.

Success is never complete without hard work. However, he also told the graduates to ensure their hard work bore fruit.

In his words,

Towards closing…

Mr. Washington reminded the graduates that it’s not all about the money. No matter how much money you make, we all leave it here when they die.

Success lies in helping others.

He advised the graduates to use their skills and talents to help themselves and help others and make the world better.

Finally, he told the graduates to remember to thank God every day, not for the things they have but for the things they are yet to achieve in their life and career.

Mr. Washington closed his speech with a powerful statement telling the graduates to not just aspire to make a living but aspire to make a difference.

Mindy Kaling’s Commencement Speech At Dartmouth College

Mindy Kaling’s 2018 Commencement Speech was 17 minutes long, but it was so funny, entertaining, and well-spoken that it only felt 10 minutes long!

Her speech was the most hilarious motivational speech to watch on YouTube. The crux of Mindy Kaling’s speech was that of empowerment.

The power of believing that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to do. In today’s world, people are being told what they can or cannot do, an outdated, archaic way of life.

People get pressured to stay where they are because they believe they’re…

Not good enough!

We mustn’t let anyone tell us that we can’t do something.

We must believe that we can make things happen and not let ourselves be limited by external and internal factors, including our self-esteem, confidence, and capability.

The greatest hindrance to personal success is self-doubt and complacency to remain where you are. When this happens, the potential is lost to what could have been a fulfilling, enjoyable life.

Once we learn how to build confidence and start believing in our skills and abilities, new paths open up, and we’re free to choose what we want to do.

Mindy says that success isn’t a zero-sum game and that women should support each other.

It can only be overcome with a resounding “Why Not You?”

Mindy also mentions that having a checklist for what you want to achieve in life is good, but don’t be afraid to go off the rails and experience something new.

Mindy Kaling’s speech reminds us that overcoming self-doubt is a value only you can do, but the rewards will be immense once you get rid of that belief.

In conclusion, her speech was full of good advice and inspiring elements that the new grads definitely learned something they could carry on with them as they proceed to the next phase of their lives.

25 Best Motivational Speeches By The Best Motivational Speakers Of Our Time

In conclusion…

We hope that the above motivational speakers you watched today have inspired and compelled you to make some sort of a change in your life.

The worst thing you can do is sit there and think, “That was interesting.”

You must take immediate action and make a difference in your life. Watch 25 best motivational speeches by the top motivational speakers.

Change Your Mindset

7 of the best motivational speeches of all time.

What could we possibly achieve by listening to motivational speeches? Isn’t that a waste of time? It’s not. A great motivational speech can be a trigger to action. It inspires you to do something. Powerful speeches make you realize you’re not just a useless individual in this world. Everyone matters. You matter, too.

Have you been feeling that inner drive to seek a higher purpose for a long time? If so, you need to take action. First, you need a trigger that will get you to that action. Try to think of an influential person. Let’s take an example: Jim Morrison. He was one of the most charismatic individuals of his time.

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” That’s only one of the many pieces of wisdom he gave to humanity. These are not only words. They shrink deep inside you. They make you think. They make you act.

Jim Morrison said that during an interview. Back then, motivational speeches were not a big thing. Now, great individuals are trying to make a difference through that specific method. Are you ready to start exploring the best motivational speeches that will make you act?

Here’s a list of 7 of the best motivational speeches of all time :

1 . steve jobs’ 2005 stanford commencement address.

This is one of the most emotional and inspiring speeches you’ll ever listen to. Although Jobs presented it way before TED talks became popular, you’ll notice it has a similar flow to an inspiring TED talk. It is relatively short, it has a theme, and it proves a point through a story.

Through this speech, Jobs tells us how we can find triumph through struggle. Jobs gave this speech one year after he was diagnosed with cancer. He had surgery and he was fine at that point. That’s the most important part of this speech: understanding our time here is limited . What are we going to do with it? That’s what matters.

2 . Al Pacino’s Inch by Inch

Have you seen the movie Any Given Sunday ? It’s a great one. The moment when Al Pacino gives one of the greatest speeches seen on the big screen is priceless. It’s not just a speech about football. It’s about winning. It’s about overcoming obstacles . It’s about becoming stronger. It’s about life in general!

“… In either game life or football the margin for error is so small. I mean one-half step too late or too early you don’t quite make it. One-half second too slow or too fast and you don’t quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They are in every break of the game, every minute, every second.” That’s only a part of this great speech. Funny enough, it starts with “I don’t know what to say, really.”

3 . J.K. Rowling ’s Harvard Commencement Speech

This one will make you laugh at first. J.K Rowling has a rare talent to make the listeners laugh and think at the same time. At one point, the writer gets serious and gives out the main point of this speech: sharing things she wishes she had known at her own graduation, and the important lessons she has learned between that day and the day of the speech.

There’s one aspect of this speech that makes it different from most others on our list: the talk about poverty . The writer tells the truth about it. There’s no romanticizing of poverty. As she says, only fools do that. This situation entails fear, stress, and depression… “it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships.” However, what she feared most for herself when she was young wasn’t poverty. It was a failure.

Essentially, this is a speech about the benefits of failure. Yes, there is such thing as a benefit from failure. J.K. Rowling is a living proof for that.

4 . Bill Gates’ Harvard Commencement Address 2007

“I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: ‘Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.’” That’s one of the funniest parts of this speech. Gates didn’t graduate. He is Harvard’s most successful dropout. He makes a big point, though: the fact that he dropped out doesn’t make academic life less of an important experience. Gates used to sit in on classes he hadn’t even signed up for.

As he says in his speech, one of his most precious memories of Harvard is being in the midst of so much energy and intelligence. Education is important, and it is a privilege. However, getting to know the wider world is also important, even though it’s shocking for the most part.

5 . Jim Carrey ’s Commencement Address at the 2014 MUM Graduation

You would expect a funny speech from one of the funniest men on Earth, wouldn’t you? Well, here is a surprise: Jim Carrey is deep. This speech is enlightening, to say the least. The main message is to choose love over fear.

And yes, the speech is funny. It’s Jim Carrey, after all. However, it’s also very, very serious. “I am here to plant a seed that will inspire you to move forward in life with enthusiastic hearts and a clear sense of wholeness.”

Even if you take the safe route through, life, you might fail . If you follow your dreams, you might fail, too. But, you might achieve them – and that’s what makes the difference. In the speech, Jim shares an example: his father. He could have been a great comedian, but he made a safe choice: accounting . When Kim was 12 years old, his father lost that job that was supposed to be safe. That was the point when the actor learned the most important lesson in life: “… You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

If you’re in the middle of a crossroad and you’re wondering what road to choose, listen to this speech. It inspires you to choose the right thing. It inspires you to choose love over fear.

6 .  Will Smith’s Pursuit of Happiness Speech

If you haven’t seen The Pursuit of Happiness , go watch it right now. It’s amazing! Will Smith plays a homeless salesman doing everything he can to support his son. Will Smith gives a short but impactful speech to his son in the movie about going out and getting what you want out of life.  

He says: “Don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do something. You got a dream? You gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you, you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

7 .  Sheryl Sandberg’ s Commencement Address at the 2012 Harvard Business School Graduation

Sandberg offered the 2012 graduates some practical wisdom prior to them entering the business world. She urged them to remember to always communicate and practice honesty with others, which is not the norm in most workplaces. In fact, it’s likely not to norm for most people even with their friends or family.

She also talked about thinking of your career as a ‘jungle gym’ and encourages people to jump around instead of following the traditional path that most people have done.  

Hopefully this inspires you to push your own boundaries and not be afraid to restart your path, pivot your career, and find different ways of doing things.

Which of the six speeches above is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Sharon Hooper is a marketing specialist and blogger from Manchester, UK. When she has a minute, she loves to share a few of her thoughts about marketing, writing and blogging with you. Currently, she is working as a content marketer at Essayontime. You could follow Sharon on Facebook .

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Shift Your Mindset

10 Hidden Psychological Barriers That Are Killing Your Success

Sure, success often gets credited to hard work, talent, and a sprinkle of luck. But dive into psychology, and you’ll find sneaky mental patterns and behaviors messing with your progress.

Here are ten fascinating insights into these hidden barriers, along with some tips to kick them to the curb:

1. unconscious mental processes and performance.

Our unconscious mind is like a backstage crew, controlling much of the show without us even knowing. It’s tricky because we can’t always tell if it’s one thought or a gang of them messing with our performance.

• Why It Happens : Our brain is a multitasking machine, processing loads of info behind the scenes to keep us functioning. This can sometimes trip us up without us realizing it.
• Example : Imagine prepping for a big presentation. Despite being ready, you feel super anxious. Those jitters could be old memories of past screw-ups haunting you.
• How to Overcome It : Get into mindfulness and self-reflection. Techniques like journaling can help you spot and deal with these sneaky influences.

2. All or Nothing Thinking

Ever see things in black-and-white? That’s a cognitive distortion called all-or-nothing thinking. No gray areas, just extremes.

• Why It Happens : Our brain loves to simplify stuff, even if it means being unrealistic. It’s like a shortcut that often leads to stress.
• Example : Thinking you have to be perfect at your job or you’re a total flop. It’s all or nothing, no middle ground.
• How to Overcome It : Challenge those extreme thoughts. Find the balance and remind yourself that effort and progress matter, even if things aren’t perfect.

3. Self-Limiting Beliefs

These pesky beliefs sneak in from past experiences and hold us back. They’re like invisible chains.

• Why It Happens : Our brain likes to stick to the familiar to avoid failure. These beliefs get formed early and dig in deep.
• Example : Bombed a math test once and now think you’re doomed to suck at math forever? That’s a self-limiting belief in action.
• How to Overcome It : Spot these beliefs and question them. Replace them with positive affirmations and look for evidence that proves them wrong.

4. Habit Formation and Unconscious Behavior

We’re creatures of habit, with a lot of our actions running on autopilot.

• Why It Happens : Our brain automates routines to save energy. Handy, but not always helpful.
• Example : Procrastinating? That’s a habit that can tank your productivity and success.
• How to Overcome It : Build new, positive habits. Set small, doable goals and track your progress with habit trackers.

5. Normative Unconscious Processes

These processes keep us stuck in our comfort zones, resisting necessary changes.

• Why It Happens : Familiarity feels safe, so our brain resists change even when it’s good for us.
• Example : Sticking with a job you hate because it’s familiar, even though it’s not what you want.
• How to Overcome It : Push yourself out of your comfort zone with specific, actionable goals. Get a mentor or coach for support.

6. Violation of Social Norms

Going against the grain can be seen as abnormal, but sometimes it’s just what’s needed.

• Why It Happens : Society’s unwritten rules can be strict, and breaking them can lead to judgment.
• Example : An entrepreneur taking wild risks might seem reckless, but those risks can lead to big breakthroughs.
• How to Overcome It : Own your unique approach and find places that value diverse perspectives. Explain your rationale to others and seek support.

7. Statistical Rarity and Abnormal Behavior

Just because something is rare doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Context is key.

• Why It Happens : What’s unusual can be misunderstood, especially without considering cultural and situational factors.
• Example : Preferring solitude might seem antisocial, but in some cultures, it’s a respected trait.
• How to Overcome It : Respect cultural differences and find communities that appreciate your uniqueness.

8. Personal Distress and Behavior

Behaviors that stress you out can be markers of deeper issues, but not always.

• Why It Happens : Distress signals can be about deeper problems or just responses to tough situations.
• Example : Chronic stress from overworking can lead to burnout, tanking your performance and well-being.
• How to Overcome It : Take care of yourself. Get help if you need it and practice stress management techniques like exercise and meditation.

9. Maladaptive Behaviors

These are survival strategies gone wrong, sticking around when they’re no longer useful.

• Why It Happens : Behaviors that once helped you cope can become harmful if you keep using them in new situations.
• Example : Avoiding conflict might have been useful before, but now it hinders effective communication.
• How to Overcome It : Learn new coping strategies that fit your current situation. Practice being assertive and communicating openly.

10. Impact of Labels on Behavior

Labels can stick like glue, influencing how we see ourselves and how others see us.

• Why It Happens : Labels simplify things but can reinforce negative patterns and limit potential.
• Example : Being called “lazy” can crush your self-esteem and motivation, even if it’s not true.
• How to Overcome It : Reject negative labels and focus on your strengths. Surround yourself with people who see your potential and support your growth.

Understanding these hidden psychological barriers can help you develop better strategies for success.

Recognizing and tackling these unconscious patterns can unlock your full potential and set you on a path to personal and professional growth.

Navigating The Depths Of Self-Love And Relationships With Stefanos Sifandos

In the vast expanse of personal development and relational expertise, Stefanos Sifandos emerges as a beacon of transformative wisdom. With a journey spanning over two decades, Stefanos has delved into the intricacies of human psychology, relationship dynamics, and self-evolution, crafting a narrative that resonates with the collective longing for deeper connection and self-awareness. 

Self-Love Journey

From a turbulent childhood marked by violence and uncertainty, Stefanos embarked on a quest to understand human nature, pain, and potential. His empathic nature, fueled by a desire to make sense of his surroundings, led him to a career in personal development and relationship coaching. With over two decades of experience, he has helped countless individuals, from Olympic gold medalists to corporate leaders, navigate the complexities of human relationships and personal growth.

Stefanos’ journey took a pivotal turn when confronted with his own shadow — his infidelity revealed the depth of his unresolved trauma. This moment of reckoning propelled him into a transformative process of self-examination, leading to profound personal and professional growth. His ability to face his darkest fears and embrace vulnerability allowed him to develop a deeper, more authentic connection with himself and others.

Now, as a father and husband, Stefanos continues to evolve, learning from every relationship and experience. His story is a testament to the power of introspection, resilience, and unconditional love. Through his work, he inspires others to embark on their own hero’s journey, encouraging them to confront their fears, embrace their true selves, and build meaningful, lasting connections.

“Healing begins when we traverse the dark corners of our psyche, face our fears, and step into a life of radical transparency and self-acceptance.” Stefanos

Relationship Philosophy

Stefanos, a seasoned expert with over two decades in personal development, harnesses a rich tapestry of experiences to guide individuals through the complexities of relationships and self-love. Drawing from his own transformative journey, marred by childhood trauma and self-discovery, he advocates for a profound connection with one’s own pain and joy as a pathway to deeper understanding and love.

Stefanos’ work, enriched by engagements with diverse high achievers, from Olympic medalists to CEOs, underscores the universal quest for authentic connection and personal evolution. He emphasises the necessity of facing one’s shadow, fostering play and willingness in relationships, and embracing continuous growth. Stefanos’ approach is a blend of empathetic insight and practical wisdom, offering a roadmap to navigating the nuanced dance of masculine and feminine energetics and cultivating relationships that are both deeply fulfilling and spiritually enlightening.

Stefanos illuminates the path to self-love and intimacy through practices rooted in self-awareness and continual growth. With over two decades in personal development, he emphasises the power of stillness and silence, finding these moments essential for introspection and connection with oneself.

Stefanos integrates physical self-care, like cold immersion and sauna use, to maintain a balanced state of mind and body. He champions the importance of play and novelty in relationships, advocating for a playful spirit to sustain and deepen bonds with partners. His journey reveals a commitment to self-exploration and the courage to face personal shadows, fostering a safe space for intimacy to flourish. Stefanos’ narrative is a testament to the transformative power of embracing vulnerability and the continuous pursuit of self-growth, underscoring the belief that true intimacy begins with a profound connection to oneself.

“The sacred dance of giving and receiving in love is a delicate balance, where the truest form of intimacy is found not in the grand gestures, but in the quiet moments of shared vulnerability and presence.” Stefanos

Sex & Intimacy

Discover the life-altering power of non-ejaculatory orgasm, a mystical journey revealed by relationship expert Stefanos. Dive into an ancient realm where men harness their sexual vitality, transcending the fleeting pleasure of climax.

Stefanos unravels the sacred tapestry of sexual energy, guiding us to preserve our life force for profound intimacy and spiritual awakening. Embrace this transformative practice, merging the physical with the divine, and unlock a wellspring of passion, vitality, and connection. This isn’t just sex; it’s an odyssey into the heart of your erotic essence, where every moment pulses with potential and every breath is an invitation to ecstasy.

Stefanos invites you to reclaim your sexual power, not through the relentless pursuit of orgasm, but by cherishing the journey itself, crafting a legacy of love, vitality, and transcendent pleasure.

A Message To The World

If Stefanos had a global platform, his message would be succinct yet profound:

“Do the thing that you’re unwilling to do but that you know you need to do.”

This call to action embodies the essence of his teachings, urging individuals to confront their fears, embrace their truths, and embark on the journey of transformation with courage and openness.

Stefanos’ journey from a tumultuous childhood to a relationship expert underscores the profound transformation possible in the realm of human connections. His 24-year odyssey through personal and professional development, working with an array of high achievers, has equipped him with unique insights into the dynamics of relationships, especially the interplay of masculine and feminine energies.

His work is vital in today’s society, where distractions and external dissonances challenge the essence of human connection. By integrating deep psychological insights with practical experience, Stefanos guides individuals and couples toward cultivating divine unions and authentic relationships. His approach, focusing on inner work, play, and willingness, offers a blueprint for evolving relationships in the modern era. Stefanos’ narrative is not just a story of personal triumph but a beacon for those navigating the complexities of love, intimacy, and self-discovery in our rapidly changing world.

Key Takeaways For Your Self-Love And Relationship Journey

• Embrace Your Inner Journey : Recognize that the path to fulfilling relationships and self-love begins with confronting and healing your own traumas and shadows.
• Cultivate Presence and Play : Regular engagement in playful activities and mindful presence enhances intimacy and connection in relationships.
• Practice Non-Attachment in Love : Explore the depths of intimacy with a balanced approach to sexual expression, understanding that love and desire can exist in expansive, yet grounded ways.
• Be Willing and Open : Approach life and relationships with a willingness to engage in difficult conversations, embodying honesty and integrity in your interactions.
• Believe in Your Potential : Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support your growth, as relationships are pivotal in navigating the journey towards personal and financial fulfillment.

Connect With Stefanos Sifandos

The art of convincing: 10 persuasion techniques that really work.

The knack for persuading others can act as a catalyst for change, open doors, forge alliances, and effect positive change

Persuasion is not as complicated as it may sound. In fact, it is something that we have been practicing since childhood. Do you remember convincing your parents to let you skip school, asking your teacher not to assign homework, or persuading your boss to give you a day off? Well, these are just small examples of what persuasion looks like. (more…)

Personal Development

5 key reasons why perfectionist’s procrastinate.

Hey there! I’m Joel Brown, a procrastination mindset specialist. In my world, it’s all about guiding my students through repatterning exercises to break free from the shackles that prevent them from scaling new heights in life.

Now, you might hear ‘perfectionist’ and think, “Ah, they’re destined for success!” But here’s the real deal: perfectionism is far from a superpower. It’s a sneaky villain in disguise, sapping emotional and physical strength, disrupting sleep, and fueling an endless cycle of rumination—all in the pursuit of getting everything ‘just right.’ This relentless chase is what we call the ‘ Obsessive Idealist ‘ procrastination type.

If you don’t know which out of. the 6 procrastination types you are then you can take this quick 3 minute procrastination type quiz on my Mindstrong Academy website.

Through my fourteen years of coaching, I’ve identified six procrastination types, but my journey started with a personal revelation—I am an Obsessive Idealist. I’ve been there, constantly toggling between creation and procrastination.

And today, I invite you to explore this path with me. If you’re nodding along, thinking, “That sounds like me; I’m a perfectionist too,” then stick around.

I’m about to shed some light on why you might be stuck in this cycle.

Here’s a perfectionist procrastination type video here of what I’m breaking down in this article for you:

The Obsessive Idealist: Unpacking the Perfectionist’s Paradox

First things first, make sure to take the procrastination quiz: mindstrongacademy.com/quiz to see where you stand. Now, let’s dive into the world of the Obsessive Idealist. Often labeled as high achievers or perfectionists, the core of their procrastination lies in the mind’s protective pause. It’s a shield against perceived threats, pitfalls of perfectionism, and the constant battle between the now and the future in our minds.

Here’s the paradox: what seems like a strength for high achievers can become a crippling hindrance. Obsessive Idealists are in a constant struggle to avoid failure, aiming for 100% perfection. But let’s face the truth—no one is perfect. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, athlete, or any individual striving for excellence, embracing imperfections and learning from failures are crucial steps.

The Traps of Being an Obsessive Idealist Procrastination Type

Analysis Paralysis: Overthinking every detail to the point of inaction is a common pitfall. It’s like trying to get everything perfect, but in reality, it backfires, stalling your progress.

The Unrealistic Standards Syndrome: Setting impossibly high goals is like chasing a mirage. It’s not just about being competitive; it can lead to unfair self-criticism and unrealistic expectations of others.

The Time Trap: Believing there’s never enough time to complete a task perfectly leads to constant postponement. This selective focus on strengths, while avoiding areas of improvement, limits your true potential.

Avoidance of Criticism: Dodging feedback hinders growth. It’s essential to learn to accept constructive criticism without internalizing it as a reinforcement of the “I’m not good enough” narrative.

The All-or-Nothing Lie: Believing that you must operate at full throttle or not at all is a dangerous misconception. Embracing the middle ground, like delegating tasks and seeking mentorship, is key to balanced success.

Embracing Imperfection: The Path to True Progress

In the MindStrong Academy, where I teach conquering procrastination, we focus on managing these patterns effectively. Currently, we’re offering a 7-day free trial, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your mindset: MindStrongAcademy.com The Academy is more than just a course; it’s a community where you’ll find support, accountability, and tailored resources like a 31-day planner and visualization audios to realign your focus.

In conclusion , recognizing and managing your tendencies as an Obsessive Idealist is crucial. By addressing the deep-rooted “I’m not good enough” narrative and embracing imperfection, you can shift from a state of constant stress to one of harmonized power.

Remember, movement doesn’t always equate to progress. It’s about finding balance, embracing downtime, and allowing yourself the space to grow and learn.

I encourage you to take the quiz, join the MindStrong Academy, and start your journey towards a more balanced, successful life.

Let’s break free from the chains of perfectionism together!

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Brett & Kate McKay • August 24, 2020 • Last updated: August 25, 2021

The 35 Greatest Speeches in History

These famous speeches lifted hearts in dark times, gave hope in despair, refined the characters of men, inspired brave feats, gave courage to the weary, honored the dead, and changed the course of history.

How did we compile this list?

Great oratory has three components: style, substance, and impact.

Style: A great speech must be masterfully constructed. The best orators are masters of both the written and spoken word, and use words to create texts that are beautiful to both hear and read.

Substance: A speech may be flowery and charismatically presented, and yet lack any true substance at all. Great oratory must center on a worthy theme; it must appeal to and inspire the audience’s finest values and ideals.

Impact: Great oratory always seeks to persuade the audience of some fact or idea. The very best speeches change hearts and minds and seem as revelatory several decades or centuries removed as when they were first given.

And now for the speeches.

Contents [ hide ]

• 1. Theodore Roosevelt, "Duties of American Citizenship"
• 2. Winston Churchill, "We Shall Fight on the Beaches"
• 3. Lou Gehrig, "Farewell to Baseball Address"
• 4. Demosthenes, "The Third Philippic"
• 5. Chief Joseph, "Surrender Speech"
• 6. John F. Kennedy, "Inauguration Address"

7. Ronald Reagan, "Address to the Nation on the Challenger"

8. "speech of alexander the great", 9. william wilberforce, "abolition speech", 10. theodore roosevelt, "the man with the muck-rake", 11. franklin delano roosevelt, "first inaugural address", 12. charles de gaulle, "the appeal of 18 june", 13. socrates, "apology", 14. george washington, "resignation speech", 15. mahatma gandhi, "quit india", 16. winston churchill, "their finest hour", 17. william faulkner, "nobel prize acceptance speech", 18. dwight d. eisenhower, "farewell address", 19. marcus tullius cicero, "the first oration against catiline", 20. ronald reagan, "remarks at the brandenburg gate", 21. pericles, "funeral oration", 22. general douglas macarthur, "farewell address to congress", 23. theodore roosevelt, "strength and decency", 24. abraham lincoln, "2nd inaugural address", 25. patrick henry, "give me liberty or give me death", 26. ronald reagan, "40th anniversary of d-day".

• 27. John F. Kennedy, "The Decision to Go to the Moon"

28. Frederick Douglass, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"

29. general douglas macarthur, "duty, honor, country", 30. theodore roosevelt, "citizenship in a republic", 31. winston churchill, "blood, sweat, and tears", 32. franklin delano roosevelt, "pearl harbor address to the nation", 33. jesus christ, "the sermon on the mount", 34. martin luther king jr., "i have a dream", 35. abraham lincoln, "the gettysburg address", 1. theodore roosevelt,  “duties of american citizenship”.

January 26, 1883; Buffalo , New York

Given while serving as a New York assemblyman, TR's address on the "Duties of American Citizenship" delved into both the theoretical reasons why every man should be involved in politics and the practical means of serving in that capacity. Roosevelt chided those who excused themselves from politics because they were too busy; it was every man's duty to devote some time to maintaining good government.

Worthy Excerpt:

Of course, in one sense, the first essential for a man's being a good citizen is his possession of the home virtues of which we think when we call a man by the emphatic adjective of manly. No man can be a good citizen who is not a good husband and a good father, who is not honest in his dealings with other men and women, faithful to his friends and fearless in the presence of his foes, who has not got a sound heart, a sound mind, and a sound body; exactly as no amount of attention to civil duties will save a nation if the domestic life is undermined, or there is lack of the rude military virtues which alone can assure a country's position in the world. In a free republic the ideal citizen must be one willing and able to take arms for the defense of the flag, exactly as the ideal citizen must be the father of many healthy children. A race must be strong and vigorous; it must be a race of good fighters and good breeders, else its wisdom will come to naught and its virtue be ineffective; and no sweetness and delicacy, no love for and appreciation of beauty in art or literature, no capacity for building up material prosperity can possibly atone for the lack of the great virile virtues. But this is aside from my subject, for what I wish to talk of is the attitude of the American citizen in civic life. It ought to be axiomatic in this country that every man must devote a reasonable share of his time to doing his duty in the Political life of the community. No man has a right to shirk his political duties under whatever plea of pleasure or business; and while such shirking may be pardoned in those of small cleans it is entirely unpardonable in those among whom it is most common--in the people whose circumstances give them freedom in the struggle for life. In so far as the community grows to think rightly, it will likewise grow to regard the young man of means who shirks his duty to the State in time of peace as being only one degree worse than the man who thus shirks it in time of war. A great many of our men in business, or of our young men who are bent on enjoying life (as they have a perfect right to do if only they do not sacrifice other things to enjoyment), rather plume themselves upon being good citizens if they even vote; yet voting is the very least of their duties, Nothing worth gaining is ever gained without effort. You can no more have freedom without striving and suffering for it than you can win success as a banker or a lawyer without labor and effort, without self-denial in youth and the display of a ready and alert intelligence in middle age. The people who say that they have not time to attend to politics are simply saying that they are unfit to live in a free community.

Read full text of speech here .

2. Winston Churchill,  “We Shall Fight on the Beaches”

June 4, 1940 ; House of Commons, London

Winston Churchill, one of the greatest orators of the 20th century, was interestingly enough, like Demosthenes and other great orators before him, born with a speech impediment which he worked on until it no longer hindered him. One would never guess this from hearing Churchill's strong and reassuring voice, a voice that would buoy up Britain during some of her darkest hours.

During the Battle of France, Allied Forces became cut off from troops south of the German penetration and perilously trapped at the Dunkirk bridgehead. On May 26, a wholesale evacuation of these troops, dubbed "Operation Dynamo," began. The evacuation was an amazing effort-the RAF kept the Luftwaffe at bay while thousands of ships, from military destroyers to small fishing boats, were used to ferry 338,000 French and British troops to safety, far more than anyone had thought possible. On June 4, Churchill spoke before the House of Commons, giving a report which celebrated the "miraculous deliverance" at Dunkirk, while also seeking to temper a too rosy of view of what was on the whole a "colossal military disaster."

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, 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, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

Check out my podcast with Churchill biographer Andrew Roberts .

3. Lou Gehrig, “Farewell to Baseball Address”

July 4, 1939; Yankee Stadium

It seemed as if the luminous career of Lou Gehrig would go on forever. The Yankee's first baseman and prodigious slugger was nicknamed the Iron Horse for his durability and commitment to the game. Sadly, his record for suiting up for 2,130 consecutive games came to an end when at age 36, Gehrig was stricken with the crippling disease that now bears his name. On July 4, 1939, the Yankees held a ceremony to honor their teammate and friend. They retired Gehrig's number, spoke of his greatness, and presented him with various gifts, plaques, and trophies. When Gehrig finally addressed the crowd, he did not use the opportunity to wallow in pity. Instead, he spoke of the things he was grateful for and what a lucky guy he was.

Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert - also the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow - to have spent the next nine years with that wonderful little fellow Miller Huggins - then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology - the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy! Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift, that's something! When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies, that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles against her own daughter, that's something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body, it's a blessing! When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed, that's the finest I know. So I close in saying that I might have had a tough break - but I have an awful lot to live for!

4. Demosthenes,  “The Third Philippic”

342 B.C.; Athens, Greece

Demosthenes, master statesman and orator, loved his city-state of Athens. He cherished its way of life and abundant freedoms. And he believed in standing strong against anyone who might attempt to infringe on these privileges. This passion, unfortunately, was seldom shared by his fellow Athenians. While Philip the II of Macedon made bolder and bolder incursions into the Greek peninsula, the Athenian people seemed stuck in an apathetic stupor. For years, Demosthenes employed his powerful oratorical skills in attempts to awaken his fellow citizens from sleep to the realization of the imminent danger Philip posed. When Philip advanced on Thrace, the Athenians called an assembly to debate whether or not to finally heed the great orator's advice. Demosthenes was sick of his brethren taking liberty and the Athenian way of life for granted and he boldly called upon them to rise up and take action. After his rousing speech, the assembly all cried out, "To arms! To arms!"

It is this fate, I solemnly assure you, that I dread for you, when the time comes that you make your reckoning, and realize that there is no longer anything that can be done. May you never find yourselves, men of Athens, in such a position! Yet in any case, it were better to die ten thousand deaths, than to do anything out of servility towards Philip [or to sacrifice any of those who speak for your good]. A noble recompense did the people in Oreus receive, for entrusting themselves to Philip's friends, and thrusting Euphraeus aside! And a noble recompense the democracy of Eretria, for driving away your envoys, and surrendering to Cleitarchus! They are slaves, scourged and butchered! A noble clemency did he show to the Olynthians, who elected Lasthenes to command the cavalry, and banished Apollonides! It is folly, and it is cowardice, to cherish hopes like these, to give way to evil counsels, to refuse to do anything that you should do, to listen to the advocates of the enemy's cause, and to fancy that you dwell in so great a city that, whatever happens, you will not suffer any harm.

5. Chief Joseph, “Surrender Speech”

October 5, 1877; Montana Territory

In 1877, the military announced that the Chief Joseph and his tribe of Nez Perce had to move onto a reservation in Idaho or face retribution. Desiring to avoid violence, Chief Joseph advocated peace and cooperation. But fellow tribesmen dissented and killed four white men. Knowing a swift backlash was coming, Joseph and his people began to make their way to Canada, hoping to find amnesty there. The tribe traveled 1700 miles, fighting the pursuing US army along the way. In dire conditions, and after a five day battle, Chief Joseph surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles on Oct. 5, 1877 in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana Territory, a mere 40 miles from the Canadian border. The Chief knew he was the last of a dying breed, and the moment of surrender was heartbreaking.

Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our Chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. 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 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 sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

6. John F. Kennedy,  “Inauguration Address”

January 20, 1961; Washington, D.C.

Young, handsome, with a glamorous family in tow, John F. Kennedy embodied the fresh optimism that had marked the post-war decade. On January 20, 1961, Kennedy took the oath of office as the 35th President of the United States. The youngest president in United States history, he was the first man born in the 20th century to hold that office. Listening to his inaugural address, the nation felt that a new era and a "new frontier" were being ushered in.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Listen to the speech.

January 28, 1986; Washington, D.C.

On January 28, 1986, millions of Americans, many of them schoolchildren watching from their classroom desks, tuned in to see 7 Americans, including Christa McAuliffe, a 37 year old schoolteacher and the first ever "civilian astronaut," lift off in the space shuttle Challenger. Just 73 seconds later, the shuttle was consumed in a fireball. All seven aboard perished. These were the first deaths of American astronauts while in flight, and the nation was shocked and heartbroken by the tragedy. Just a few hours after the disaster, President Ronald Reagan took to the radio and airwaves, honoring these "pioneers" and offering comfort and assurance to a rattled people.

We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for 25 years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers. And I want to say something to the school children of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them...... The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honoured us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'

Check out our podcast with Ronald Regan biographer Bob Sptiz.

326 B.C.; Hydaspes River, India

In 335 B.C., Alexander the Great began his campaign to recapture former Greek cities and to expand his empire. After ten years of undefeated battles, Alexander controlled an empire that included Greece, Egypt, and what had been the massive Persian Empire.

That wasn't enough for Xander. He decided to continue his conquest into India. But after ten years of fighting and being away from home, his men lacked the will to take part in another battle, especially against an opponent like King Porus and his army. Alexander used the talent for oration he had developed while studying under Aristotle to infuse his men with the motivation they needed to continue on, to fight and to win.

I could not have blamed you for being the first to lose heart if I, your commander, had not shared in your exhausting marches and your perilous campaigns; it would have been natural enough if you had done all the work merely for others to reap the reward. But it is not so. You and I, gentlemen, have shared the labour and shared the danger, and the rewards are for us all. The conquered territory belongs to you; from your ranks the governors of it are chosen; already the greater part of its treasure passes into your hands, and when all Asia is overrun, then indeed I will go further than the mere satisfaction of our ambitions: the utmost hopes of riches or power which each one of you cherishes will be far surpassed, and whoever wishes to return home will be allowed to go, either with me or without me. I will make those who stay the envy of those who return.

Check out the AoM podcast about the life of Alexander the Great.

May 12, 1789; House of Commons, London

When William Wilberforce, a member of the British Parliament, converted to Christianity, he began to earnestly seek to reform the evils he found within himself and the world around him. One of the glaring moral issues of the day was slavery, and after reading up on the subject and meeting with anti-slavery activists, Wilberforce became convinced that God was calling him to be an abolitionist. Wilberforce decided to concentrate on ending the slave trade rather than slavery itself, reasoning that the abolition of one would logically lead to the demise of the other. On May 12, 1789, Wilberforce made his first speech on the abolition of the slave trade before the House of Commons. He passionately made his case for why the trade was reprehensible and needed to cease. Wilberforce introduced a bill to abolish the trade, but it failed, a result he would become quite familiar with in the ensuing years. Yet Wilberforce never gave up, reintroducing the bill year after year, and the Slave Trade Act was finally passed in 1807.

When I consider the magnitude of the subject which I am to bring before the House-a subject, in which the interests, not of this country, nor of Europe alone, but of the whole world, and of posterity, are involved: and when I think, at the same time, on the weakness of the advocate who has undertaken this great cause-when these reflections press upon my mind, it is impossible for me not to feel both terrified and concerned at my own inadequacy to such a task. But when I reflect, however, on the encouragement which I have had, through the whole course of a long and laborious examination of this question, and how much candour I have experienced, and how conviction has increased within my own mind, in proportion as I have advanced in my labours;-when I reflect, especially, that however averse any gentleman may now be, yet we shall all be of one opinion in the end;-when I turn myself to these thoughts, I take courage-I determine to forget all my other fears, and I march forward with a firmer step in the full assurance that my cause will bear me out, and that I shall be able to justify upon the clearest principles, every resolution in my hand, the avowed end of which is, the total abolition of the slave trade.

April 14, 1906; Washington, D.C.

Theodore Roosevelt was president during the Progressive Era, a time of great enthusiasm for reform in government, the economy, and society. TR himself held many progressive ideals, but he also called for moderation, not extremism. The "Man with a Muck-rake" in Pilgrim's Progress never looked heavenward but instead constantly raked the filth at his feet. TR thus dubbed the journalists and activists of the day who were intent on exposing the corruption in society as "muckrakers." He felt that they did a tremendous amount of good, but needed to mitigate their constant pessimism and alarmist tone. He worried that the sensationalism with which these exposes were often presented would make citizens overly cynical and too prone to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

To assail the great and admitted evils of our political and industrial life with such crude and sweeping generalizations as to include decent men in the general condemnation means the searing of the public conscience. There results a general attitude either of cynical belief in and indifference to public corruption or else of a distrustful inability to discriminate between the good and the bad. Either attitude is fraught with untold damage to the country as a whole. The fool who has not sense to discriminate between what is good and what is bad is well-nigh as dangerous as the man who does discriminate and yet chooses the bad. There is nothing more distressing to every good patriot, to every good American, than the hard, scoffing spirit which treats the allegation of dishonesty in a public man as a cause for laughter. Such laughter is worse than the crackling of thorns under a pot, for it denotes not merely the vacant mind, but the heart in which high emotions have been choked before they could grow to fruition.

March 4, 1933; Washington, D.C.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt handily beat incumbent Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election. The country was deep into the Great Depression, and the public felt that Hoover did not fully sympathize with their plight and was not doing enough to alleviate it. No one was quite clear on what FDR's plan was, but as in today's election season, "change" was enough of an idea to power a campaign. In his First Inaugural Address, Roosevelt sought to buoy up the injured psyche of the American people and present his case for why he would need broad executive powers to tackle the Depression.

I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our Nation impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

Read the full text here .

June 18, 1940; London

In June of 1940, it was clear that France was losing their country to the German invasion. Refusing to sign an armistice, Prime Minister Paul Reynaud was forced to resign. He was succeeded by Marshal Philippe Petain who made clear his intention to seek an accommodation with Germany. Disgusted with this decision, General Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces, escaped to England on June 15. De Gaulle asked for, and obtained permission from Winston Churchill to make a speech on BBC radio. De Gaulle exhorted the French to not give up hope and to continue the fight against the German occupation and the Vichy Regime.

But has the last word been said? Must hope disappear? Is defeat final? No! Believe me, I who am speaking to you with full knowledge of the facts, and who tell you that nothing is lost for France. The same means that overcame us can bring us victory one day. For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight. She can, like England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States. This war is not limited to the unfortunate territory of our country. This war is not over as a result of the Battle of France. This war is a worldwide war. All the mistakes, all the delays, all the suffering, do not alter the fact that there are, in the world, all the means necessary to crush our enemies one day. Vanquished today by mechanical force, in the future we will be able to overcome by a superior mechanical force. The fate of the world depends on it.

399 B.C.; Athens

Socrates is perhaps the greatest teacher in the history of the Western world. He wandered around Athens engaging in dialogues with his fellow citizens that focused on discovering the truth of all things . He taught his pupils that the "unexamined life is not worth living."

The Athenians saw Socrates as a threat, especially to the Athenian youth. Socrates acquired quite a following among the young men of Athens. He taught these impressionable minds to question everything, even Athenian authority. Eventually, Socrates was arrested and put on trial for corrupting the youth, not believing the gods, and creating new deities.

The "Apology" is Socrates' defense to these charges. Instead of crying and pleading for mercy, Socrates accepts his charges and attempts to persuade the jury with reason. He argued that it was his calling from the gods to seek knowledge and that it was through his questions he uncovered truth. To not fulfill his calling would be blasphemy. In the end, Socrates lost and was sentenced to death by hemlock. Socrates accepted this fate willingly and without grudge against his condemners, thus dying as a martyr for free thinking.

Some one will say: Yes, Socrates, but cannot you hold your tongue, and then you may go into a foreign city, and no one will interfere with you? Now I have great difficulty in making you understand my answer to this. For if I tell you that to do as you say would be a disobedience to the God, and therefore that I cannot hold my tongue, you will not believe that I am serious; and if I say again that daily to discourse about virtue, and of those other things about which you hear me examining myself and others, is the greatest good of man, and that the unexamined life is not worth living, you are still less likely to believe me.

Check out our article on the philosophy of Plato . 

December 23, 1784; Annapolis, Maryland

As the Revolutionary War drew to a close, there was much speculation that George Washington, then Major General and Commander-in-Chief, would follow in the footsteps of former world leaders by making a grab for supreme power. Some even wished he would do so, hoping he would become the king of a new nation. Yet Washington knew that such a move would wither the fragile beginnings of the new republic. Looking to the Roman general Cincinnatus an exemplar, Washington rejected the temptations of power and resigned his position as Commander-in-Chief. Choosing the right is almost never easy, and as Washington read his speech in front of the Continental Congress, the great statesman trembled so much that he had to hold the parchment with two hands to keep it steady. "The spectators all wept, and there was hardly a member of Congress who did not drop tears. His voice faltered and sunk, and the whole house felt his agitations." When finished, Washington bolted from the door of the Annapolis State House, mounted his horse, and galloped away into the sunset.

While I repeat my obligations to the Army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge in this place the peculiar Services and distinguished merits of the Gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the War. It was impossible the choice of confidential Officers to compose my family should have been more fortunate. Permit me Sir, to recommend in particular those, who have continued in Service to the present moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress. I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my Official life, by commending the Interests of our dearest Country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping. Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.

Check out my podcast about the self-education of George Washington.

August 8, 1942; India

While the battle for freedom and democracy raged across the world, the people of India were engaged in their own fight for liberty. For almost a century, India had been under the direct rule of the British crown, and many Indians had had enough. Mahatma Gandhi and the National Indian Congress pushed for a completely non-violent movement aimed at forcing Britain to "Quit India." Gandhi, pioneer of the tactics of non-violent civil disobedience, called for their use on August 8, 1942 with the passing of the Quit India Resolution demanding complete independence from British rule.

I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours. I read Carlyle's French Resolution while I was in prison, and Pandit Jawaharlal has told me something about the Russian revolution. But it is my conviction that inasmuch as these struggles were fought with the weapon of violence they failed to realize the democratic ideal. In the democracy which I have envisaged, a democracy established by non-violence, there will be equal freedom for all. Everybody will be his own master. It is to join a struggle for such democracy that I invite you today. Once you realize this you will forget the differences between the Hindus and Muslims, and think of yourselves as Indians only, engaged in the common struggle for independence.

June 18, 1940; House of Commons, London

On May 10, 1940, the Germans began their invasion of France. On June 14 Paris fell. In a matter of days, France would surrender and England would stand as Europe's lone bulwark against the twin evils of Fascism and Nazism. At this critical moment, Churchill gave his third and final speech during the Battle of France, once again imparting words meant to bring hope in this dark hour.

What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'

Check out my podcast about how Churchill led during the Blitz.

December 10, 1950; Stockholm, Sweden

A true master of the written word, William Faulkner did not often make public his gift for the spoken variety. So there was some interest as to what he would say when accepting the Nobel Peace Prize for his "powerful and artistically unique contribution to the modern American novel." The year was 1950, the Soviet Union had tapped the potential of the atomic bomb, and the atmosphere in the the United States crackled with the fear of them using it. Faulkner challenged poets, authors, and all mankind to think beyond the questions of "When will I be blown up?" and instead continue to "create out of the materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before."

I decline to accept the end of man. It is easy enough to say that man is immortal because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged and faded from the last worthless rock hanging tideless in the last red and dying evening, that even then there will still be one more sound: that of his puny inexhaustible voice, still talking. I refuse to accept this. I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.

January 17, 1961; Washington, D.C.

The 1950's were a time of ever increasing military spending, as the United States sought to fight communism abroad and prevent it at home. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower left office, more than half of the federal budget was allocated for defense purposes. Eisenhower, former General of the Army, was certainly not opposed to the use of military power to keep the peace. Still, he saw fit to use his "Farewell Address" to warn the nation of the dangers posed by the "military-industrial complex," referring to the relationship between the armed forces, the government, and the suppliers of war materials. Eisenhower was wary of the large role defense spending played in the economy, and understood the political and corporate corruption that could result if the public was not vigilant in checking it.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex . The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

63 BC; Rome

Lucius Sergius Catilina (Catiline to his friends) was a very jealous man. Having once run against Cicero for the position of consul and lost, he became determined to win the next election by any devious method necessary. Plan A was to bribe people to vote for him, and when that didn't work, he decided to go for bust and simply knock Cicero off on election day. This plan was ferreted out by the ever vigilant Cicero, the election was postponed, and the Senate established marital law. When the election finally was held, the murderer-cum-candidate was surprisingly trounced at the polls. Now it was time for Catiline's Plan C: raise an army of co-conspirators, create insurrection throughout Italy, overthrow the government, and slice and dice as many Senators as they could get their coo -ky hands on. But Cicero was again one step ahead and discovered the plan. He called the Senate together for a meeting at the Temple of Jupiter in the Capitol, an orifice only used in times of great crisis. Catiline, who seriously didn't know when he was not welcome, decided to crash the party. With his archenemy in attendance, Cicero began his Catiline Orations, a series of speeches covering how he saved Rome from rebellion, the guilt of Catiline, and the need to whack he and his cronies.

I wish, O conscript fathers, to be merciful; I wish not to appear negligent amid such danger to the state; but I do now accuse myself of remissness and culpable inactivity. A camp is pitched in Italy, at the entrance of Etruria, in hostility to the republic; the number of the enemy increases every day; and yet the general of that camp, the leader of those enemies, we see within the walls-aye, and even in the senate-planning every day some internal injury to the republic. If, O Catiline, I should now order you to be arrested, to be put to death, I should, I suppose, have to fear lest all good men should say that I had acted tardily, rather than that any one should affirm that I acted cruelly. But yet this, which ought to have been done long since, I have good reason for not doing as yet; I will put you to death, then, when there shall be not one person possible to be found so wicked, so abandoned, so like yourself, as not to allow that it has been rightly done. As long as one person exists who can dare to defend you, you shall live; but you shall live as you do now, surrounded by my many and trusty guards, so that you shall not be able to stir one finger against the republic; many eyes and ears shall still observe and watch you, as they have hitherto done, tho you shall not perceive them.

June 12, 1987; Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Since the end of World War II, Germany had been a divided country, the West free and democratic, the East under authoritarian communist control. When President Reagan took office, he was committed not only to uniting that country, but to bringing down the entire "Evil Empire." While the importance of Reagan's role in successfully doing so is endlessly debated, it beyond dispute that he exerted some influence in bringing the Cold War to an end. There is no more memorable and symbolic moment of this influence then when Reagan stood at the Berlin wall, the most visible symbol of the "Iron Curtain," and challenged Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!"

We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Listen to speech.

431 BC; Athens

Pericles, master statesman, orator, and general, was truly, as Thuciydies dubbed him, "the first citizen of Athens." Pericles was a product of the Sophists and had been personally tutored by the great philosopher Anaxagoras. His study with the Sophists made Pericles a highly persuasive orator. Through his speeches, he galvanized Athenians to undertake an enormous public works project that created hundreds of temples, including the Pantheon.

Pericles' gift of oration was put to the test during the epic battles of the Peloponnesian War, a civil war between Athens and Sparta. His speeches inspired Athenians to fight to become the number one power in Greece. In February of 431 B.C., Athens had their annual public funeral to honor all those who died in war. Pericles was asked to give the traditional funeral oration. Rather than focus his speech on enumerating the conquests of Athens' fallen heroes, Pericles instead used his funeral oration to laud the glory of Athens itself and inspire the living to make sure the soldiers had not died in vain.

Over 2,000 years later, Pericles' funeral oration inspired Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." Like Pericles, Lincoln was a leader during a time of civil war. Like Pericles, Lincoln focused on exhorting the living to live their lives in a way that would make the sacrifice of fallen warriors worthwhile.

So died these men as became Athenians. You, their survivors, must determine to have as unfaltering a resolution in the field, though you may pray that it may have a happier issue. And not contented with ideas derived only from words of the advantages which are bound up with the defense of your country, though these would furnish a valuable text to a speaker even before an audience so alive to them as the present, you must yourselves realize the power of Athens, and feed your eyes upon her from day to day, till love of her fills your hearts; and then, when all her greatness shall break upon you, you must reflect that it was by courage, sense of duty, and a keen feeling of honor in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal failure in an enterprise could make them consent to deprive their country of their valor, but they laid it at her feet as the most glorious contribution that they could offer.

April 19, 1951, Washington; D.C.

During the Korean War, General MacArthur and President Truman clashed over the threat posed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army and their incursion into Korea. MacArthur continually pressed Truman for permission to bomb bases in Manchuria, believing the war needed to be extended in area and scope. Truman refused the General's requests, arguing that directly drawing China into the war would arouse the Soviet Union to action. MacArthur continued to press his case, and Truman, accusing the General of insubordination, made the decision to relieve MacArthur of his command. After serving for 52 years and in three wars, the General's military career was over. MacArthur returned to the United States and gave this farewell address to Congress.

I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on theplain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that "old soldiers never die; they just fade away." And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good Bye.

Roosevelt was an advocate of having many children and making sure the next generation would continue to uphold the great virtues of civilization. He was always concerned that young men not be coddled or cowardly, and grow up to live rugged, strenuous, and thoroughly manly lives. But he also strongly believed that being ruggedly manly and being refined in mind and spirit were not incompatible and should in fact go hand and hand. In this speech, he exhorts young men to pursue virtuous manliness. Amen, brother, amen.

It is peculiarly incumbent upon you who have strength to set a right example to others. I ask you to remember that you cannot retain your self-respect if you are loose and foul of tongue, that a man who is to lead a clean and honorable life must inevitably suffer if his speech likewise is not clean and honorable. Every man here knows the temptations that beset all of us in this world. At times any man will slip. I do not expect perfection, but I do expect genuine and sincere effort toward being decent and cleanly in thought, in word, and in deed. As I said at the outset, I hail the work of this society as typifying one of those forces which tend to the betterment and uplifting of our social system. Our whole effort should be toward securing a combination of the strong qualities with those qualities which we term virtues. I expect you to be strong. I would not respect you if you were not. I do not want to see Christianity professed only by weaklings; I want to see it a moving spirit among men of strength. I do not expect you to lose one particle of your strength or courage by being decent. On the contrary, I should hope to see each man who is a member of this society, from his membership in it become all the fitter to do the rough work of the world; all the fitter to work in time of peace; and if, which may Heaven forfend, war should come, all the fitter to fight in time of war. I desire to see in this country the decent men strong and the strong men decent, and until we get that combination in pretty good shape we are not going to be by any means as successful as we should be. There is always a tendency among very young men and among boys who are not quite young men as yet to think that to be wicked is rather smart; to think it shows that they are men. Oh, how often you see some young fellow who boasts that he is going to "see life," meaning by that that he is going to see that part of life which it is a thousandfold better should remain unseen!

March 4, 1865; Washington, D.C.

The Union's victory was but a month away as Abraham Lincoln began his second term as president of a bitterly ruptured United States. Like the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln keeps this speech only as long as needful. While there are those who still debate whether the Civil War was truly fought over slavery or not, Lincoln certainly believed so. To him, slavery was a great national sin, and the blood shed during the war was the atoning sacrifice for that evil.

He does not relish the prospect of coming victory; instead, he appeals to his countrymen to remember that the war was truly fought between brothers. When the war was over and the Confederacy forced to return to the Union, Lincoln was prepared to treat the South with relative leniency. He did not believe secession was truly possible, and thus the South had never truly left the Union. Reconstruction would not mean vengeance, but the return home of a terribly errant son.

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 bondsman'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." With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

March 23, 1775; Richmond , VA

For a decade, revolutionary sentiments had been brewing in Virginia and Patrick Henry had always been in the thick of it, stirring the pot. Henry became particularly enflamed by the Stamp Act of 1764, which prompted him to give his so-called "treason speech," spurring the Burgesses to pass the Virginia Resolves banning the act. Tensions between the colonies and the Crown continued to build, and in 1775, Massachusetts patriots began making preparations for war. Henry believed that Virginia should follow suit. At a meeting held in St. John's Church in Richmond, Henry presented resolutions to make ready Virginia's defenses. Seeking to persuade his fellow delegates of the urgency of his message, he gave a rousing and memorable speech, climaxing is that now famous line, "Give me liberty of give me death!"

The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come! It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? 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!

June 6, 1984; Pointe du Hoc, France

What the Army Rangers did on D-Day at Pointe Du Hoc is a tale every man worth his salt should be familiar with. Pointe du Hoc was a sheer 100 foot cliff located in-between Omaha and Utah beaches. Perched atop the cliff sat six casemates capable of being manned, armed, and taking out the men on the beaches. As the Germans fired upon them, the Rangers scaled the cliff using ropes and ladders, found the guns (which had been moved from the casemates) and destroyed them. Without reinforcements for two days, the Rangers alone held their position and fended off German counterattacks. These skirmishes proved deadly; only 90 of the original 225 Ranger landing force survived.

On the 40 th anniversary of D-Day, President Reagan gave a moving tribute to these men, many of whom were present at the occasion.

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war. Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your 'lives fought for life...and left the vivid air signed with your honor'... Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith, and belief; it was loyalty and love. The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge -- and pray God we have not lost it -- that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.

27. John F. Kennedy, " The Decision to Go to the Moon"

May 25, 1961; Houston, TX

On April 12, 1961, the Soviets launched the first man into space. Khrushchev used this triumph as prime evidence of communism's superiority over decadent capitalism. Embarrassed, the United States feared it was falling behind the Soviet Union and losing the "space race." After consulting with political and NASA officials, Kennedy decided it was time for America to boldly go where no man had gone before by putting a man on the moon. The feat would not only catapult the nation over the Soviet Union, but also allow man to more fully explore the mysteries of space. And this mission would be accomplished by the end of the 1960's. When was the last time a president had the cajones to publicly issue a straightforward, ambitious goal and set a timeline for its success?

There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

July 5, 1852; Rochester, NY

Frederick Douglass, former slave, abolitionist, and engineer on the underground railroad, was a popular speaker on the anti-slavery circuit. He traveled thousands of miles each year, giving hundreds of speeches. Yet the money he earned from lecturing was not enough to become financially comfortable, and he and his family struggled. Douglass was disillusioned by the repercussions of the Fugitive Slave Act, and his abolitionist leanings grew more strident and bold. If the citizens of Rochester, New York had expected to be flattered by Douglass when they asked him to speak on the Fourth, they were soon disavowed of that idea. Douglass took the opportunity to defiantly point out the ripe hypocrisy of a nation celebrating their ideals of freedom and equality while simultaneously mired in the evil of slavery. While the speech surely made even the most liberal audience members squirm; nonetheless, the crowed let loose in "universal applause" when Douglass finished.

I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you this day rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. Youmay rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak today?

Read what books had the biggest influence on Frederick Douglass.

May 12, 1962; West Point, New York

General Douglas MacArthur, General of the Army and a man who fought in three wars, knew something of "Duty, Honor, Country." In 1962, MacArthur was in the twilight of his life and came to West Point to accept the Sylvanus Thayer Award and participate in his final cadet roll call. His address reflects upon and celebrates the brave and courageous men who came before, men he personally led, men who embodied "Duty, Honor, Country."

There are many great speeches in this list, but I hope you will pause to read the entirety of this one. Picking an excerpt was quite difficult, as so many of the passages are inspiring. A must read for all men.

You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense. From your ranks come the great captains who hold the nation's destiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sounds. The Long Gray Line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million ghosts in olive drab, in brown khaki, in blue and gray, would rise from their white crosses thundering those magic words: Duty, Honor, Country . This does not mean that you are war mongers. On the contrary, the soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato, that wisest of all philosophers: "Only the dead have seen the end of war." The shadows are lengthening for me. The twilight is here. My days of old have vanished, tone and tint. 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 vainly, but with thirsty ears, 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, always I come back to West Point. Always there echoes and re-echoes: Duty, Honor, Country .

April 23, 1910; Paris , France

At the end of Theodore Roosevelt's second term in office, he set out to tour Africa and Europe, hoping to allow his successor, President Taft, to step into the enormous shoes TR had left and become his own man. After a safari in Africa, he traveled throughout Europe. While in France, he was invited to speak at the historic University of Paris. Roosevelt used the opportunity to deliver a powerful address on the requirements of citizenship, the characteristics which would keep democracies like France and the United States robust and strong. This speech is famous for the "man in the arena" quote, but the entire speech is an absolute must read.

Let the man of learning, the man of lettered leisure, beware of that queer and cheap temptation to pose to himself and to others as a cynic, as the man who has outgrown emotions and beliefs, the man to whom good and evil are as one. The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer. There are many men who feel a kind of twister pride in cynicism; there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt. There is no more unhealthy being, no man less worthy of respect, than he who either really holds, or feigns to hold, an attitude of sneering disbelief toward all that is great and lofty, whether in achievement or in that noble effort which, even if it fails, comes to second achievement. A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticise work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life's realities - all these are marks, not as the possessor would fain to think, of superiority but of weakness. They mark the men unfit to bear their part painfully in the stern strife of living, who seek, in the affection of contempt for the achievements of others, to hide from others and from themselves in their own weakness. The rôle is easy; there is none easier, save only the rôle of the man who sneers alike at both criticism and performance. It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

May 13, 1940; House of Commons, London

Winston Churchill's first speech to the House of Commons as Britain's new Prime Minister got off to an auspicious start. His welcome to that assembly was quite tepid, while outgoing PM Neville Chamberlain was enthusiastically applauded (the world did not yet know just how disastrous his appeasement policies would prove and did not trust Churchill). But Churchill's first speech, the first of three powerful oratories he gave during the Battle of France, would prove that England was in more than capable hands. A seemingly unstoppable Hitler was advancing rapidly across Europe, and Churchill wasted no time in calling his people to arms. While TR had actually been the first to utter the phrase, "blood, sweat and tears," it was Churchill's use of these words that would leave an inedible and inspiring impression upon the world's mind.

Worthy Excerpt

I say to the House as I said to ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs - Victory in spite of all terrors - Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.

December 8, 1941; Washington, D.C.

The attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, shocked the United States to its core, outraging a nation that had hoped to stay out of the mounting turmoil in Asia and Europe. Overnight, the country united in desire to enter the war. The day after the attacks, FDR addressed the nation in a brief, but electrifying speech, declaring war on Japan and giving assurance that the United States would attain victory.

Be sure to listen to the audio of the speech. Imagine every American family, rattled and worried, listening around the radio to what their president would say. They knew their whole world was about to change forever. Listen to the reaction of Congress as they applaud and cheer FDR's words. The emotion is so very real and palatable; it truly transports you back to that critical moment in time.

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: yesterday, December 7, 1941- a date which will live in infamy -the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan..... But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces-with the unbounding determination of our people-we will gain the inevitable triumph-so help us God.

33 A.D.; Jerusalem

Whether one believes that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God or simply a wise teacher, it is impossible to deny the impact of perhaps the world's most famous speech: The Sermon on the Mount. No speech has been more pondered, more influential, or more quoted. It introduced a prayer now familiar the world over and uttered in trenches, churches, and bedsides around the globe. It introduced a code of conduct billions of believers have adopted as their lofty, if not not always attainable, goal. While much of the sermon has roots in Jewish law, the advice given in the Beatitudes represented a dramatic and radical departure from the eye for an eye system of justice known in the ancient world. The standards of behavior outlined in the sermon have given believers and non-believers alike plenty to contemplate and discuss in the two thousand years since it was given.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

See Matthew Chapter 5-7 for full text.

August 28, 1963; Washington, D.C.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech" is hands down one of the greatest, if not the greatest, pieces of oratory in American history. King's charisma, skills in rhetoric, and passion, place him in a league of his own. A century after slavery ended, a century after African-Americans were promised full equality, black children were being hosed down in the streets, spat upon, bused to separate schools, turned away from restaurants, and denied treatment as full human beings. In this midst of this egregious track record, Dr. King voiced a clear, compelling message of hope, a dream that things would not always be as they were, and that a new day was coming.

Many people have seen excerpts of the speech, but a surprisingly number of adults my age I have never sat down and watched the speech in its entirety. I challenge you to do just that. It is just as electrifying and moving today as it was in 1963.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification - one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father's died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"

Listen to the speech here .

November 19, 1863; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

272 words. 3 minutes long. Yet, the Gettysburg Address is unarguably one of the greatest pieces of rhetoric in American history. Dr. J Rufus Fears (one of the great modern orators) argues that the Gettysburg Address, along with the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, form the three founding documents of American freedom. And I have to agree.

The Battle of Gettysburg left 8,000 men dead. The bodies were too numerous to bury properly and many were at first placed in shallow graves. Weeks after the battle, heads and arms were sticking up through the ground and the smell of rotting flesh was sickening.

Money was raised for a proper reburial, and it was decided that the new cemetery should be dedicated, to sweeten the air of Gettysburg, to solemnize this place of death. As was traditional, a great orator, in this case, Edward Everett, was asked to give a solemn and grand speech as a memorial to the fallen men. Lincoln was asked 2 months later, almost as a causal afterthought. He was to add a few remarks to Everett's, a function much like the man with the ceremonial scissors who cuts the ribbon. Legends has it that Lincoln's remarks were the product of pure inspiration, penned on the back of an envelope on the train chugging its way to the soon-to-be hallowed grounds of Gettysburg.

On the day of the dedication, Everett kept the crowd enthralled for a full two hours. Lincoln got up, gave his speech, and sat down even before the photographer had finished setting up for a picture. There was a long pause before anyone applauded, and then the applause was scattered and polite.

Not everyone immediately realized the magnificence of Lincoln's address. But some did. In a letter to Lincoln, Everett praised the President for his eloquent and concise speech, saying, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."

And of course, in time, we have come to fully appreciate the genius and beauty of the words spoken that day. Dr. Fears argues that Lincoln's address did more than memorialize the fallen soldiers at Gettysburg; it accomplished nothing short of transforming the entire meaning of the Civil War. There were no details of the battle mentioned in the speech, no mentioning of soldier's names, of Gettysburg itself, of the South nor the Union, states rights nor secession. Rather, Lincoln meant the speech to be something far larger, a discourse on the experiment testing whether government can maintain the proposition of equality. At Gettysburg, the Constitution experienced a transformation. The first birth has been tainted by slavery. The men, of both North and South, lying in the graves at Gettysburg had made an atoning sacrifice for this great evil. And the Constitution would be reborn, this time living up to its promises of freedom and equality for all.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate - we cannot consecrate - we cannot hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

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30 Famous and Short Inspirational Speeches (5 minutes or less)

• December 13, 2023

This post is all about the best short inspirational speeches.

If you are in need of a quick boost of inspiration and motivation, you will find that in this post. I am one of those people who loves to get motivated. That sounds weird, right?

Well, a lot of people these days tend to give motivation a hard time because they don’t believe that it has lasting effects. In other words, they believe that what’s most important is your own self-discipline, because that’s what you have to rely on when motivation isn’t there.

And while I do agree with that sentiment in general, I will never pass up a great motivational podcast or YouTube video! 😀 There’s just something about them that even if they might not have lasting effects, they do truly help pump me up in the moment to get work done. And that’s usually what matters to me the most when I am looking for them in the first place.

So, here are the very best short motivational speeches so you can get that quick fix of motivation that you’re looking for, and ultimately move closer to your goals and dreams.

Short Inspirational Speeches

Believe in yourself speeches.

If you lack confidence or you are doubting yourself, these short motivational speeches will help you to believe in yourself again.

1. Rocky’s Inspirational Speech to His Son | ROCKY BALBOA

In less than 5 minutes, you’ll watch Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) explain to his son that if he wants to have the life he desires, he needs to believe in himself. He needs to stop listening to the people that tell him who he is, and instead go be his own person, and stop looking for someone to blame when things aren’t working out for him because ultimately it’s on HIM. This is one of the greatest inspirational speeches of all time.

2. Find Your Purpose | David Goggins – Motivational Speech

David Goggins is truly incredible. A former Navy SEAL, he has broken records and ran more races than you’d imagine. But the one thing that really stands out about him is his mindset.

Listen to this video if you want to be great. He tells you exactly what you need to do to get there.

Also, if you’ve never read David Goggins’ book “Can’t Hurt Me” , I highly recommend it. He talks about his rough upbringing, and how he was able to essentially become an entirely new person to become a Navy SEAL.

3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF – Motivational Video (ft. Jaret Grossman & Eric Thomas)

This video is all about how important it is to have the proper belief system. If you truly believe that you are one of the best, you will start acting that you are one of the best, and eventually you may just be one of the best.

4. DON’T LET YOUR DREAMS DIE – Motivational Speech

This YouTube short by Mel Robbins is so good, I had to share it. A light bulb went on in my head when I first watched this. If there is something that is always on your mind, don’t let it haunt you forever because you never put yourself out there to try it. Go and DO!

Motivational Speeches About Not Giving Up

The following short motivational speeches are all about not giving up on your dreams. If you are losing hope, these short motivational speeches will inspire you to keep going.

5. Brené Brown It’s Not The Critic Who Counts

This speech will give you chills, and it is packed with great lessons about life. Brené Brown is a researcher who went viral for a Ted Talk, and here she talks about how to overcome critics and to keep believing in yourself no matter what. If you are worried about what people think of you, you NEED to watch this.

6. Amazing Motivational Speech by Denzel Washington 

This is another video that gave me chills. The main theme of this famous speech is “ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship”. Stay consistent even when it’s hard. Easy task after easy task won’t get you to where you want to be.

7. Steve Harvey – Inspirational Speech | Motivational Short Video | Incredible You

This short motivational speech by Steve Harvey is short but impactful. If you are someone who stepped out of your comfort zone to pursue something really difficult, and you’re thinking about giving up, this speech may just prevent you from doing so.

8. Ed Mylett on The Power of One More

Ed Mylett shares the story of how his father stayed sober until his dying day, and how Ed himself uses that same philosophy to never give up. Personal stories like these are always the most inspiring.

By the way, if you REALLY want to push yourself and become the best, read Ed Mylett’s most recent book on this same topic, “The Power Of One More” .

Motivational Speeches If You’re Feeling Behind

Are you feeling behind in life? If so, let’s change that. Watch these videos to be reminded that you are on your own unique path. You have no competition other than your past self. These short motivational videos will help you believe that.

9. Before You Feel Pressure – WATCH THIS | by Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty talks to a school class about how there’s no one “perfect” life timeline to follow, and that we are all on our own clock. 

10. Kevin Hart Motivational Speech

If you’ve made mistakes in your life (haven’t we all) this is a great story from Kevin Hart (famous comedian and actor) that will remind you of the power of making mistakes and pushing through hard times.

11. Oprah Winfrey | 5 Minutes For The NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE

In this video, Oprah talks about the importance of really knowing who you are and what you want in your life. She talks about surrounding yourself with great people, and how to have enormous success. “Let excellence be your brand.”

Listen To These If You Need Perspective

Sometimes in life, we get so caught up in the day to day that we forget what truly matters – the people we love. If you are having trouble with something in life, give these videos a listen, because they just might help you realize what is really important.

12. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Organize Your Day | 1 MINUTE MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO

Are you the kind of person who always complains that you don’t have enough time to do something? If so, you’re not alone. We are all busy humans, running around doing a million things. But if you aren’t prioritizing what you know you should be doing, listen to this video.

13. How to Judge Your Life Using 3 Simple Questions | Brendon Burchard Speech| Goalcast

Have you ever heard of Mortality Motivation? It’s essentially what it sounds like… being motivated by the impending reality of your death. It sounds a little morbid, but it’s actually quite beautiful and it can be really beneficial if you harness it for good.

In this video by motivational speaker Brendon Burchard, he shares how a car accident when he was 19 gave him mortality motivation and changed everything for him.

14. FALL, SUFFER AND LEARN | MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH BY OPRAH WINFREY

This speech by Oprah was given to Harvard graduates, and it’s a unique speech because she talks about failing, even after the major success of her television show for over 20 years.

It’s refreshing to hear that even the most successful people fail. What really matters, though, is what you do with your failure. Do you learn from it and move on? Or do you give up?

15. YOU VS YOU – Best Motivational Video

This is a pretty intense video about competition. If your #1 competition is someone else, you need to change your perspective. Your only competition is YOU. The only thing preventing you from moving forward is you.

16. The Speech That Brought This Entire School To Tears

This is a speech about a man who never really paid much attention to his mother, until she passed away. It’s an emotional reminder to cherish the time you have with your loved ones, because you never know if the next time you see them will be the last time.

In my opinion, this speaker embodies many qualities of the best motivational speakers because he really knows how to capture the audience’s attention and pull on their heart strings.

17. 5 Minutes to Start Your Day Right! – MORNING MOTIVATION

This motivational speech is by a Navy SEAL who will remind you to start each day with a task completed, respect everyone, take risks, step up during tough times, and never give up. If you do these things, the next generation, and the generations that follow, will live better lives than we live today.

18. The Real You – Jim Carrey

This video is one of the best motivational speech examples because it reminds you of something so important: sometimes we can be so focused on earning more money, gaining fame, and becoming admired that we lose ourselves or we lose sight of what’s really important to us in the process.

Jim Carrey talks about how he is a great example of that. He got all of the money, fame, and admiration, and admits that that wasn’t really who he was. Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that money and fame, or even getting to the top of the corporate ladder, while nice, aren’t going to be the thing that brings you fulfillment when it’s all said and done.

19. Ed Mylett Motivational Speech

I posted another motivational video by Ed Mylett above, but if you don’t know much about him, prepare to have your world rocked. He’s probably my absolute favorite motivational speaker because he is successful and he works hard, but he’s also (seemingly) a kind, family guy who’s been through a few things.

In this video, he talks about being “the one” that changed his family tree. Take a listen because I’m sure it’ll get you thinking on whether or not you can be “the one” in YOUR family.

P.S. If you love personal growth content, you should check out Ed Mylett’s podcast . I listen to it every week and it is one of my favorites.

20. If You Feel LOST, LAZY & UNMOTIVATED In Life, WATCH THIS! | Tony Robbins Motivation

If you are someone who is constantly blaming others or your circumstances for your unhappiness, you need to listen to this video by Tony Robbins . Bad things happen to us all, it’s up to you to focus on what you can control.

Great Inspirational Speeches About Hard Work

How hard do you think you work? Could you be doing more? If there’s a little voice inside of your heart that knows you could be doing more and better, these motivational videos about the value of hard work will help you push yourself.

And a side note: your chances of having good luck increase the harder and longer you work.

21. You’re Not Tired, You’re Just Weak – David Goggins Motivation

If you’re feeling lazy or like you don’t want to do something, watch this video til 2:25 . It will give you the push you need to put your head down and do the work. It’ll remind you to keep pursuing your goals and to keep challenging yourself. Key takeaway: push yourself beyond your perceived limits.

22. Hard Work & Patience – A Gary Vaynerchuk Original Film

If you want to be motivated to work hard, listen to Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary Vaynerchuk is a creative genius known for his marketing tactics. This famous motivational speech is all about playing “the long game”, as in, working for a long time and having patience instead of working hard for a short period of time and expecting to win quickly.

23. OBSESSION – Best Motivational Speech

This is one of my favorite short motivational speeches because it makes me feel a little more normal for being “weird”. I’m the kind of person who chooses to work on the weekends instead of hanging out with people. Crazy, right? But it’s because I’m working toward a dream of mine and it’s something that’s really important to me. The most important thing to remember: it’s okay to devote yourself to something. It’s the only way to get what you want in life.

24. WORK LIKE HELL – Best Motivational Video

This is a series of motivational speeches about doing a little bit more and outworking your competition. I’m not going to lie – I’m up late writing this post and listening to this very video is what’s motivating me to keep going.

25. The video EVERY woman should watch!

Whether or not you’re a Rachel Hollis fan may be up for debate (and that’s okay!) but I happen to think she’s a great motivational speaker. This entire speech will inspire you to work hard and take massive action – today.

26. NEVER SURRENDER – Powerful Motivational Speech (by Kobe Bryant)

This one minute video by the late Kobe Bryant is one of the most famous short speeches. I read a book recently by his former personal trainer and I learned that Kobe really outworked everyone. He talks about a quote in this video that really stuck with him, and I think it’s great advice if you’re the kind of person who needs motivation to keep working hard.

Motivational Speeches About Working Smart

Have you ever heard the saying “work smarter, not harder”? That saying is all about ensuring that the work you are doing is actually efficient. Are you getting to where you want to go with all of the work that you are putting in? Are you getting closer to your goals and your dreams? Or are you sprinting like a hamster on a wheel and just running in circles?

Here are great videos on the importance of working hard but also working intentionally.

27. SET SYSTEMS RATHER THAN GOALS – Motivational Speech – James Clear

A goal gives you a sense of direction, but if you don’t spell out precisely how you are going to get to a goal, it is useless. You must develop systems. Listen to this James Clear video to gain valuable life lessons.

By the way, James Clear is an author who wrote perhaps my favorite book of all time: “Atomic Habits” . It’s life-changing if you haven’t read it yet.

28. Matthew McConaughey | 5 Minutes for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE

This is one of the best motivational speeches of all time about how to live a great life for YOU. It’s filled with little pieces of wisdom that’ll really get you thinking about how you live your life and in what direction you want to go.

29. Visualization is the key – Bob Proctor

Do you believe in the Law of Attraction? If not, I have to say I’m surprised! I’ve experienced it in my own life more than once, and it is incredibly powerful. Here’s a great video that sums up the power of visualization, and if you want to learn more about the Law of Attraction or manifestation in general, read this post .

This video shows the true power of words, thoughts, and feelings that you have.

30. How to Stay Motivated – Carla Harris

Here is a YouTube short with very practical advice from Carla Harris on HOW to stay motivated. It’s all about having a vision!

This post was all about short inspirational speeches. Which one was your favorite?

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About Taylor

A few years after graduating college, Taylor made it her mission to become debt free. After paying off all $60k of debt, she began to blog about what she's really passionate about: personal development. Nowadays, Taylor blogs about the topics of Mindset, Money, Health, and Career for women. Read more about Taylor here.

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The 30 Best Movie Inspirational Speeches

Cinema's most stirring oratories and spirit-raising team talks.

In times of trouble, you need a little help getting up and going, and film can often provide just that. Cinema has a long and storied history of providing great words of motivation and encouragement, sometimes for the characters' own benefit and occasionally to the audience. Here, we've chosen 30 of the best that should fit almost any occasion - but if you're really pressed for time, here are 40 condensed into a two-minute span { =nofollow}. If you have a little longer, read on!

Also: The 25 Best Movie Bollockings

The Great Dictator

Made at a time when the shadow of World War II was looming over Europe, Charlie Chaplin’s speech here – he’s playing a poor Jewish barber in disguise as a preening dictator and forced to address a Nuremberg-style rally – is a heartfelt plea for sanity and compassion in a time of madness. It’s the perfect antidote to extremism, and uses fiery rhetoric for good. If only we’d be able to pull this switcheroo in real life.

Buy The Great Dictator

Independence Day

Sure, there are cheesemongers with less cheese on offer than you see here and OK, the American jingoism doesn’t work at all for those of us not of a Yank disposition. But Bill Pullman’s slightly sheepish style blends here with steely determination, and he delivers the American St Crispin’s Day speech with conviction. Then, like any US President, he leaps into his fighter jet and flies off to battle aliens.

Buy Independence Day

For those who prefer a little humour in their motivational speeches, try the pitch-black streak in this opener, establishing Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius as a leader of men and a helluva guy. Galloping around the Legions in his cool armour and fur-lined cloak, you might question whether he really needs an entire army to back him up, but you’ll never doubt for a moment that they’d choose to follow him as he unleashes hell.

Buy Gladiator

Any Given Sunday

There’s a lot to be said for a little personal touch to leaven your high-flung rhetoric, and it’s a trick that Al Pacino uses well here, in the first of three American football speeches we’re going to include (hey, we can’t help it if the heavily-padded sport produces some great pep talks). Pacino’s troubled Tony D’Amato unveils his own problems with brutal honesty before using his own failures as a spur to rev on his team to greatness, speaking of team spirit and commitment as someone who has been known to suck at both.

Buy Any Given Sunday

Friday Night Lights

The film has been somewhat overshadowed nowadays by the equally good TV show that followed it, but watch Billy Bob Thornton here and be reminded that Kyle Chandler isn’t the only fundamentally decent man who can inspire a team of small-town boys to great efforts in pursuit of perfection. It’s also worth noting that he puts his emphasis here on excelling and not winning, making it clear that victory isn’t only measured by the scoreboard. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.

Buy Friday Night Lights

It is, and will probably always be, the greatest inspirational speech ever made. It’s endlessly flexible, and works even when not declaimed by the classically trained (see this Renaissance Man version for proof). And it’s by Shakespeare, still the best writer in Hollywood. We have, controversially perhaps, chosen Branagh’s version over Olivier’s because the latter sounds a little shrill to the modern ear, while Branagh convinces us that he could convince his men. This speech, given by the titular monarch to a vastly outnumbered force about to fight the French, obviously works especially well for English people, but by God, Harry and St George, it’s universal in its rousing effect.

Buy Henry V

This is a little-known film in the UK but it’s revered in certain communities in the US. Sean Astin’s Rudy has overcome dyslexia, poor grades and his relatively small stature to win a place on Notre Dame’s famous Fighting Irish American football team. Only problem is that he’s never been off the bench, and with his final game approaching he threatens to quit the team if he isn’t allowed to play – prompting this inspirational speech / telling off from a friend who points out that he’s being whiny and entitled and needs to grow a pair. Soon he’s back on the bench and given a starting position when his entire team threatens not to play unless he’s given a shot.

An honourable mention for Hector’s pep talk but Achilles wins the battle of the inspirational speeches just as he wins their duel (c’mon, that’s not a spoiler; it’s in the 2000 year-old Iliad). This is a short snippet, but then godlike Achilles, the man-killer, is a man of action rather than words. And what he does say – focusing on lions, glory and the manifold abilities of his small, hand-picked group of Myrmidons – would convince a rock to fight any Trojan who dared oppose it.

Animal House

Not every inspirational speech is about trying to inspire his cohorts to kill people or batter them up and down the length of a football field. Some aspire to a higher goal. Some aspire to debauchery, drinking and probably nudity. Some aspire to party like 1999 might have done had it tried harder. Some aspire to a particular kind of grubby, deranged greatness. One such is John Belushi’s Bluto, and this is the greatest night of his life.

Buy Animal House

The Goonies

Come the hour, cometh the man – and in this case the man is a small, asthmatic Sean Astin, inspiring his fellow Goonies to never say die and to keep going in their quest to find treasure and save their community. In his yellow rain slicker and with his voice on the edge of breaking he may not look like a modern Napoleon, but he has the same effect on his exhausted and discouraged troopers. He’s so good you’ll almost forget to laugh at his mentions of One-Eyed Willy. snigger

Buy The Goonies

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Death comes to us all, and Aragorn ain’t going to lie about it. But he still gees up his troops with the assurance that their civilisation will survive the onslaught of the forces of Mordor. Sure, they’re vastly outnumbered and sure, it seems likely that Frodo has failed in his quest to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom (especially if you’re watching the Extended Edition) but Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn ensures that no one will be quitting any time soon. Not this day!

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Bill Murray isn’t usually the guy you turn to for sincere, inspiring words of comfort. He’s more the type to puncture any attempt at same, and probably to fast-talk his opponents into giving up and going for a karaoke session while he’s about it. But after his heart grows two sizes during the course of Scrooged, he makes a plea for kindness and niceness from all mankind. He still does it in a recognisably Murray, manic and scattershot way, but that just makes him all the more compelling. Someone hire this man to play Santa Claus.

Buy Scrooged

Stirring sports speeches are limited to American Football. Miracle On Ice chronicles the based-on-truth tale of how the US Olympic hockey team triumphed over their Russian rivals. Kurt Russell's the speech-giver here, playing coach Herb Brooks. "Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world," he tells them. You'll feel a swell of pride and inspiration too.

Rent Miracle

Deep Blue Sea

“You think water’s fast? You should see ice.” Samuel L. Jackson’s been around the block more than once, and he’s seen the worst of mankind. It’s with the weight of that history behind him that he takes charge and orders his fellow survivors of a marine disaster to start pulling together and quit arguing. His speech also has what is, unquestionably, the greatest punchline on this list. Still, it achieves the desired effect once everyone has quit screaming.

Buy Deep Blue Sea

If in doubt, steal from classical history, something that David Wenham’s Dilios demonstrates with aplomb here. In actual history, the one survivor of the 300 was so shamed by his survival that he executed a suicidal one-man attack on the Persians at this Battle of Plataea, but Wenham seems more in control and also like he has quite a bit of back-up. “The enemy outnumber us a paltry three-to-one,” notes Dilios triumphantly. Why, it was hardly worth the Persians turning up.

Good Will Hunting

Here’s an inspirational speech well-suited to highly-paid sports teams and the enormously talented. Ben Affleck’s argument is, basically, that if you’re lucky enough to get extraordinary chances in your life, it’s your duty to the rest of us schmoes to actually take those chances and run with them as far as you can. If you can get past the shellsuit and the hair, he’s basically Yoda-like in his wisdom.

Buy Good Will Hunting

Most people only remember the last word – “Freedom!” – but the rest of the speech is pretty killer too. Mel Gibson’s William Wallace starts off by puncturing his own legend, and acknowledges the urge to cut and run in the face of a far superior English force. But then he reminds his men what they’d be missing if they do, and soon they’re all back on side and facing down the hated English. By the end of this speech, you’ll all hate the English with them – even if you are one.

Buy Braveheart

Coach Carter

You’d expect the inspiration in this basketball film to come from the titular no-nonsense coach, played by a fiery Samuel L. Jackson. But in fact it’s one of his players who nabs the best lines, as he and the team sit studying to keep their grades as high as their scores. There is a little cheating here: Rick Gonzalez’ Timo actually steals his inspirational speech from Marianne Williamson (it’s sometimes wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela) but he delivers it well so we’re going to allow it.

Buy Coach Carter

While it’s his skills in the ring that he is most lauded for, Rocky Balboa is something of a poet to boot. An incoherent one, certainly; a poet who says “I guess” a lot more often than Wordsworth might like, but a poet nevertheless. His moving words here, as he single-handedly ends the Cold War and ushers in a new era of East-West relations, are just one example. Another is…

Buy Rocky IV

Rocky Balboa

If his last speech was incoherent – in fairness, his rhythm may have been thrown off by the translator – this one verges on incomprehensible when he really gets going. Still, there’s real passion in Rocky’s plea for one last shot and an argument that’s applicable to all sorts of situations of institutional injustice or unfeeling bureaucracy.

Buy Rocky Balboa

Stand And Deliver

Those who've watched him on the modern Battlestar Galactica know that Edward James Olmos is a past master at giving speeches. This is him from a little earlier in his career, playing Jaime Escalante, a real-life teacher who inspired his students to stop dropping out and start taking calculus seriously. Here, he's handing out as pop quiz, so anyone having to home school their kids can take note.

Rent Stand And Deliver

Good Night, And Good Luck

This one is couched particularly at media moguls, but there’s a call for excellence and the highest moral standards here that we would all do well to live by. David Strathairn’s Edward R. Murrow, in a speech lifted directly from Murrow’s actual address to the Radio and Television News Directors Association in 1958, pleads for TV to inform as well as entertain. We feel that if more people saw this speech, Made In Chelsea would be cancelled immediately and reality TV would be banned, so spread the word!

Buy Good Night, And Good Luck

Anyone who has ever flirted with a romantic interest knows the risk of being knocked back, and Jon Favreau's Mike is experiencing a crisis of confidence. Luckily for him, he has Vince Vaughn's Trent to talk him back into the game, and Alex Désert's Charles to remind him that he's so money. He's a bear! And she's a bunny! Everything is going to be fine.

Buy Swingers

Charles Dutton’s second appearance on this list, after Rudy, sees him once again reminding lesser men (and women) to get with the programme, pull the finger out and generally stand up and be counted. But this time they’re facing unstoppable acid-blooded xenomorphs rather than American football players, so he has to be extra-emphatic.

Buy Alien 3

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Remarkably few women get to deliver inspirational speeches in movies – apparently they’re relegated to clapping admiringly from the sidelines. Thank goodness for Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) who is elected King of the Pirates and rouses her troops into action for a last-ditch fight against the Lord Beckett’s overwhelming forces, led by the Flying Dutchman. She may not have quite the lungs of others on the list, but there’s no doubting her conviction as she calls for them to “Hoist the colours!” – the Jolly Roger – and sail out one last time.

Buy Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

The Replacements

One doesn’t expect lengthy speeches from Keanu “Woah” Reeves (although he’s done his share of Shakespeare actually) but he’s rarely more succinct and to the point than in this chat with his fellow Replacements. And in fact there are few speeches more likely to be effective in motivating an exhausted team for one last effort. “Chicks dig scars” could be used by virtually every example here to drive on the listeners.

Buy The Replacements

Bill Murray at it again, and once more an unconventional speech. This time out, he's John Winger, a loser who decides that he and best pal Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) will join the Army. Stuck with a group of oddballs, and, after a night of partying, decides to rally his fellow troops. It works... Sort of. But Murray's typically laconic style works well for the speech itself.

Rent or buy Stripes

The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King

All seems lost for Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin again) and Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as they lie, exhausted, on the slopes of Mount Doom. Frodo’s beyond endurance and raving as the influence of the Ring grows ever stronger on him, and his desperate straits drive Sam to one last push. It’s barely a speech, really – he uses his words better here – but there are few moments more inspirational.

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: Return of The King

The Shawshank Redemption

A quiet moment between Tim Robbins' Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman's Red became one of the more memorable moments in Shawshank , a movie with no shortage of them. And for those who are spending more time inside than perhaps they might be used to, Andy's musing on what he would do if he got out of prison are inspirational in themselves, even before he gets to that iconic line.

Rent The Shawshank Redemption

Avengers: Endgame

Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, is not shy of breaking out speech mode when the moment calls for it. And inspiring the Avengers as they're about to embark on a trip through space and time to retrieve the Infinity Stones certainly seems like that moment. "Whatever it takes," indeed.

Rent Avengers: Endgame

20 Inspiring Award Ceremony Acceptance Speeches

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​​​​​​With award season upon us once again, there's already been plenty of excitement and fanfare around. The buzz about the upcoming Academy Awards is starting, and we've already been treated to all the thrills of this year's Golden Globes and have the Primetime Emmys around the corner.

For the cinephiles for whom movies and series are not just entertainment but an art form, awards season is one of the most exciting times of the year. Over the years, major awards shows like the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys, Critic's Choice Awards, and BAFTAs have given us some amazing and influential moments of triumph and vindication for the artists who gave their all to the performances honored by them.

Equally emotional at times have been their moments on stage as they delivered acceptance speeches that stuck out for how inspirational or moving they were. Some used the platform to speak about matters close to their heart, bring awareness to significant social causes, or to just express what an honor it was. With so many memorable acceptance speeches over the years, in no particular order, here's a look back at the 20 that we found most inspiring.

20 Joaquin Phoenix — Academy Award for Best Actor (2020)

Joker (2019)

When Joaquin Phoenix won the Best Actor Oscar for Joker, no one doubted that he deserved the award. The performance was exceptional and layered in so many unique ways that it brought out the character's darkest nuances with sublime skill.

Despite that, what stood out when he accepted his award was that he chose to make a speech about something far more important.

A Speech for All Humanity

There was an air of humility from the moment he began. His words acknowledged that more than all the material perks of being a star, it gave him the opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless. From there, Phoenix eloquently brought to light the on-going issue of climate change and how we should all care about it since it affects us all.

Stream Joker on Max

19 Tyler Perry — BET Award for Ultimate Icon (2019)

Tyler Perry has become one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood and built an empire in the process. He's often seen as an inspiration to people of color for his incredible achievements despite all the adversities he faced in life. In 2019 when he won an Icon Award at the BET Awards, his speech echoed all of these facts in a powerful way.

Related: How the Oscars Lost Cultural Relevance

Paving the Way

His speech started off with a story of how he helped a person selling sweets to cross the road. He then mentions how his first 10 movies were subconsciously for his mother, so she could feel seen and heard. In the same way, he passed a message to others that your skin color should never determine how much success a person can achieve.

18 Austin Butler — BAFTA for Best Actor (2023)

Read Our Review

Austin Butler's performance in Elvis was mesmerizing, and made it truly feel like the King had been brought back to life. Everything from his voice to his mannerisms and moves were perfectly executed and a true treat for fans of the legendary singer and actor.

Sweet and Heartfelt

When he won the BAFTA for that role, Butler's speech was truly heartfelt, since it conveyed a humility in deferring to the grandeur of the role. His tone captured this, as he thanked the people who helped him perfect the role.

As a sweet touch, he ended it by thanking the Presley family and acknowledging how they had helped him truly understand who Elvis really was from those who knew and loved him best.

Stream Elvis on Netflix

17 Brendan Fraser — Academy Award for Best Actor (2023)

2023's The Whale was a film that made waves for its bold subject and the brilliant manner it was executed. The crowning achievement for the film came when Brendan Fraser won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in it. A veteran of the industry, he's famously faced some very hard times and was even blacklisted and shunned for years because he spoke out about it.

A Standing Ovation

When he delivered his speech, Fraser immediately received a standing ovation. The palpable emotion in the room echoed all he had gone through while remaining a beloved actor despite his much-publicized hardships in the industry. His words weren't anything particularly inspiring, but it was the pure joy and emotion in his tone that conveyed what a special moment it was and made it a truly inspiring one.

Stream The Whale on Paramount+

16 Eddie Redmayne — Academy Award for Best Actor (2015)

The Theory of Everything

His performance in The Theory of Everything made everyone stand up and recognize definitively what a fantastic actor Eddie Redmayne is. His role as Stephen Hawking was exceptional, and he's rightly been held in the highest regard by fans and peers ever since.

A Bit of Everything

Redmayne's speech had a little bit of everything, including a moment when he looked at the Oscar in his hand and seemed almost overwhelmed at the fact that he was actually standing there having won one. While he made jokes and got the crowd laughing, he also very humbly dedicated his award to everyone struggling with ALS.

Rent The Theory of Everything on Apple TV+

15 Bong Joon Ho — Academy Award for Best Director (2020)

In 2020 the film Parasite put foreign movies in the spotlight as it won big at the Oscars. It's director, Bong Joon Ho gave a moving speech through a translator that resulted in a standing ovation in the middle of the speech. A memorable moment, it spoke of Ho's humility as he thanked every one of his film-making heroes, singling out one in particular.

Related: The Best Oscar Acceptance Speeches of All Time, Ranked

Nod to a Legend

While he mentioned other directors that inspired and helped him, Ho heaped praise on Martin Scorsese. He started by mentioning an inspiring quote about how most creative parts of us come from that which is personal, before pointing to the crowd and mentioning that those words came from the great Martin Scorsese. That sent the crowd into rapture as the entire room stood up to acknowledge the iconic director.

Stream Parasite on Max

14 Kate Winslet — Academy Award for Best Actress (2009)

Ever since her role in Titanic , Kate Winslet has rightly been regarded as one of the finest actors around. When she won the Best Actress Oscar for The Reader , her joy was inspiring, since it was plain for everyone to see how much it all still meant to her despite having been an A-lister for many years by that point.

Remembering to Feel Proud

While making a political point and standing up for causes were great, there was also nothing wrong with remembering to feel proud of the achievement either. Winslet's emotion was touching and as she recounted how she had practiced a version of this speech since she was eight-years-old, it was inspiring to hear how she had achieved her dreams all those years later.

Stream The Reader on Prime Video

13 Matthew McConaughey — Academy Award for Best Actor (2014)

Dallas Buyers Club

When he won the Best Actor Award for Dallas Buyers Club, it was finally vindication for Matthew McConaughey as an actor, since he spent much of his early career being typecast and mostly adored for his physical features.

He's since gone on to cement that acceptance with other sterling performances that show what great range and depth he actually has. McConaughey's speech that night at the Oscars remains an inspiring one for many, since he chose to be bold and true to himself with it.

Acknowledging His Faith

Matthew McConaughey's beliefs as a Christian are well-known. However, when he got up on stage, knowing what a massive worldwide platform it was, he emphatically thanked God first for everything he was and had achieved.

Given that Hollywood politics has often been very harsh toward Christian beliefs because of how often it aligned with conservatism, for many Christians out there, McConaughey's speech was inspiring for how boldly he was willing to declare his faith, knowing it could lead to backlash.

A piece from Time Magazine aptly summed up why it was a big deal.

But there were some people who did care. They cared very, very much. Part of the reason people care is that award winners thanking God is far from common at the Oscars. According to the Daily Caller , God has been thanked just 14 times in 100 speeches over the last 30 years. In the last decade, according to Slate , God has been mentioned fewer times than Meryl Streep.

Rent Dallas Buyers Club on Prime Video

12 Chadwick Boseman — AFI Lifetime Achievement Award for Denzel Washington (2019)

When the late Chadwick Boseman delivered a speech for an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award for Denzel Washington, no better person could have been chosen to do it. Boseman owed his career to him and his emotional words perfectly echoed that humbling story.

An Offering from a Sage and a King

While recounting the story, Boseman jokingly referred to Washington as "the dopest" actor around but then also beautifully captured why his act of generosity had meant so much to his career and the cinematic world by extension.

The offering from a Sage and a King is more than silver and gold. It is a seed of hope, a bud of faith. There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington!

11 Lupita Nyong'o — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (2014)

12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave was a powerful film that provided a devastatingly brilliant portrayal of the horrors of slavery. It also provided some superb performances, and was an early glimpse of the amazing talent Lupita N yong'o possesses . Winning an Oscar for it was a remarkable achievement given that it was only her second film role.

Suffering for Success

Her speech for the award was filled with emotion but also very inspiring because it paid homage to those who suffered at the hands of slavery.

Related: Exclusive: Eddie Redmayne and A. R Rahman Go Behind the Oscars Speech

A topic that never loses relevance , Lupita's speech recognized the character she played and all she and others had to endure because of this dark period of human history.

Stream 12 Years a Slave on Fubo

10 Leonard DiCaprio — Academy Award for Best Actor (2016)

The Revenant

Prior to starring in The Revenant , the brilliant Leonardo DiCaprio was constantly known as one of the best actors to have never won an Oscar. When his moment finally came, there was a palpable air of joy in the room as one of the greatest living actors was finally recognized the way he fully deserved. Despite the long wait, he still used his platform to speak about what was really most dear to him.

A Win for the Environment

Fans of DiCaprio know that he's one of the most tireless supporters of the fight against climate change and an ardent environmental activist. Having waited so long to win an Oscar, he could have easily made his entire speech about himself. However, after thanking those who helped make the film such a success, he spent most of his speech bringing awareness to environmental issues, which showed a real touch of class on his part.

Rent The Revenant on Apple TV+

9 Taraji P. Henson — SAG Award for Cast in a Motion Picture (2017)

Hidden Figures

When the cast of Hidden Figures won a SAG Award for the poignant film in 2017, Taraji P. Henson delivered the acceptance speech on their behalf. Her moving words echoed the truth behind why it was such a powerful film and one that needed to be made so the women it featured could be recognized for their stunning achievements.

They Were Heroes

The film tells the true story of three brilliant female women of color who were mathematicians that helped put men into space. As Henson aptly mentions, they showed us how to reach the stars, and never complained about the horrific prejudice of their era, but chose instead to focus on solutions.

Stream Hidden Figures on Disney+

8 Denzel Washington —NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor (2017)

The great Denzel Washington isn't just an icon for his unbelievable talent. He's also one because of the role model he has been to entire generations of minorities. His sheer talent and screen presence has long since been changing lives with the way he chooses to act as a beacon of inspiration to others, something he did once again with this acceptance speech.

Inspiring the Next Generation

It was his 20th win at the NAACP Image Awards for that category. One would think by now he may even have become bored by constantly being honored. However, Denzel's iconic status has always been augmented by his deep understanding of how his success can be used to uplift others , and that this award show in particular meant so much to so many struggling minority actors who constantly felt overlooked by the industry.

Related: Academy Awards: Best Acceptance Speeches from the 2020s (So Far), Ranked

Using his words as wisely as ever, he paid homage to other amazing actors like Kerry Washington and Viola Davis and used them as an example to the next generation for why they should never give up on their dreams.

7 Michelle Yeoh — Academy Award for Best Actress (2023)

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Michelle Yeoh's Best Actress win at the 2023 Oscars was a huge moment for diversity in the industry, since she became the first woman of Asian descent to ever win it. Everything Everywhere All at Once played to a ton of acclaim and was an entertaining movie. However, its greater significance came from how it shone a spotlight on Asian actors and their immense talent.

For the Little Boys and Girls

Michelle Yeoh was shaking with emotion as she delivered a speech steeped in poignancy and sentiment. She noted that the award was for "all the little boys and girls that look like me," using her achievement as a beacon for them to realize that their dreams can come true, no matter how many obstacles there may be.

Stream Everything Everywhere All at Once on Prime Video

6 Heath Ledger — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (2009)

The Dark Knight

His tragic and untimely death sent shock waves around Hollywood and the world, but what made Heath Ledger's passing all the more sad was that his last role gave us an immortal performance . It isn't often that performances like his Joker in The Dark Knight come around. Scintillating and original, it set a high bar for comic book films.

A Bittersweet Moment

What made this acceptance speech stand out was that Heath had already passed on and was awarded the Oscar posthumously. In a fitting moment, it was his family that accepted the award for him and their kind and gracious words spoke only of humility that provided inspiring insight into how well he had been loved by those who knew him best. There was also gratitude that his talent was vindicated despite him no longer being around.

Stream The Dark Knight on Max

5 Viola Davis — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2015)

How to Get Away With Murder

While she'd been around a while, How to Get Away with Murder brought the exceptional talents of Viola Davis to the attention of a wider audience. Winning an Emmy for her role in it was a richly deserved honor since she's proven to be a brilliant actress with an amazing screen presence. Her speech that night echoed the struggle of many others, and she used her words powerfully to highlight that struggle.

Opportunity as a Barrier

A visibly emotional Davis delivered a moving speech that was also a devastating indictment on prejudice in the industry . It's better to see her words for themselves than to try and describe why they were so powerful.

And let me tell you something, the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.

Stream How to Get Away with Murder on Netflix

4 Ryan Gosling — Goldent Globe for Best Actor In a Comedy or Musical (2017)

When Ryan Gosling won this award, he was at the height of his fame as one of the most desired actors in the world. However, his looks aside, it was moments like this speech that cemented why his armies of fans truly admired him so much.

He Paid Tribute to His Lady

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes make a stunning couple but have been notoriously private about their personal lives. However, when he accepted the award, Gosling dedicated the speech to Eva Mendes , acknowledging the sacrifices she had made so that he could go off and make the film.

He mentioned that it was a time when she had been experiencing many personal struggles taking care of her brother who later passed away from cancer, and hailed her efforts for enduring that on her own so that he could commit to making La La Land .

Stream La La Land on Netflix

3 Ke Huy Quan — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (2023)

While most people knew him as the kid from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Ke Huy Quan had a remarkable comeback when he won an Oscar for his role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. It was an inspiring achievement, and his emotion when he accepted the award spoke volumes about how much it meant to him.

Related: 10 Oscar Acceptance Speeches That Sparked Controversy

The American Dream

Delivering the speech in tears, Quan spoke about his time spent as a refugee for a year. He thanked his mother and mentioned how much it meant to them both. Given the immense obstacles he faced to get to where he was, Quan emphatically declared that he was an embodiment of the American Dream.

2 Marlon Brando — Academy Award for Best Actor (1972)

The Godfather (1972)

The film is considered a masterpiece and while it was one of the greatest performances in cinematic history, what made Marlon Brando's role in The Godfather even more memorable was how he chose to deal with his Oscar win for it. A moment that played a large part in celebrity activism culture, it made for an unforgettable speech at the ceremony.

No One Knew How to React

​​​​Long before the Academy Awards became synonymous with political statements, Brando made a massive one when he never even showed up to the ceremony. Instead, when he won, he sent a Native American actress and activist named Sacheen Littlefeather to regretfully refuse to accept the award.

She explained that the reason was his protest against the treatment of Native peoples in films and television. It was a shocking moment for its time and while most people saw the deeper meaning behind it and applauded, it was a sign of how different times were back then that some audience members actually booed Littlefeather.

Stream The Godfather on Fubo

1 Halle Berry — Academy Award for Best Actress (2002)

monster's ball

There weren't many Oscar moments as poignant or historical as this one in the long and illustrious history of the ceremony. When Halle Berry won the award for Best Actress for her hauntingly painful role in Monster's Ball , it meant far more than just being a victory for her.

Breaking Barriers

For a long time, there's been a dark shadow of prejudice that's hung over the glamor of Hollywood, especially against women and people of color. It has constantly been decried by the many brilliant artists who have been overlooked because of it.

The emotion when Halle accepted her award was overwhelming, and as she broke down to give her speech, her words were filled with emotion that harkened to that shadow, and resonated with significance.

As she put it, the award wasn't just for her but for every woman of color for whom it vindicated and opened doors, by her becoming the first black woman in history to ever win the award for that category. Unfortunately, her watershed moment has never been repeated since.

Stream Monster's Ball on The Roku Channel

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The Greatest Speeches of All Time, and What Biden Said

The oratory was warmed-over, but the substance was right.

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I f you want to reach the kids , you’ve got to go where the kids are. Where are they right now? With their devices, of course. And what are they doing on those devices? Listening to podcasts, of course. This, presumably, was the reason behind the release of a corker: NATO Through Time , in which a grandfatherly former NATO official and three young and extremely well-informed co-hosts plunge into the past.

What’s next, Yalta: The Musical ? It would probably be a more successful venture, because Yalta was once; NATO is forever. From age to age, a new generation of supporters must be rallied, and that is becoming the 13th labor of Hercules. If the thudding disappointment of Unfrosted taught us anything, it’s that young people hate Boomer nostalgia. And NATO is the rotary phone of geopolitical alliances.

I grew up a long time ago, when the world was every bit as complicated and dangerous as it is today. But, if only as a reassuring fiction, the American president was often referred to as “the leader of the free world.” America was the most powerful country in history, and it was sworn to protect—and was protected by, should the terrible day come—an alliance of other free nations.

NATO was principally a firebreak against the Soviet Union and remains one against Russia. But Barack Obama felt that a foreign policy in which Russia was our chief enemy was a little old-fashioned. Too From Russia With Love . Too Rocky IV and Rambo III . In a presidential debate in 2012, he mocked Mitt Romney for saying that Russia was the biggest threat to America: “The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.” Then the Cold War rose from the dead and Russia invaded Crimea, and two years ago began its bloodthirsty attack on Ukraine.

Two people who don’t like NATO are Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump (who once told his foreign-policy adviser, “ I don’t give a shit about NATO ”). This ought to ring a distant alarm bell. Managing the very special relationship between these two powerful men seems to be Trump’s version of NATO: cheaper, more direct, perhaps one day turning into an alliance of its own.

Around the world, autocracy is rising; spend any time at all reading about the evidence, and your hair catches on fire. Russia, China, North Korea—they have all been strengthening their ties to one another; all of them have a dim view of America and of democracy.

Toward self-preservation, allow me to offer my own extremely brief assessment of NATO through time, in the form of three speeches by American presidents.

N o one really knows what John F. Kennedy actually said in his famous 1961 inaugural address , because he was so goddamn sexy and so goddamn confident that the beautiful words and soaring phrases float through your receptive brain but can find no purchase. But by looping the video for a week, this is what I’ve got:

Kennedy believed that the Second World War—which had ended just 15 years earlier—was a turning point in American history. The war had revealed the extent of America’s commitment to freedom and its special role as the defender of nations where tyrants ruled. The speech recognized that the dropping of atomic bombs in Japan had forever changed the equation of human progress: “The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” America had nuclear weapons, but so did its greatest enemy.

Embedded within the beautiful speech was the rationale for a lot of very questionable foreign policy. But the speech was also a flex and a warning: “To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.”

In his beautiful words, he was talking about the rotary phone—NATO. And the desperate need to keep the peace: “To those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.”

R onald Reagan presided over the Soviet Union’s demise. He also popularized that oxymoronic piece of realpolitik “Trust but verify.”

In 1984, he gave a speech marking the 40th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. Peggy Noonan wrote it, and it took its place among the greatest American political speeches of all time. No one could sell a speech like Reagan, and this one opened like a novel, or better yet, a screenplay:

ESTABLISHING SHOT : “We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France.” DISSOLVE : “The air is soft, but 40 years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon.”

The genius of the speech was that, while it described dramatic action that took place in the context of extremely complicated political history, it left that history as assumed fact and centered on the individual and collective actions of very young American men, some of them boys, who had more or less been dumped out of landing craft into waist-high waves, and were immediately under German machine-gun fire.

Some survivors of that pitiless day sat in the front rows of the audience, and Reagan addressed them directly: “You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.”

I doubt if any of the terrified young men bleeding and dying on that beach thought of themselves as morally bound to defend democracy. But Reagan followed an established tradition of recognizing the highest aspirations of American troops in combat and of finding within the individual acts of one soldier the aims and honor of a just war.

In one of the speech’s most arresting passages, Reagan tied the horrors of combat back to the suffering of parents and families. “The Americans who fought here that morning knew word of the invasion was spreading through the darkness back home. They thought—or felt in their hearts, though they couldn’t know in fact—that in Georgia they were filling the churches at 4 a.m., in Kansas they were kneeling on their porches and praying, and in Philadelphia they were ringing the Liberty Bell.”

I don’t think any other politician of the past 50 years could have sold that line about the Liberty Bell, but when Reagan said it, you were pierced by it.

Young Americans then had comparatively little experience with the Second World War as an exercise of American greatness. They’d been ground down by Vietnam, and by all the music and movies about it, and by the homeless vets who sat in wheelchairs panhandling and drinking. Vietnam had brought shame to America—but the Second World War was different. This speech gave them a chance to reconsider America in a new light, as the hero of a global catastrophe. This was before Tom Brokaw’s The Greatest Generation and Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, and Spielberg and Tom Hanks’s Band of Brothers . In fact, those lionizing, mythmaking inventions probably would not have existed without Reagan’s speech.

The tone was Shakespearean, Prince Hal into Henry V: “These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.”

But the real heart of the speech was here, in the emphasis on the ways that the Allied powers had worked together to achieve this joint victory: “All of these men were part of a roll call of honor with names that spoke of a pride as bright as the colors they bore: the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Poland’s 24th Lancers, the Royal Scots Fusiliers, the Screaming Eagles, the Yeomen of England’s armored divisions, the forces of Free France, the Coast Guard’s ‘Matchbox Fleet,’ and you, the American Rangers.”

And then he said this, possibly the point of the whole thing—his endorsement of the idea that the “strength of America’s allies is vital to the United States”: “We were with you then; we are with you now. Your hopes are our hopes, and your destiny is our destiny.”

W hen I read that Joe Biden was giving his own speech in Normandy this month, I think I actually said, “O almighty God, forbid it.” I knew it would feature our ever-diminishing president delivering a warmed-over version of Reagan’s great speech.

It was that. But, in its unspectacular way, it was also a speech that drew the sharpest possible contrast between Biden and Donald Trump, and what Trump imagines is his ability to cajole and bully our enemies, to find common cause with them and to stage dramas in which he emerges as a global ambassador of peace through strength. During his administration, Trump threatened North Korea with nuclear attack (sweet Jesus!). But he softened after Kim Jong Un “ wrote me beautiful letters .” The kind of foreign policy that involves, say, sending aid to Ukraine to beat back Russian soldiers seems far less interesting to him.

Biden said this: “When we talk about American democracy, we often talk about the ideals of life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. What we don’t talk about is how hard it is.” He said the “most natural instinct is to walk away, to be selfish, to force our will upon others, to seize power.”

“American democracy asks the hardest of things: to believe that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Y ou would think that freedom is the force that flows naturally, but it’s not. Freedom generally has to be fought for and always must be vigilantly—and sometimes militarily—guarded.

There’s no point listing Joe Biden’s manifold shortcomings here. They’re in front of our eyes, and they’re not all “ cheap fakes .” But Biden believes in NATO and in supporting our allies. Maybe that seems quaint, and rotary-phone-as-hell, but these are very good things.

Trump is flashier: a convicted felon, an insult comic, the last man on Earth to run on a platform of “Trust me,” and yet it’s working on a huge number of Americans.

If you vote for Biden, you’ll have to ask yourself a question: Is he still fit for office, or is he too frail, too ancient-seeming to make another term anything but a mockery of the country?

And if you vote for Trump, you’ll have to ask yourself this one: Do you feel lucky?