how to start a quote in speech

20 Great Quotes To Help You Deliver A Killer Speech

Want to make your next speech more powerful ? Use superb quotations and use them well. In this article, I will share 20 of my favorite quotations for beginning and professional speakers. And I will tell you when and how to use them.

But before we get into these specific sayings, here are a few introductory suggestions for using quotations when you are a keynote speaker , giving an inspirational message, annual report, sales presentation, after-dinner talk, Sunday sermon, teaching lesson, or any speech you are preparing.

• Use no more than 3 to 5 quotations in your speech. Remember that a quotation is like seasoning on a fine meal. Don’t overuse quotations in your talk. That’s like dumping an entire saltshaker worth of salt on top of your meal. Think of quotes as delicious flavor additives, not the main dish.
• Avoid using quotes that are already well known to your audience. The real (secret) power of a great quotation is its ability to surprise your listeners.
• Take the time to find the ideal quotes for your talk. Go deeper than a google search. Read inspiring books, check out relevant articles, visit your local bookstore or library. Keep a journal and collect the sayings, proverbs, quotations, and bits of wisdom that move your heart and mind.
• Whenever possible, cite the source of your quotation. Give credit where credit is due. And be sure your source is accurate. You will lose credibility if you quote George Washington as an expert on social media! If you cannot track down the original source of your quote, you can simply say, “It has been said…”
• Make sure your quotations support your main message . Sometimes it’s tempting to sneak a great quip or quote into your talk because you love it. First decide if it’s apt for what you want to communicate.

Here Are 20 of the Best Quotations for Your Next Speech Use One of These Great Quotes When You Want to…

Create laughter.

Quoting a comedian, famous wit, ancient proverb, or even a child’s wisdom can generate an instant laugh during your presentation. And trust me, your audience wants to laugh! Here’s the key: Pause before and after you share the funny quotation or short joke. A humorous quotation will surprise, shock, exaggerate, and often convey a tough truth in a way that delights.

“If you’re looking for a helping hand, there’s one at the end of your arm.” ~Yiddish Proverb

Make them THINK

A powerful quotation will give your audience food for thought. First of course, you must determine what you want your audience to understand, believe, and embrace. Then, choose a quotation that packs a punch.

“He not busy being born, is busy dying.” ~Bob Dylan

Grab their ATTENTION

Usually the shorter the quotation, the more powerful the punch. Long quotes, like long speeches, will leave your audiences yawning. To open your speech, you may want to grab your listener’s attention with a short quotation or aphorism. If you are giving a talk about dream casting or goal-setting for example, here’s a fine quotation:

“If you know what you want, you can have it.” ~RH Jarrett

Prove your POINT

You don’t have to agree with every source you quote. Sometimes who you quote, is as important as what you quote. Here’s an example. Though I obviously detest this famous leader, this quotation makes a powerful point. When I am stressing the power of passion, I sometimes share this one. Note: After I give the source—which always shocks the audience—I remind them that he was evil and that we must use the power of passion for good.

“Only a storm of hot passion can turn the destinies of people. And he alone can arouse passion who bears it within himself.” ~Adolf Hitler

Illustrate an IDEA

A good quotation is like a good story. It’s a window in your house. Use it to let the light in. Help your audience see what you are saying. A good metaphor is one of the most helpful tools in a speaker’s toolbox. To get your idea across, use a strong word picture. Imagine giving a talk to a group of schoolteachers. Your goal is to affirm them for the great work they are doing. You want to remind them that what they do—educating children—matters forever.

“A school is a building with four walls, with tomorrow inside.” ~Lon Watters

INSPIRE your audience

The best speeches lift hearts! If your goal is to motivate your audience, insert a quotation designed to inspire the dreams of your audience members. Connect with their emotions. Choose a statement that is filled with hope and encouragement. Here’s one of my favorites, because it strikes such an emotional chord:

“If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme.” ~Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio

Issue a WARNING

You can use a quotation to sound an alarm. You may want to shake your hearers into stopping/starting a behavior. The key here is choosing a quotation that lights a fire under your people. What mindset do you want them to change? What do you want them to do?

“Unassertive salespeople have skinny kids!” ~Zig Ziglar

Make people CARE

Many speakers make the mistake of thinking that their talk is primarily about content. While content is important, the best speakers transfer their conviction to an audience. Your group doesn’t want more information. They are looking for takeaways and transformation.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou

Capture an INSIGHT

Many times the quotes that will rock your speech are what I call “zingers.” What is a “zinger”? It’s a pithy statement that expresses a flash of insight. Zap your audience with a truth in capsule form. People love to read the fortune inside their fortune cookie—and often the words apply to their lives. When I am giving a speech that talks about how we learn, I love to share this one:

“I respect wisdom but I obey pain.” ~12 Step Recovery Saying

EDUCATE your attendees

Don’t make the mistake many speakers make. Never confuse a statistic with a quotation. Remember: facts tell, stories sell. Search out stories and quotations for your talk that provide “teaching moments.” Tip: Do an Amazon search for aphorism. You’ll discover some great gems and nuggets for your next speech. An aphorism, like a proverb, teaches a memorable lesson-in-a-few-words.

“Don’t expect your ship to come in—unless you’ve sent one out.” ~Belgian Proverb

STRENGTHEN your case

Know exactly what you want to say to an audience. Then you will be in a position to find the perfect quote(s) for your next keynote speech, workshop or seminar. If you are giving a talk on leadership, select a quotation from an inspiring leader. Are you motivating athletes? Choose a motivational saying from an accomplished football, basketball, or soccer player. Most importantly, know your audience. This will help you know which quotation will best support your speech.

“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” ~Anais Nin

Make your speech MATTER

A good question to ask yourself is: “Who cares about what I am saying?” By the way, this is the very question your audience is asking when you start your speech. How does this matter to me ? Reverse engineer your speech. Think about the big takeaway you want your group to get from your presentation. Then craft your message—and the quotes that will make it pop—based on the actions you want your audience to take.

“The meaning of communication is the response you get.” ~NLP maxim

Use the power of REPETITION

One of the great speeches in U.S. history is Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. And one of the factors that makes it so powerful? MLK’s repeated use of his awesome title: “I Have a Dream.” Consider repeating a strong quotation again and again during your talk. This can help you re-state your core message. You can also hammer home a big point with a quotation that repeats certain words to great effect. Notice how Winston Churchill did this often. (“Never, never, never give in…”), He and MLK are two of the greatest orators of the 20th century. Both leaders repeated words to maximize the impact of their language.

“We are all worms. But I do believe that I am a glow-worm.” ~Winston Churchill

Enhance a CELEBRATION

Maybe you will give your speech at a wedding, an anniversary party, or an awards program. You can pump up the proceedings with a special quote. Identify a sparkling statement that will raise spirits…and maybe wine glasses. Here’s the key to doing this well: Keep the focus on who/what is being celebrated. Your quotation should amplify the purpose of the event. Honor the bride, toast the award-winner, congratulate the champion. Get clear on the reason for festivities. Your quotation should put a spotlight on what your guests are celebrating together.

“Life is short, wear your party pants.” ~Loretta LaRoche

Want to make sport of a competitor? Handle a heckler? Or lampoon an idea you don’t like? A good quote can work wonders. Just be careful about coming across as mean-spirited. Humor helps.

“Lord, help me make my enemies look ridiculous.” ~Voltaire (French Philosopher)

Increase your AUTHORITY

Don’t get the wrong idea here. Quotations are not the source of your authority, you are. But a compelling quote can boost your credibility as a speaker. Select a quote that comes from a recognized name or organization that will resonate with your audience. Quote an expert. Better yet, become one.

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” ~Muhammed Ali

Speak with CONFIDENCE

Want to know a speaking secret? Your listeners aren’t paying that much attention to what you say. But they are tuned in to how you say it. They are listening for your confidence. What do you do if you don’t feel confident? Act like you are. And to take it to the next level—instill confidence in your audience too. Model it.

“Feel the fear and do it anyway.” ~Susan Jeffers

Bring CLARITY

One of the gifts you can bring people via your message is clarity. Help your audience see the path, cut through the clutter, and take decisive action. Make a statement, or share a quotation, that simplifies things for people. Sometimes this can be phrased as a question like, “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” Other times you will want to give them the answer straight up. A great quote can help you do just that. You want to communicate with great clarity. And show your audience the way forward.

“If you don’t have a plan for your life, somebody else does.” ~Michael Hyatt

Issue a call to ACTION!

You can wrap-up your speech with a mighty quotation to finish strong. Make sure that your final phrase captures the heart of your main message. Don’t end on something cliché like, “Thanks for listening” or “My name is Blah Blah.” Your end quote, if you use one, should empower your audience and echo the main thrust of your talk. And get this: You want to invite your audience to take action.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.” ~Walt Disney

Create your own CATCH PHRASE

Few people remember speeches, but many people remember speakers. Can you create an original quotation that fits your personal brand? Tap into what makes you unique. What makes your message special? The final words of your speech can remind people about who you are and what you had to say. What is your signature “sign off” sentence? It might be a parting piece of advice. It could also be a statement you design to capture the way you want the group to remember the experience you created for them.

“The tribe has spoken.” ~Jeff Probst, “Survivor”

By finding and utilizing quotations that appeal to you, you will heighten the impact of your speech. Plug one or two of the above quotations into your next speech or special presentation. Better yet, discover the pitch-perfect quotes for your talk. Weave them into your speech and speak with gusto. You’ll be glad you did. And your audience will be pleased too. You can quote me on that.

Adam Christing is a professional keynote speaker, master of ceremonies , and author . He has written four humor and personal transformation books including: Comedy Comes Clean 1 & 2: A Hilarious Collection of Wholesome Jokes, Quotes, and One-liners, Your Life is a Joke: 12 Ways to Go from Ha Ha to AHA! and Bob Dylan Can Change Your Life: 61 Ways to Invent a Legendary You.  Adam has been studying and collecting quotations for more than 25 years.

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How to Use Quotes in Your Speech: 8 Benefits and 21 Tips

In this article, we examine eight benefits of using quotations in your speech, and then discuss twenty-one tips for superpowering your speech with effective quotes.

• Speech Quotations
• Rhetorical Questions
• Triads (the Rule of Three)
• Parallelism

Benefits of Using Quotations in Your Speech

There are numerous benefits to crafting quotations into your speech, including:

• The primary reason to quote material in your speech is that it reinforces your ideas . A quotation offers a second voice echoing your claims, but is more powerful than simply repeating yourself in different words.
• Quotations usually offer a concise, memorable phrasing of an idea. (This is why the quotation gets remembered and repeated, isn’t it?)
• Using a quotation boosts your credibility because it implies that the person you are quoting agrees with the rest of your argument.
• Most people do not have the ability to spontaneous offer relevant quotes to support their statements. So, when you deliver a quotation, it demonstrates your domain knowledge and preparation .
• Quotations are one way to add variety to your logical arguments , along with facts, statistics, stories, metaphors, and other material. Audiences get bored if you offer a one-dimensional string of arguments of the same type.
• Depending on how you deliver the quotation, you can create anticipation, suspense, or drama . For example, if you begin “Microsoft founder Bill Gates once said…” followed by a pause, then your audience will surely anticipate your next words. What did he say? What did he say?
• Conversely, you might choose a quotation which adds humor to your presentation , due to the content of the quote or perhaps the person you are quoting.
• If you are delivering with visuals, you might choose to display the quotation on a slide and let your audience read it. This creates a natural and purposeful pause in your vocal delivery , allowing you to check your notes, take a sip of water, and collect your thoughts.

Tips for Using Quotations in Your Speech

Okay, you are convinced of the benefits of incorporating quotations into your speech. But how do you do it? Who should you quote? When should you give the quotation? Read on to discover numerous tips for using quotes effectively in your presentations.

Do your Research

• Make sure you get the phrasing correct. A quotation should boost your credibility, but quoting inaccurately weakens your credibility. A sloppy quotation makes you look lazy.
• Get a reliable source. Wikipedia doesn’t count. Your credibility is on the line.
• Beware quoting out-of-context. Be careful when quoting material on controversial topics. Make sure you understand the intent of the speaker, not only their words. A quotation taken out of context where you’ve garbled the meaning makes you look like you are deliberately misleading your audience.

Quote People Your Audience Knows

• Quote a well-known expert in the field. Don’t quote individuals based purely on their fame or success; base your decision on their expertise in the subject area you are talking about. Quote Aristotle on philosophy or Serena Williams on tennis — doing the opposite gets you in trouble.
• Quote a lesser-known expert in the field, but only with background context. If your desired quote comes from someone who your audience won’t immediately recognize, you’ll need to introduce the speaker and establish their credibility before delivering their quote.
• Quote an earlier speaker at your event. Suppose you are speaking at an event where an earlier speaker made some statements relevant to your message. Referring back to their words will not only impress your audience, but also capitalize on the earlier speaker’s effectiveness.
• Quote yourself (playfully). I’ve done this many times, and it always receives a positive audience response. One way I do this is to introduce a particularly important point as “Dlugan’s First Law of ( whatever topic I’m speaking on )”

Use your own words to open and close; quote in the middle.

• Open your speech with a quote (sparingly). Starting with a quote can be effective, but don’t assume just  any quotation will grab your audience’s attention. I’ve watched speakers open with a quotation that wasn’t very powerful, and even irrelevant to their content. There are usually more powerful ways to grab your audience’s attention.
• Avoid closing your speech with a quote. I have heard speeches end strong with a quotation, usually when the quote refers back to the beginning. However, I would not advise it generally. Your final words should be your own. Ending with a quote is often a sign that you don’t have confidence in your own words.
• Quotations work best in the body of your speech. The best time to introduce a quote is when you need more support for one of your arguments. One particularly effective time is near the end of a section. Reinforcing your arguments with a quotation brings good closure to your argument.

Draw attention to the quote through your delivery.

• The traditional formula is okay. Most quotations are introduced simply: Albert Einstein once said “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” This simple formula is clear, direct, and acceptable.
• Reading the quote from notes is okay. When possible, I would advise delivering the quote from memory. But sometimes, reading it can be better. If the quote is lengthy, for example, it’s better to read it to ensure you are accurate. Even a short quote can be read from notes effectively. I once saw a speaker who produced the note paper from his pocket, and was almost reverent as he read it. In this case, it could be argued that not reading it would have been disrespectful.
• Or, let your audience read the quote. If you are using visuals, you might choose to display the quotation. When you do this, do NOT read it to your audience. Let them read it. (Remember, you should never read material to your audience when they can see the words.) This technique has an added benefit: you can stylize the slide to add impact. For example, you might add a photo of the speaker, or perhaps use a font which conveys mood.
• Pause before and after. You should pause briefly before the quote (a little suspense, and to grab attention) and then a little longer after the quote (to allow the meaning of the quotation to be absorbed by your audience.) Give the quotation respect, and let its impact be felt.
• Spice up your vocal delivery. Of course, you should be varying your voice throughout your presentation. Just like other key statements in your speech, a quotation deserves a little extra vocal emphasis. Maybe louder, maybe softer. Maybe happier, maybe sadder. Let the mood of the quote guide your delivery.
• Set the context when necessary. Some quotations stand on their own, but other quotations won’t be effective unless you establish the context first. A quotation which has your audience guessing is a missed opportunity. Perhaps you need to give the historical context, or explain something about the life of the speaker. Make sure the quotation has maximum impact.

Use trustworthy sources.

• Quotation compilations keep quotes within arm’s reach. Every serious speaker should own at least one quotation compilation. ( Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations is my personal favorite, ever since I first found a copy of a previous edition on my brother’s bookshelf 30 years ago.) A well-edited compilation provides several sort indices to help you find the perfect quote faster. An added benefit is that these types of sources should be trustworthy.
• Biographies of famous people in your field are also rich sources. For example, a biography on Steve Jobs is sure to have numerous quotable lines on his business philosophy. Like quotation compilations, biographies are generally trustworthy.
• Online quotation search engines offer unparalleled breadth. Quotation websites help you find quotations using a given keyword or spoken by a given person. It’s quick and easy, but the sources cannot always be trusted. Whenever I use these sources, I seek out a second source to verify. (Be careful, many quotation websites might use the same flawed source…)

Be selective.

• Don’t use a quote that everyone knows. If your audience has heard the quote before, you will receive virtually no benefit from repeating it.
• Don’t overdo it. There’s no rule about how many quotes you should use, but their effectiveness gets diluted if you use too many. Remember that your speech should primarily be told with your words, not someone else’s. Keep just the best quotes you found in your research, and trim the others.

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16 comments.

Excellent post. Doing your research is vital. In January I blogged about some people who quoted Penn State football coach Joe Paterno after he’d gone from famous to infamous: http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2012/01/preparation-is-vital-before-using.html

Yesterday I blogged about how two apparently startling statistics weren’t really that impressive: http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2012/09/is-540-million-minutes-per-day-large.html

Great advice! I appreciate that you tell speakers to use quotations that we DON’T already know. Too often, speakers use tired quotations and it doesn’t add benefit to the presentation.

Andrew, I am trying something a bit different with quotes for one of my advanced Toastmaster speeches,…the speech is about the importance of the words we say as told to me by an elderly friend of mine who is a survivor of Auschwitz. There are two powerful, but simple, quotes during the speech and I’ve decided to imitate my friend’s German accent to make the quotes more meaningful and memorable. I’ve never heard anyone in my club purposely use a different accent to make quotes in their speech stand out more. I’m interested to see how this will work.

Generally, I think delivering the quote using an accent is a great idea. This makes it much more like storytelling and is one way to create a meaningful context for your audience.

A couple things to consider: 1) Practice. Make sure that adding an accent doesn’t prevent you from accurately quoting. 2) Make sure that the quote is still clear with an accent. If your audience cannot understand the words, it will be less effective.

the article is so helpful and clearly understandable.thumbs up.

Great topic to post about Andrew, You make some really good points!

Definitely agree re:using quotes not everyone knows. You see the same quotes repeated to death on the internet – and esp. twitter (“you are what you repeatedly do”, anyone?) that the audience rolls their eyes and thinks ‘you prepared this?’ when they hear one in a talk.

Thanks for the tips. I have just referenced your article in my blog post about using quotes in high-tech presentations.

Thanks Andrew – I really enjoyed this post.

It inspired me to come up with 6 more tips for using quotes: http://remotepossibilities.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/how-to-use-quotes-in-your-presentation-tips-six-minutes/

Hope you find them helpful!

Thanks for extending the discussion, Craig.

Lots of good points here. But I disagree about never using familiar quotes. In some cases, if you using a known quote to say something new or unexpected, it can be very effective, and often funny and memorable. P.S. #11 “stay” with problems longer. 🙂

Yes, if the known quote can be interpreted in a fresh way from a new perspective, then it may have value. Unfortunately, these common quotes are used predictably… and that’s boring.

Thanks for the typo alert, Shelly. It has been fixed.

Andrew: Great advice to not read the quote, but let the audience read the quote and then have the presenter comment on the quote and it’s meaning as it relates to the topic.

Enjoyed this article will be able to direct my speech students to your website for some good presentation tips

I completely disagree with most of this. It’s almost always feeble lazy technique to throw in a ‘famous’ quote into a speech. Why? Does not a speaker have original language of his/her own? Isn’t it annoying or presumptuous to try to dignify one’s own words with language appropriated from other people? Yes, using a quotation shows your ‘preparation’. It also shows that you’re unable to make a case without calling in bigger guns, and that shows weakness.

Sir, I have to give a speech. Should I add quote before my introduction or after my introduction?

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3 Blog Links

Do you use quotes in your speech? Here’s how: « Presenter News — Sep 24th, 2012

Wise men say | B2B STORYTELLING — Oct 2nd, 2012

How to use quotes in your presentation – 25+ tips from Six Minutes & me | Remote Possibilities — Oct 4th, 2012

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How to Start a Speech: 7 Tips and Examples for a Captivating Opening

By Status.net Editorial Team on December 12, 2023 — 10 minutes to read

1. Choosing the Right Opening Line

Finding the perfect opening line for your speech is important in grabbing your audience’s attention. A strong opening line sets the stage for the points you want to make and helps you establish a connection with your listeners.

1. Start with a question

Engage your audience from the very beginning by asking them a thought-provoking question related to your topic. This approach encourages them to think, and it can create a sense of anticipation about what’s coming next.

• “Have you ever wondered how much time we spend on our phones every day?”

2. Share a personal story

A relatable personal story can create an emotional connection with your audience. Make sure your story is short, relevant to your speech, and ends with a clear point.

• “When I was a child, my grandmother used to tell me that every kind deed we do plants a seed of goodness in the world. It was this philosophy that inspired me to start volunteering.”

3. Use a quote or a statistic

Incorporate a powerful quote or an intriguing statistic at the outset of your speech to engage your audience and provide context for your topic.

• “As the great Maya Angelou once said, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'”

4. Make them laugh

Injecting a little humor into your opening line puts everyone at ease and makes your speech more memorable. Just make sure your joke is relevant and doesn’t offend your audience.

• “They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but if the doctor is cute, forget the fruit!”

5. Paint a mental picture

Draw your audience in by describing a vivid scene or painting an illustration in their minds. This creates an immersive experience that makes it easier for your audience to follow your speech.

• “Picture this: you’re walking down the beach, and you look out on the horizon. The sun is setting, and the sky is a breathtaking canvas of reds, oranges, and pinks.”

2. Using a Personal Story

Sharing a personal story can be a highly effective way to engage your audience from the very beginning of your speech. When you open your talk with a powerful, relatable story, it helps create an emotional connection with your listeners, making them more invested in what you have to say.

Think about an experience from your life that is relevant to the topic of your speech. Your story doesn’t have to be grand or dramatic, but it should be clear and vivid. Include enough detail to paint a picture in your audience’s minds, but keep it concise and on point.

The key to successfully using a personal story is to make it relatable. Choose a situation that your audience can empathize with or easily understand. For example, if you’re giving a speech about overcoming adversity, you could talk about a time where you faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge and overcame it.

Make sure to connect your story to the main point or theme of your speech. After sharing your experience, explain how it relates to the topic at hand, and let your audience see the relevance to their own lives. This will make your speech more impactful and show your listeners why your personal story holds meaning.

3. Making a Shocking Statement

Starting your speech with a shocking statement can instantly grab your audience’s attention. This technique works especially well when your speech topic relates to a hot-button issue or a controversial subject. Just make sure that the statement is relevant and true, as false claims may damage your credibility.

For example, “Believe it or not, 90% of startups fail during their first five years in the market.” This statement might surprise your listeners and make them more receptive to your ideas on how to avoid pitfalls and foster a successful business.

So next time you’re crafting a speech, consider opening with a powerful shocking statement. It could be just the thing to get your audience sitting up and paying full attention. (Try to keep your shocking statement relevant to your speech topic and factual to enhance your credibility.)

4. Using Humor

Humor can be an excellent way to break the ice and grab your audience’s attention. Opening your speech with a funny story or a joke can make a memorable first impression. Just be sure to keep it relevant to your topic and audience.

A good joke can set a light-hearted tone, lead into the importance of effective time management, and get your audience engaged from the start.

When using humor in your speech, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be relatable: Choose a story or joke that your audience can easily relate to. It will be more engaging and connect your listeners to your message.
• Keep it appropriate: Make sure the humor fits the occasion and audience. Stay away from controversial topics and avoid offending any particular group.
• Practice your delivery: Timing and delivery are essential when telling a joke. Practice saying it out loud and adjust your pacing and tone of voice to ensure your audience gets the joke.
• Go with the flow: If your joke flops or doesn’t get the reaction you were hoping for, don’t panic or apologize. Simply move on to the next part of your speech smoothly, and don’t let it shake your confidence.
• Don’t overdo it: While humor can be useful in capturing your audience’s attention, remember that you’re not a stand-up comedian. Use it sparingly and focus on getting your message across clearly and effectively.

5. Incorporating a Quote

When you want to start your speech with a powerful quote, ensure that the quote is relevant to your topic. Choose a quote from a credible source, such as a famous historical figure, a well-known author, or a respected expert in your field. This will not only grab your audience’s attention but also establish your speech’s credibility.

For example, if you’re giving a speech about resilience, you might use this quote by Nelson Mandela: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Once you’ve found the perfect quote, integrate it smoothly into your speech’s introduction. You can briefly introduce the source of the quote, providing context for why their words are significant. For example:

Nelson Mandela, an inspirational leader known for his perseverance, once said: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

When you’re incorporating a quote in your speech, practice your delivery to ensure it has the intended impact. Focus on your tone, pace, and pronunciation. By doing so, you can convey the quote’s meaning effectively and connect with your audience emotionally.

Connect the quote to your main points by briefly explaining how it relates to the subject matter of your speech. By creating a natural transition from the quote to your topic, you can maintain your audience’s interest and set the stage for a compelling speech.

In our resilience example, this could look like:

“This quote by Mandela beautifully illustrates the power of resilience. Today, I want to share with you some stories of remarkable individuals who, like Mandela, overcame obstacles and rose every time they fell. Through their experiences, we might learn how to cultivate our own resilience and make the most of life’s challenges.”

6. Starting with a Question

Opening your speech with a question can be a great way to engage your audience from the start. This strategy encourages your listeners to think and become active participants in your presentation. Your opening question should be related to your core message, sparking their curiosity, and setting the stage for the following content. Here are a few examples:

• For a motivational speech : “Have you ever wondered what you would do if you couldn’t fail?”
• For a business presentation : “What’s the biggest challenge your team faces daily, and how can we overcome it?”
• For an educational talk : “How does the way we use technology today impact the future of our society?”

When choosing the right starting question, consider your audience. You want to ask something that is relevant to their experiences and interests. The question should be interesting enough to draw their attention and resonate with their emotions. For instance, if you’re presenting to a group of entrepreneurs, gear your question towards entrepreneurship, and so on.

To boost your question’s impact, consider using rhetorical questions. These don’t require a verbal response, but get your audience thinking about their experiences or opinions. Here’s an example:

• For an environmental speech : “What kind of world do we want to leave for our children?”

After posing your question, take a moment to let it sink in, and gauge the audience’s reaction. You can also use a brief pause to give the listeners time to think about their answers before moving on with your speech.

7. Acknowledging the Occasion

When starting a speech, you can acknowledge the occasion that brought everyone together. This helps create a connection with your audience and sets the stage for the rest of your speech. Make sure to mention the event name, its purpose, and any relevant individuals or groups you would like to thank for organizing it. For example:

“Hello everyone, and welcome to the 10th annual Charity Gala Dinner. I’m truly grateful to the fundraising committee for inviting me to speak tonight.”

After addressing the event itself, include a brief personal touch to show your connection with the topic or the audience. This helps the audience relate to you and gain interest in what you have to say. Here’s an example:

“As a long-time supporter of this cause, I am honored to share my thoughts on how we can continue making a difference in our community.”

Next, give a brief overview of your speech so the audience knows what to expect. This sets the context and helps them follow your points. You could say something like:

“Tonight, I’ll be sharing my experiences volunteering at the local food bank and discussing the impact of your generous donations.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some effective opening lines for speeches.

A powerful opening line will grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for the rest of your speech. Some effective opening lines include:

• Start with a bold statement: “The world needs your creativity now more than ever.”
• Share a surprising fact: “Did you know that the average person spends (…) years of their life at work?”
• Pose a thought-provoking question: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”
• Tell a short, engaging story: “When I was 10 years old, I discovered my passion for baking in my grandmother’s kitchen.”

Can you provide examples of engaging introductions for speeches?

• Use humor: “As a kid, I believed that 7 pm bedtime was a form of torture. Now, as an adult, I find myself dreaming of 7 pm bedtime.”
• Share a personal experience: “On a trip to Italy, I found myself lost in the winding streets of a small village. It was there, amidst my confusion, that I stumbled upon the best gelato I’d ever tasted.”
• Use an analogy: “Starting a new business is like taking a journey into the unknown. There will be challenges to overcome, and you’ll need resilience, determination, and a strong compass.”

Which speech styles can make a powerful impact on the audience?

Different speech styles will resonate with different audiences. Some styles to consider include:

• Inspirational: Motivate your audience to take action or overcome challenges.
• Storytelling: Share personal experiences or anecdotes to illustrate your points and keep listeners engaged.
• Educational: Provide useful information and insights to help your audience learn or grow.
• Persuasive: Present a compelling argument to convince your audience to adopt a particular perspective or take specific action.

How do successful speakers establish a connection with their listeners?

Establishing a connection with your listeners is key to delivering an impactful speech. Some ways to connect with your audience include:

• Show empathy: Demonstrating understanding and concern for your audience’s feelings and experiences will generate a sense of trust and connection.
• Be relatable: Share personal stories or examples that allow your audience to see themselves in your experiences, thus making your speech more relatable.
• Keep it genuine: Avoid overrehearsing or coming across as scripted. Instead, strive for authenticity and flexibility in your delivery.
• Encourage participation: Engaging your audience through questions, activities, or conversation can help build rapport and make them feel more involved.

What are some techniques for maintaining a friendly and professional tone in speeches?

To maintain a friendly and professional tone in your speeches, consider these tips:

• Balance humor and seriousness: Use humor to lighten the mood and engage your audience, but make sure to also cover the serious points in your speech.
• Speak naturally: Use your everyday vocabulary and avoid jargon or overly formal language when possible.
• Show respect: Acknowledge differing opinions and experiences, and treat your audience with courtesy and fairness.
• Provide useful information: Offer valuable insights and solutions to your audience’s concerns, ensuring they leave your speech feeling more informed and empowered.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Leadership [Examples, Tips]
• Effective Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace (Examples)
• Empathy: Definition, Types, and Tips for Effective Practice
• How to Improve Key Communication Skills
• 38 Empathy Statements: Examples of Empathy
• What is Self Compassion? (Exercises, Methods, Examples)

Resources | Storytelling | Strategy

50 powerful quotes to start your presentation.

Written by Kai Xin Koh

When was the last time you attended a conference where the speaker didn’t just say: “Oh hi, my name is XYZ and today, I’ll be speaking to you about Topic X”?

Great stories possess riveting narrative arcs that begin strong and end strong. We’ve written at length about some of the best ways to end your presentation , but how does one design a presentation to start without sounding too cliche?

One of the most powerful ways to begin a presentation is to start by sharing a powerful and memorable quote that relates to the message of your talk.

Powerful quotes have so much power on your presentation. Not only does it help reinforce your message, it also helps boost your credibility since it implied the quote is ‘agreeing’ with your statement.

Take this TED talk by Andrew Solomon for example. Notice how he skilfully uses a quote from a book by Emily Dickinson to set the stage for his numerous anecdotes regarding the topic on Depression in his presentation:

Hence, if you’re looking to follow suit and start your next presentation strong with a powerful quote, we’ve got you covered. Here, we compiled a list of 50 quotes that you can use to boost your next presentation.

50 Powerful Quotes To Start Your Presentation:

1)   “ The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” –  Mark Twain

2) “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” –  Babe Ruth

3) “ If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” –  Albert Einstein

4) “ If you’re too comfortable, it’s time to move on. Terrified of what’s next? You’re on the right track.” –  Susan Fales Hill

5) “ Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” –  Bill Gates

6) “ You can’t look at the competition and say you’re going to do it better. You have to look at the competition and say you’re going to do it differently.” –  Steve Jobs

7) “ Make every detail perfect and limit the number of details to perfect.” –  Jack Dorsey

8) “ Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” –  Oprah Winfrey

9) “ Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after an experience with you becomes your trademark.” –  Jay Danzie

10)  “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” –  Warren Buffett

11)  “Some entrepreneurs think how can I make a lot of money? But a better way is to think how can I make people’s lives a lot better? If you get it right, the money will come.” –  Richard Branson

12)  “When Henry Ford made cheap, reliable cars people said, ‘Nah, what’s wrong with a horse? ’ That was a huge bet he made, and it worked.” –  Elon Musk

13)  “There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.” –  Ray Goforth

14)   “Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.” –  Charles F. Kettering

15)  “People rarely buy what they need. They buy what they want.”   – Seth Godin

16)  “Please think about your legacy, because you’re writing it every day.”   – Gary Vaynerchuck

17)  “The golden rule for every business man is this: Put yourself in your customer’s place.” –  Orison Swett Marden

18)  “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”   –  David Brinkley

19)  “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid.”   –  Einstein

20)  “The problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.”   –  Lilly Tomlin

21)  “ When you run a part of the relay and pass on the baton, there is no sense of unfinished business in your mind. There is just the sense of having done your part to the best of your ability. That is it. The hope is to pass on the baton to somebody who will run faster and run a better marathon.”   – N. R. Narayana Murthy

22)  “Whatever you’re thinking, think bigger.” – Tony Hsieh

23)  “When you find an idea that you can’t stop thinking about, that’s probably a good one to pursue.”   – Josh James

24)  “What would you do if you’re not afraid?” –  Sheryl Sandberg

25)  “Don’t worry about failure, you only have to be right once.”   – Drew Houston

26)  “When I’m old and dying. I plan to look back on my life and say ‘Wow, an adventure’ not, ‘Wow, I sure felt safe’” – Tom Preston Werner

27)  “80% of your sales comes from 20% of your clients.”   – Vilfredo Pareto

28)  “You just have to pay attention to what people need and what has not been done.”   – Russell Simmons

29)  “We are really competing against ourselves, we have no control over how other people perform.”   – Pete Cashmore

30)  “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”   – Wayne Gretzy

31)  “Always remember, your focus determines your reality.”   – George Lucas

32)  “If people like you they’ll listen to you, but if they trust you they’ll do business with you.”   – Zig Ziglar

33)  “Words may inspire but action creates change.”   – Simon Sinek

34)  “It isn’t what we say or think that denies us, but what we do.”   – Jane Austen

35)  “Get action. Do things; be sane; don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be someone; get action.”   – Theodore Roosevelt

36)  “There is only one boss. The customer.” – Sam Walton

37)  “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama

38)  “You have to go wholeheartedly into anything in order to achieve anything worth having.” –  Frank Lloyd Wright

39)  “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

40)  “Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” – Bob Marley

41)  “There is no great genius without some touch of madness.”    – Seneca

42)  “If you think you are too small to make an impact try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.” – Ekaterina Walter

43)   “If you just work on stuff that you like and you’re passionate about, you don’t have to have a master plan with how things will play out.” – Mark Zuckerberg

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

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

46)  “Don’t build links. Build relationships.”   – Rand Fishkin

47)   “100 percent of the shots you don’t take, don’t go in.”   –  Wayne Gretzky, Hockey Legend

48)  “If you’ve got an idea, start today. There’s no better time than now to get going. That doesn’t mean quit your job and jump into your idea 100 percent from day one, but there’s always small progress that can be made to start the movement.” – Kevin Systrom, Founder of Instagram

49)   “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”   –  Jack Welch, Former CEO of GE

50)    “You must be very patient, very persistent. The world isn’t going to shower gold coins on you just because you have a good idea. You’re going to have to work like crazy to bring that idea to the attention of people. They’re not going to buy it unless they know about it.”  –   Herb Kelleher, Founder of Southwest Airlines.

There you have it!

Phew! – now you have an additional 50 powerful quotes that you can add in your presentation arsenal. Leave an unforgettable impression on your presentation with these quotes starting today!

Comment down your favourite quote. And let us know if you have any that we didn’t add to the list!

Article Written By: Kai Xin Koh

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How to write a speech introduction

12 of the best attention getters to start a speech

By:  Susan Dugdale  | Last modified: 01-12-2023

The audience settles in their seats. The lights dim. You walk out to the center of the stage. You pause, take a deep breath, open your mouth and begin.

What you say over the next 30 seconds to introduce your speech or presentation is crucial.

That's how much time you have to make a positive impression on your audience. In it they will decide whether or not you have anything relevant or useful to say. Those first impressions count!

So how do you write an effective speech introduction to grab and hold their attention?

Begin by finding out how to choose the right opener.

What's on this page:

• how to choose the right opener for your speech

12 of the very best ways to start a speech

3. What if?

5. Key fact

7. Rhetorical

9. Headlines

10. History

11. Challenge

How to choose the right opener for your speech

The better way to make your choice of opener is after you have carefully considered who you are talking to and why you're talking to them.

One size does not fit all. Different audiences will respond differently. If you are giving the same speech multiple times think about what you may need to change to fit. 

To work well your opening needs to be aligned with:

• the type of speech you're giving
• your main purpose for giving it
• your target audience and,  
• their interests or needs

Both the hook * to catch their attention and your topic must be relevant to them. Unless they're a captive audience, they've come freely to listen to you and they're expecting something of value from you.

How are you going to let them know they're in the right place? Why should they listen? What are they going to get or gain through listening?

Out of all the different ways to open, what attention getter is absolutely the best way?

The only way I know to work out what is best is to go through each of them, and as you do, consider your audience. Make a short list of those you think might work then try them out before making your final choice.

* hook – an opening statement that immediately captures the audience's attention just like a well baited hook on a fishing line catches a fish.

Return to Top

1. Use imagination to create mind pictures

Ask the audience to use their imagination. Get them to build evocative compelling images in their minds. Make them large. Add vibrant color, sound and movement.

For example:

“Let's take a break. Make yourself comfortable. Now close your eyes for a moment. Take a deep breath, and you're there, in the place where you feel the most at ease, the place where all the tensions, all the demands of your normal everyday life disappear. Look around you. See it. Feel it. It's so good, it's perfect."

“Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and a moment to picture in your mind the people dearest to you, the people you feel you could not live without. Now when did you talk to them, or spend real time with them last?"

2. Use an item to build a connection 

Choose an image or an object related to your speech, for instance a pair of shoes, to trigger interest and build a connection.

For example, if I were giving a speech on the lives of upper-middle class 19th century women I could open by holding up a pair of ornately decorated kid leather pumps.

“What's the name of the young woman who wore these? Listen. Can you hear the rustle of her silk skirts? And hear her heart beat bom-biddy-bom as the beau of the ball stepped her way? Would he, or wouldn't he ask her to dance?”

3. Ask a 'What if...?' rhetorical question

'What if...?' invites an audience to consider the possibilities of something becoming real. They can be positive somethings or negative, trivial or something that would have a significant impact if it came to pass.

The power of a 'what if...?' rhetorical question as an opener lies in the potency of the images and feelings it triggers. A well-chosen 'what if...?' will immediately have an audience wanting to hear the rest of your speech.

• "What if we don't find a way to successfully manage climate change?"
• "What if we really did solve the affordable housing crisis?"
• "What if questions of race and color ceased to matter?"
• "What if medicines were freely available to everybody who needed them?"
• "What if the person sitting next to you turned, looked into your eyes and said they loved you? Truly. Madly. Deeply."

4. Try a quotation from someone who's impacted your life in some way

To be effective a quotation doesn't have to be the clever quip or snippet of enduring wisdom: a famous quote from a well known person. It's origin could be personal, something someone important in your life said that's remained with you.

For example, my Mother answered all initial wails of outrage, pain or hurt from any of her five children with a command. "Breathe!" That was repeated, interwoven with encouraging asides, until whoever it was, was able to talk clearly and be understood.  "It's OK.", she'd say. "Breathe. Come on. You can do it. Breathe. That's it. Keep going. Good."

Or I could use this line from one of my high school reports which read, "...with further maturity she should do well." (Thank you Mr Phillips. Your prediction was right on target.) 

Or this from our son aged four as he watched me getting ready for another day of teaching: "When I grow up I'm going to wear pretty dresses and go to school just like you."

5. Use an interesting key fact

Choose an interesting key fact as an attention getting device: one of the most rarely known, or a shocking statistic from the body of your speech to open with.

For example: "Take a guess at what the most powerful and frequently used word is in the English language? 

It's not one of those usually thought of candidates.  Love? No. Money? Nope. Neither is it  any member of your family... Mum, Dad, brother, sister, son, or daughter.

It's a three letter word, so common it's overlooked and taken for granted. 'The'. It's the humble 'the'."

(For more see this BBC article:  Is this the most powerful word in the English language?

Or: "Between 2020/21 and 2021/2022, Americans consumed about 11 million metric tons of sugar, up from about 10 million metric tons in 2009/2010. Can you even begin to imagine the size of that sweet white mountain?"

(For more see: US sugar consumption statistics )

6. Share personal stories

Share a personal story related to your specific topic as the beginning of a speech. Done well, it lets the audience know you understand their situation and helps establish your credibility: your right to talk on the subject.

As an example here's the opening of a speech I gave about the impact of suicide on families and friends:

“One fine Spring day I biked home from school and found a policemen guarding our backdoor. Through it came sounds I'll never forget: my quiet Mother screaming. He said, "You can't go in."

I kicked him in the shins and did. It was the 15th of September, three days before my thirteenth birthday and my father was dead. Killed by his own hand. Suicide.”

(If you want to find out more about the speech and read it, it's here: After they're gone . It's an example persuasive speech using the five steps of Monroe's Motivated Sequence.)

7. Rhetorical questions

These are questions that although they are asked, they're never really intended to be answered by anyone other than the person asking them. * Their principal function is to act as a segue, or lead in, to what the person intends to say next. For instance, the first main point of your introduction.

Examples: "What if I were to say to you that there was no such thing as public speaking fear?"

"What do you think the main benefits of being able to speak up in public are?"

* Although there's bound to be someone in your audience who will. Be ready for them, and move on.

8. An empathetic question, aligning yourself with the audience and eliciting a response

These questions bring speaker and audience together, establishing a common ground, a mutual understanding, which is an effective way to ease into a speech. If your question 'works' you'll see heads nodding in agreement.

• "Have you ever experienced the butterflies in your stomach turning into a herd of rampaging elephants, just before you step up to give your presentation?"
• "Have you ever wanted a good day to never end?"
• "How often have you 'lost' your car in the supermarket car park?"
• "How often have you ever wanted to shout, NO? You want me to prepare a new presentation by tomorrow? NO. You want me to stay late, again? NO."

9. It's in the news

Take headlines from what's trending in media you know the audience will be familiar with and see.

Using those that relate to your speech topic as the opening of your speech is a good way to grab the attention of the audience. It shows how relevant and up-to-the-minute the topic is.

For example: "'Death toll soars to 76 in Florida after Hurricane Ian demolished entire communities.' 'Noru became a super typhoon in 6 hours. Scientists say powerful storms are becoming harder to forecast.' 'Hurricane Orlene strengthens into Category 4 storm as it heads toward western Mexico.'

Three front page headlines from CNN just today. Climate change. Let's do what we can."

10. This day in history

If you're giving a speech to celebrate a special birthday or an anniversary, consider using several carefully selected events that occurred on the same day as a speech opening. They could be either funny or serious, depending on the specific purpose of your speech. They're a great way to place the person in a much wider context and often with exalted company.

For example: "What do the 1863 National Thanksgiving Day proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln, National Boyfriend Day, and Gwen Stefani have in common with Joe? Yes, the 3rd of October! It's a great date made better by being Joe's birthday. And we say Gwen is truly privileged to have the same one as him."

11. Issue a challenge

Let the audience know first thing, at the beginning of the speech, what action you expect they'll be able to take by the time your presentation is complete. Then when you come to the final points, repeat the call to action, or challenge, as part of your closing statement.

For example: "I've a challenge for you. That's to sign up for our public speaking course. Right now you may not see yourself doing that. Public speaking? Me? I'd rather have a root canal done, without painkillers. However, by the end of the presentation...well, let's see. There's a first time for everything!"

Use a startling statement, a fact, or a series of facts, to jolt the audience into paying attention.

"Covid. We've had 1.06 million of us die in the US, so far. Today there are nearly 60,00 new cases. More mothers, fathers, friends, colleagues, children – people. People ill. People who might die. So why have we stopped wearing masks?"

For more: Google: Covid stats US

Other speech writing resources

• how to end a speech effectively : explanations with examples showing how to close a speech with impact
• how to write a speech : a detailed guide with examples covering audience analysis, planning, writing oral language, transitions, how to use an outline... 

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120 Inspiring Quotes to Start A Speech with Impact

April 20, 2023 by smartmovesonly

• 1 Inspiring Quotes to Start A Speech with Impact
• 2 Good Quotes To Start A Speech About Yourself 
• 3 Good Quotes To Start A Speech
• 4 Funny Quotes To Start A Speech
• 5 Great Quotes To Start A Speech
• 6 Motivational Quotes To Start A Speech
• 7 Quotes To Start A Speech on Relationship
• 8 Quotes To Start A Speech on fashion designing
• 9 Quotes To Start A Speech in School
• 10 Conclusion

Inspiring Quotes to Start A Speech with Impact

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes, a single sentence can leave a lasting impact on our minds and hearts. Quotes are powerful tools that can inspire, motivate, and move us to action. Whether you are giving a speech, writing an essay, or simply looking for a source of inspiration, quotes can provide the perfect starting point to help you express your ideas and connect with your audience.

Today, I have compiled 120 quotes that cover a wide range of topics, from motivation and success to love and friendship. These quotes have been carefully curated to provide you with a diverse collection of voices and perspectives that will help you find the perfect words to start your speech. Whether you are looking for a witty one-liner, a profound insight, or a timeless piece of wisdom, you are sure to find something that resonates with you in this collection.

But why are quotes so powerful? At their core, quotes are distilled expressions of the human experience. They capture our thoughts and emotions in a way that is both concise and profound. They can make us laugh, cry, or feel a surge of motivation, all in a few short words. Quotes have the power to connect us with each other and with ourselves, reminding us of our shared humanity and the things that truly matter in life.

So, without further ado, let us dive into this collection of 120 quotes to start a speech. May these words inspire you, challenge you, and move you to action as you seek to make your mark on the world.

Related:  30 Powerful Ways to Start a Speech or Presentation

Good Quotes To Start A Speech About Yourself 

• “I am the author of my own story, and every page is a testament to my resilience and determination.”
• “As I stand here before you today, I am reminded of the quote, ‘Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.’ And it is with that mindset that I have faced every challenge that has come my way.”
• “I am not defined by my past, but rather by the person I am today and the person I strive to become tomorrow.”
• “I believe that every person has a unique story to tell, and it is through our experiences that we gain wisdom and empathy for others.”
• “I am a firm believer in the power of self-reflection and personal growth, and it is through these practices that I have become the person I am today.”
• “I have always been driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world, and it is this passion that has guided me throughout my life.”
• “I am a lifelong learner, constantly seeking new knowledge and experiences that broaden my understanding of the world and my place in it.”
• “I believe that success is not just about achieving our goals, but also about the journey we take to get there.”
• “I have learned that failure is not a setback, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow.”
• “I am a believer in the power of community, and it is through the support and encouragement of those around me that I have been able to achieve my goals.”
• “I believe that each of us has a unique purpose in life, and it is our responsibility to discover and pursue that purpose with passion and dedication.”
• “I am a firm believer in the importance of perseverance, and it is through my own determination and persistence that I have been able to overcome obstacles and achieve my dreams.”
• “I believe that our greatest strengths often emerge from our greatest challenges, and it is through these challenges that we discover what we are truly capable of.”
• “I am committed to living a life of integrity, compassion, and kindness, and it is these values that guide my actions and decisions every day.”
• “I believe that we all have the power to make a positive impact on the world, and it is through our actions and our words that we can inspire others to do the same.”

Related:  How to Start a Speech: The Power of Storytelling

Good Quotes To Start A Speech

• “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
• “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
• “Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.”
• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
• “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
• “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
• “Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.”
• “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
• “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
• “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
• “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
• “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
• “To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”

Related:  5 Steps To Crafting the Perfect Opening Line for Your Speech

Funny Quotes To Start A Speech

• “I am here to talk to you about myself because no one else will.”
• “I’m not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”
• “I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.”
• “I’m not sure if I’m the best person for this job, but they gave it to me anyways.”
• “I’m not arguing, I’m just explaining why I’m right.”
• “I’m not lazy, I’m just conserving my energy.”
• “I’m not short, I’m just concentrated awesome.”
• “I’m not a morning person, I’m a coffee person.”
• “I used to think I was indecisive, but now I’m not sure.”
• “I’m not procrastinating, I’m just prioritizing my to-do list.”
• “I’m not saying I’m Batman, but have you ever seen me and Batman in the same room?”
• “I don’t always have a good idea, but when I do, I forget it.”
• “I’m not saying I’m old, but I remember when emojis were called emoticons.”
• “I’m not saying I’m forgetful, but I went to the fridge to get some water and ended up watching Netflix for an hour.”
• “I’m not saying I’m a genius, but I did just figure out how to eat pizza while lying down.”

Related:  30 Powerful Ways to End a Speech or Presentation fpm_start("true")

Great Quotes To Start A Speech

• “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
• “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
• “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
• “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
• “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein
• “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
• “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” – Epictetus
• “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
• “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
• “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky 

Related:  How To Not Be Nervous For A Presentation-13 Proven Techniques

Motivational Quotes To Start A Speech

• “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
• “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
• “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison
• “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission.” – Unknown
• “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
• “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
• “Success is not a destination, but the road that you’re on. Being successful means that you’re working hard and walking your walk every day. You can only live your dream by working hard towards it.” – Marlon Wayans
• “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson 

Related:  The Do’s and Don’ts of Starting a Speech: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Quotes To Start A Speech on Relationship

• “A healthy relationship is built on unwavering trust, honesty, and communication.” – Unknown
• “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.” – Tony Robbins
• “Relationships are not about finding someone to complete you but rather someone who accepts you completely.” – Unknown
• “In a strong relationship, the love between two people should be greater than the need for each other.” – Unknown
• “A successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Mignon McLaughlin
• “Relationships are about trust. If you have to play detective, then it’s time to move on.” – Unknown
• “It’s not about finding someone who completes you. It’s about finding someone who accepts you completely.” – Unknown
• “A true relationship is two imperfect people refusing to give up on each other.” – Unknown
• “A great relationship is about two things: first, appreciating the similarities, and second, respecting the differences.” – Unknown
• “Relationships are like gardens. They require nurturing, patience, and love to grow.” – Unknown
• “The greatest happiness in life is the certainty that we are loved.” – Victor Hugo
• “Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.” – Loretta Young
• “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” – Audrey Hepburn
• “A true relationship is when you can tell each other anything and everything. No secrets and no lies.” – Unknown
• “A good relationship is when two people accept each other’s past, support each other’s present, and love each other enough to encourage each other’s future.” – Unknown
• “Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them together.” – Unknown
• “The best relationships are built on a foundation of friendship.” – Unknown
• “In a strong relationship, two people love each other for who they are, not who they want each other to be.” – Unknown
• “A relationship is not based on the length of time you’ve spent together, but on the foundation, you’ve built together.” – Unknown
• “The best things in life are the people we love, the places we’ve been, and the memories we’ve made along the way.” – Unknown 

Top Reads: 135 Monday Motivation Quotes to Jumpstart Your Week

Quotes To Start A Speech on fashion designing

• “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” – Bill Cunningham
• “Fashion is the most powerful art there is. It’s movement, design, and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we’d like to be.” – Blair Waldorf
• “Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It’s not about brands. It’s about something else that comes from within you.” – Ralph Lauren
• “Fashion is the language of the soul.” – Miuccia Prada
• “Fashion is the mirror of history.” – Christian Dior
• “Fashion is not just beauty, it’s about good attitude. You have to believe in yourself and be strong.” – Adriana Lima
• “The joy of dressing is an art.” – John Galliano
• “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” – Rachel Zoe
• “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” – Coco Chanel
• “Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream.” – Donatella Versace
• “I think fashion is a lot of fun. I love clothes. More than fashion or brand labels, I love design.” – Marc Jacobs
• “Fashion is a form of self-expression. It’s how you show the world who you are without saying a word.” – Unknown
• “The best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been, and always will be.” – Bill Cunningham
• “Fashion is an art, and you are the canvas.” – Velvet Paper
• “Fashion is a trend. Style lives within a person.” – Oscar de la Renta 

Top Reads: 105 Tuesday Motivation And Quotes To Keep The Vibe Going

Quotes To Start A Speech in School

• “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
• “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” – B.B. King
• “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
• “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey
• “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
• “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” – Aristotle
• “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats
• “Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity.” – Lyndon B. Johnson
• “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.” – Carl Rogers
• “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X
• “The purpose of education is to make minds, not careers.” – William Deresiewicz
• “Education is not a tool for development – individual, community and the nation. It is the foundation for our future. It is empowerment to make choices and emboldens the youth to chase their dreams.” – Nita Ambani
• “Education is not about filling a pail, it’s about lighting a fire.” – William Butler Yeats
• “Intelligence plus character – that is the true goal of education.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
• “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” – George Washington Carver

We have explored the power of quotes and how they can be used to start a speech. From motivational quotes to humorous quips, the right quote can set the tone for your speech and capture the attention of your audience. We have seen that quotes can distill complex ideas into a few simple words, making them a powerful tool for communication.

But quotes are more than just words on a page. They are a reflection of the human experience, capturing our hopes, dreams, fears, and aspirations. They remind us of the things that truly matter in life and connect us with each other in a way that transcends time and space. Whether you are looking for a source of inspiration, a way to connect with your audience, or simply a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the human experience, quotes can provide the perfect starting point.

So, as you prepare to give your next speech, consider the power of a well-chosen quote. Let these words inspire you, challenge you and move you to action as you seek to make your mark on the world. Remember that words have the power to change lives, and that the right quote can be the spark that sets your audience on fire.

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How to Start a Speech: The Best Ways to Capture Your Audience

You’ve heard the saying,  “First impressions are lasting; you never get a second chance to create a good first impression” —  right?

The same is true when talking about how to start a speech…

The truth is, when you start your speech, you must focus everything on making a positive first impression on your audience members (especially if you are doing the presentation virtually ). Capturing the audience’s attention from the very beginning is crucial to prevent them from being distracted, losing interest, or forming negative opinions.

The introduction is the formal greeting for speeches, so let’s be sure to get this right to hook the audience. Understanding the importance of speech openings can significantly impact making a strong first impression. Planning and delivering the first words with confidence and relevance is essential, as they set the tone for the entire presentation and ensure you deliver a professional start, free from hesitation or irrelevance.

Here are 15 different ways to start a speech as well as 2 extra BONUS tips at the end.

1) Thank the Organizers and Audience

You can start by thanking the audience for coming and thanking the organization for inviting you to speak.

Refer to the person who introduced you or to one or more of the senior people in the organization in the audience.

This compliments them, makes them feel proud and happy about your presence, and connects you to the audience like an electrical plug in a socket.

2) Start With a Positive Statement

A presentation tip at the start is to tell the audience members how much they will like and enjoy what you have to say.

For example, you might say:

“You’re really going to enjoy the time we spend together this evening. I’m going to share with you some of the most important ideas that have ever been discovered in this area.”

Remember that  speaking is an art,  so be an artist and take complete control of your performance,

3) Compliment the Audience

You can begin by complimenting the audience members sincerely and with great respect.

Smile as if you are really glad to see them as if they are all old friends of yours that you have not seen for quite a while.

You can tell them that it is a great honor for you to be here, that they are some of the most important people in this business or industry, and that you are looking forward to sharing some key ideas with them.

You could say something like:

“It is an honor to be here with you today. You are the elite, the top 10 percent of people in this industry. Only the very best people in any field will take the time and make the sacrifice to come so far for a conference like this.”

4) Start Your Speech With the First Sentence Referring to Current Events

Use a current event front-page news story to transition into your subject and to illustrate or prove your point. You can bring a copy of the newspaper and hold it up as you refer to it in your introduction.

This visual image of you holding the paper and reciting or reading a key point rivets the audience’s attention and causes more people to lean forward to hear what you have to say.

5) Refer to a Historical Event

For many years, I studied military history…

Especially the lives and campaigns of the great generals and the decisive battles they won. One of my favorites was Alexander the Great. Standing in the symbolic shadow of such historical figures can provide a powerful and engaging start to any speech, especially when drawing parallels to contemporary challenges.

One day, I was asked to give a talk on leadership principles to a roomful of managers for a Fortune 500 company.

I decided that the campaign of Alexander the Great against Darius of Persia would make an excellent story that would illustrate the leadership qualities of one of the great commanders in history.

I opened my talk with these words:

“Once upon a time there was a young man named Alex who grew up in a poor country. But Alex was a little bit ambitious. From an early age, he decided that he wanted to conquer the entire known world. But there was a small problem.

Most of the known world was under the control of a huge multinational called the Persian Empire, headed by King Darius II. To fulfill his ambition, Alex was going to have to take the market share away from the market leader, who was very determined to hold on to it.

This is the same situation that exists between you and your major competitors in the market today. You are going to have to use all your leadership skills to win the great marketing battles of the future.”

6) Refer to a Well Known Person

You can start by quoting a well-known person or publication that recently made an interesting or important statement.

One of the subjects I touch upon regularly is the importance of continual personal development.

I will say something like:

“In the twenty-first century, knowledge and know-how are the keys to success. As basketball coach Pat Riley said, ‘If you are not getting better, you are getting worse.’”

7) Refer to a Recent Conversation

Start by telling a story about a recent conversation with someone in attendance.

For instance, I might say:

“A few minutes ago, I was talking with Tom Robinson in the lobby. He told me that this is one of the very best times to be working in this industry, and I agree.”

8) Make a Shocking Statement With a Startling Fact

You can start your talk by making a shocking statement of some kind.

For example, you might say something like:

“Here’s a startling fact: According to a recent study, there will be more change, more competition, and more opportunities in this industry in the next year than ever before. And 72 percent of the people in this room will be doing something different within two years if they do not rapidly adapt to these changes.”

Click here If you want to learn more techniques to wow your audience.

9) Quote From Recent Research

You can start by quoting a relevant, recent research report.

One example is:

“According to a story in a recent issue of Businessweek, there were almost 11 million millionaires in America in 2018, most of them self-made.”

10) Start Your Speech With a Strong Opening By Giving Them Hope

The French philosopher Gustav Le Bon once wrote, “The only religion of mankind is, and always has been hope.”

When you speak effectively, you give people hope of some kind.

Remember, the ultimate purpose of public speaking, is to inspire people to do things that they would not have done in the absence of your comments.

Everything you say should relate to the actions you want people to take and the reasons that they should take those actions.

11) Be Entertaining

Bill Gove used to walk onto the stage after his introduction if he had just finished talking to someone on the side and was breaking off to give his talk to the group.

The audience got the feeling that his entire talk was one continuous conversation, devoid of meaningless filler words .

Bill would often go to the edge of the stage and then drop his voice in a conspiratorial way, open his arms, and beckon the audience members to come a little closer.

He would say, “Come here, let me tell you something,” and then he would wave them forward as though he was about to tell a secret to the entire room.

The amazing thing was that everyone in the room would lean forward to hear this “secret” that he was about to share. People would all suddenly realize what they were doing and break out in laughter. It was a wonderful device to get the audience into the palm of his hands.

12) Ask a Question

You can open by making a positive statement and then pose a rhetorical question to engage your audience and set the stage for your presentation.

Try something like this:

“This is a great time to be alive and in business in America. But let me ask you, what does it truly mean to be self-employed in today’s economy?”

Raise your hand to indicate what you want people to do. I have used this line, and after a moment of thought, I then say to someone who looks intrigued in the front, “How many people here feel truly self-employed?”

Invariably, someone will say, “We all do!”

I then compliment and affirm the answer: “You’re right! We are all self-employed, from the time we take our first jobs to the day that we retire; we all work for ourselves, no matter who signs our paychecks.”

Similarly, a 17-year-old science fair winner effectively engaged their audience with a question at the beginning of their TED Talk, showcasing the power of this technique.

13) Open With a Problem

You can start with a problem that must be solved. If it is a problem that almost everyone has in common, you will immediately have the audience’s complete and undivided attention.

For example, you could say:

“Fully 63 percent of baby boomers are moving toward retirement without enough money put aside to provide for themselves for as long as they are going to live. We must address this problem and take action immediately to ensure that each person who retires will be able to live comfortably for the rest of his or her natural life.”

Introducing a new idea at this point can be a powerful way to engage your audience further, by promising a solution that is both innovative and beneficial.

14) Make a Strong Statement, Then Ask a Question

You can start by making a strong and powerful statement and then ask a question. You then follow with an answer and ask another question. This gets people immediately involved and listening to your every word.

Here’s an example:

“Twenty percent of the people in our society make 80 percent of the money. Are you a member of the top 20 percent? If not, would you like to join the top 20 percent or even the top 10 percent? Well, in the next few minutes, I am going to give you some ideas to help you become some of the highest-paid people in our society. Would that be a good goal for our time together today?”

15) Tell a Personal Story

You can start your talk with a personal story. Some of the most powerful words to capture the complete attention of the audience and make a personal connection are, “Once upon a time…”

From infancy and early childhood, people love stories of any kind. When you start off a presentation with a personal anecdote using the words, “Once upon a time…” you tell the audience that a relatable story is coming. People immediately settle down, become quiet, and lean forward, eager to hear how your experience might mirror their own or offer them new insights.

When I conduct full-day seminars and I want to bring people back to their seats after a break, I will say loudly, “Once upon a time there was a man, right here in this city…”

As soon as I say these words, people hurry back to their seats and begin to listen attentively, connecting with the story on a personal level.

Incorporating a personal story is very effective.

In fact, it’s probably one of the best public speaking tips I’ve learned to this day.

Bonus Tip: Tell Them About Yourself

Very often, I will start a serious speech or presentation to a business, sales, or entrepreneurial group by saying:

“I started off without graduating from high school. My family had no money. Everything I accomplished in life I had to do on my own with very little help from anyone else.”

It is amazing how many people come up to me after a talk that began with those words and tells me that was their experience as well.

They tell me that they could immediately identify with me because they too had started with poor grades and limited funds, as most people do. As a result, they were open to the rest of my talk, even a full-day seminar, and felt that everything I said was more valid and authentic than if I had been a person who started off with a successful background.

Building a bridge like this is very helpful in bringing the audience onto your side.

Bonus Tip: Get Them Talking to One Another

You can ask people to turn to the person next to them to discuss a particular point.

For instance, you could say:

“Tell the person next to you what you would like to learn from this seminar.”

Whatever you ask your audience members to do, within reason, they will do it for you. Your commands and your thought leadership will easily influence them, as long as you ask them with confidence.

By following any one of these tips for starting your speech, you are sure to grab your audience’s attention every time. How do you start a speech? Let me know in the comments.

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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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Mitch Carson

How to use quotes in your speech: 8 benefits and 21 tips.

• Written by Mitch Carson
• on December 16, 2022
• Public Speaking

While not necessary in every speech, using citations in speeches requires speakers to understand why, how, and when to do so.

In this post, we will look at eight advantages of including quotes in speeches before going over twenty-one suggestions for employing quotes to their fullest potential.

The Advantages of Quotation in Speech

Including quotations in your speech has several advantages, including:

• The main benefit of using quotes in speeches is that they help to illustrate your points. A quotation provides a second voice supporting your assertions, but it has a greater impact than merely restating your own words.
• Quotes typically provide a clear, memorable formulation of a concept. (Isn't that why people remember and use the quotation so often?)
• By implying that the person you are quoting concurs with the remainder of your argument, using a citation increases your credibility.
• Most people lack the capacity to produce pertinent quotes on the spot to back up their claims. Therefore, when you present a quotation, it illustrates your preparation and domain expertise.
• Along with facts, figures, anecdotes, stories, metaphors, and other material, quotations are one approach to bring variety to your logical arguments. If you provide a one-dimensional string of identical arguments, audiences become disinterested.
• You can elicit interest, suspense, or drama depending on how you present the quotation. For instance, if you start your sentence with "Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, once stated..." and then stop, your audience will undoubtedly anticipate what you will say next. Who said what? Who said what?
• On the other hand, you may pick a quotation that, either because of its subject matter or possibly because of the person you are quoting, lends humor to your presentation.
• You can decide to put the quotation on a slide and let your audience read it if you are presenting with visuals. Your voice delivery will pause naturally and purposefully as a result, giving you time to review your notes, sip some water, and gather your thoughts.

Ask yourself if the quote is the best tool for the job.

Advice on How to Use Quotations in Speech

Okay, so you now fully understand the advantages of using quotations in your speech. But how do you go about it? You should cite who. When should the quotation be given? Continue reading to get many suggestions for incorporating quotes into presentations successfully.

Conduct research

• Make sure your phrasing is appropriate.
• While quoting incorrectly detracts from your reputation, doing so should strengthen it. A poor quotation makes you seem unprofessional.
• Find a trustworthy source.
• Wikipedia is not considered. Your reputation is at stake.
• Avoid quoting without context.
• When citing literature on contentious subjects, use caution. Make sure you comprehend the speaker's intention as well as their words. A quotation that has been misinterpreted or taken out of context gives the impression that you are intentionally misleading your audience.

Quote People You Know in Your Audience

• Cite a respected authority in the area.
• Do not just quote someone because of their notoriety or accomplishment; instead, consider their level of authority on the subject at hand. Serena Williams on tennis or Aristotle on philosophy: saying the reverse will get you into trouble.
• Cite a lesser-known subject specialist, but merely with background information. Be discerning.
• Do not use a well-known quotation.
• You will not gain very much by repeating a quote if your audience has already heard it.
• Do not go overboard.
• Although there is no restriction on the number of quotes you should use, using too many can lessen their impact. Keep in mind that you should be telling the story in your own words, not those of another person. Only the best quotes from your research should be kept; discard the rest.
• You should introduce the speaker and establish their legitimacy before delivering their quote if the quote you want to use is from a non-recognized source.
• Cite a previous speaker at your gathering.
• Consider that you are delivering a speech at a gathering where a previous speaker made some points that are important to your message. In addition to impressing your audience, bringing up their comments will help you capitalize on the previous speaker's impact.
• Your own words (playfully).
• I have done this a lot, and the audience always responds well to it. One strategy I use to accomplish this is to declare a crucial idea to be "Dugan’s First Law of (whatever topic I'm lecturing about)" in the introduction.

To begin and end, use your own words; use a quote in the center

• Use a quotation to begin your speech (sparingly).
• It can be useful to begin with a quotation, but do not assume that any quotation will pique your audience's interest. I have seen speakers begin their speeches with a weak or even unrelated quotation to their message. Typically, there are more effective approaches to engage your audience.
• Do not end your speech with a quotation.
• I have heard speeches end powerfully with a quotation, typically when the quote alludes to the start. I would not, however, normally suggest it. The last words you say should be your own. Using a quotation as your final sentence frequently indicates that you lack trust in your own words.
• The body of your speech is the finest place for quotations.
• When you need extra evidence to support one of your arguments is when a quote is most effective. Near the end of a section is one place where it works especially well. A citation that supports one of your points of contention gives your argument a strong conclusion.

Action Item

If you’re quoting someone in a speech, make sure the audience knows where the quote ends and your words begin.

Make sure to emphasize the quote in your delivery.

• The conventional method is acceptable.
• Most quotations begin simply: "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I remain with difficulties longer," said Albert Einstein. This easy formula is unambiguous, straightforward, and acceptable.
• It is acceptable to read the quote from notes.
• I would suggest reciting the quote from memory whenever possible. However, reading it can sometimes be preferable. It is preferable to read the entire quote, for instance, if you want to be sure you are truthful. It is possible to properly read from notes even a brief quote. I once witnessed a speaker read his notes reverently while pulling the paper out of his pocket. It may be claimed that in this situation, not reading it would have been disrespectful.
• Alternately, have the audience read the quote.
• Putting the quotation on display if there are visuals is an option. Do not read it out to your audience when you do this. Allow them to read it. (Keep in mind that you should never read something to an audience while they can see the words.) You can stylize the slide to increase impact with this technique, which is a bonus. You may, for instance, include a picture of the speaker or choose a font that evokes a certain feeling.
• Before and after, pause.
• Before and after the quote, you should stop briefly to create tension and draw the audience's attention (to allow the meaning of the quotation to be absorbed by your audience.) Respect the quote and allow it to have an impact.
• Spice up the way you sing.
• Of course, you ought to change your tone of voice as you go along. A quotation merits a little more vocal emphasis, just like other important points in your speech. Louder or softer. Happier or sadder. Your delivery should be guided by the quote's emotion.
• Context-setting as necessary
• While some quotations can stand on their own, others require the context to be established before they can be used effectively. A quotation that leaves your listeners in suspense is an opportunity lost. You need to clarify the historical setting or something specific about the speaker's life. Make sure the quote has as much effect as possible.

Make use of reliable sources.

• Compilations of quotations make them accessible.
• Each serious speaker ought to have at least one collection of quotations. I have loved Bartlett's Familiar Quotations ever since I discovered a copy of an earlier version on my brother's bookshelf thirty years ago. A well-edited compilation offers multiple sort indices to make it easier to find the ideal quotation. The fact that these sources should be dependable is a bonus.
• The biographies of well-known figures in your field are also excellent resources.
• For instance, a biography of Steve Jobs is certain to have several statements that can be used to illustrate his business philosophies. Biographies, like collections of quotations, are typically dependable.
• Online search engines for quotations have an unmatched breadth.
• Utilizing a keyword or a certain speaker, quote websites assist you in finding relevant quotations. Although it is quick and simple, the sources are not necessarily dependable. I always look for a second source to corroborate everything I learn from these sites. (Caution: Several quotation websites may be using the same invalid source.)

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Imagine standing in front of an eager audience, every pair of eyes on you. You only have a moment to capture their attention with your speech, or you’ll lose them. If you begin it well, your words have the potential to get the crowd buzzing and inspire your audience to action. Yet, to do this, the beginning of a speech needs to be captivating, which is not always easy to pull off, even for experienced speakers. For this reason, it’s crucial leaders know how to start a speech, as it’s an asset used throughout their entire careers.

9 Tips on How to Start a Speech

1. don’t wing it, 2. create an imaginary scenario, 3. use a quote, check out these quotes to get some ideas:, 4. use humor.

You can always start your speech out with a joke. Admittedly, this can be tricky to pull off since humor is subjective, but a joke can immediately put the audience at ease. Pick a joke that’s tasteful and relevant to the topic at hand. For obvious reasons, you should avoid starting with a joke if the subject of your speech is serious or sad.

5. Pose a Question

If you’re struggling with a way to begin your speech, why not try asking a question? The question you choose can be a literal question, such as, “How many people here run their own business?” Or you can go the rhetorical route by asking a “what if” question. A “what if” question is a great way to get people thinking about possible scenarios. For example, think about a speech that started by saying, “What kind of world would it be if every leader fulfilled their full potential?” The audience would immediately begin coming up with ideas and imagining what such a world would look like.

6. Pick a Statistic

7. shock the audience.

In another popular TED Talk, Pamela Meyer begins by making a shocking  announcement : “Okay, now I don’t want to alarm anybody in this room, but it’s just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar.” Think of what a compelling way that is to get people to put down their phones and look at the speaker. It also ties nicely into the subject of her speech, “How to Spot a Liar.” With a shocking statement, you too can capture people’s attention in just a few seconds.

8. Describe a Problem

9. share a story, bonus tips for starting a speech, the one thing you should not do.

If there’s a surefire way to lose your audience right at the start, it’s by simply introducing yourself. First off, in most speech settings, someone will likely have introduced you anyway, so it would be a waste of time. Secondly, most people in the audience will already know who you are and why you are there. Introducing yourself treats your audience like children and may even lead to some people zoning out immediately. Don’t dawdle or play schoolteacher with the people in front of you. Launch right into your speech with the skills discussed earlier. The results will speak for themselves.

Start Your Speech Out the Right Way

Giving a speech is an art form that often relies on what happens at the start. Try out the above tips the next time you need to give a speech. Using  assertive communication  is another way to establish a connection with your audience. With the right beginning, you’ll have people following you every step of the way until you’ve finished.

Want more great quotes for starting a speech?  Check out the following:

50+ Success Quotes to Inspire Leaders

Presentation Guru

The 4 most important things to remember when using quotations in speech.

I am a big fan of quotes

From Mark Twain to Marcus Aurelius , from Bruce Lee to Eleanor Roosevelt , from Nelson Mandela to Anaïs Nin , there are thousands of great quotes spanning centuries and nations that distill important truths into a few words.

A quote can be a powerful addition to a speech or presentation

A relevant, well-timed quote can be memorable and meaningful. I will gladly use a quote if it supports my message. Doing so allows me to draw on the credibility of famous people to buttress the point that I am trying to make.

Use quotes in the right way

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1) Don’t overdo it . The more quotes you add to a speech, the more diluted each quote is. For most speeches, one or two quotes is plenty.

2) Always attribute your quotes to the source.

3) Make sure that the quote is correct.

4) Make sure that the source is correct.

Now, one might think that the last two points above would be obvious, but as John Oliver, the brilliant host of Last Week Tonight points out, speakers misattribute quotes more often than you would imagine.

If you are going to quote someone, be sure to get the quote and the speaker right. Search different sites to make sure that the specific words in the quote are correct. The Internet is chockablock with errors so, depending on the quote, you might need to check several sources to be sure.

Two helpful resources are The Quotations Page and Quote Investigator . The former is an excellent starting point for finding reliable quotes. The latter investigates specific quotations to find their source and is particularly useful when a quote is attributed to two or more people.

Quotes are great. They pack a lot of wisdom into a few words and they can make a big impact in a speech. Just be sure to use them properly. And you can quote me on that.

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Nacho Téllez

1st July 2016 at 8:31 am

Good tips John! Quotes are very powerful.

I’d add one more: try to choose quotes from well known authors or at least quote those you know. I’ve found you connect more with the audience if you quote Churchill, Gandhi or Aristotle that if you quote Douglas Horton.

Charles Crawford

22nd December 2016 at 4:12 pm

I disagree. Using supposedly profound quotes from ‘famous people’ is usually contrived, if not a cliché. Why should their ideas ‘buttress’ your speech? Maybe they’d disagree with you!

It just adds padding, suggesting that the speaker does not have enough original ideas of her/his own.

Go for something unexpected. Like Mars Attacks. Or Dark Side of the Moon.

9th January 2017 at 11:50 am

Hi Charles, Thanks, as always, for the pith! I think that audiences love to remember and share things they find interesting and new.You want them to remember stuff and the careful use of quotations is one small way of helping people connect, remember and share your thinking. Let’s focus on your use of the word ‘contrived’. I agree that if it is ‘contrived’ i.e. forced, or unnatural, then it won’t work. If it is also overused then it shouldn’t be used. But if it’s a sincere attempt to share uncommon insight that the speaker has found useful, then why not? It’s insincerity that kills, innit?

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A detailed guide to quoting

Jessica Malnik

Quotations have the power to elevate your written work when used correctly. But in order to use a quote properly, you must give full credit to the original source.

Before you can learn how to properly include quoted material, you need to have a firm understanding of what a quotation is, the purpose for using one, and the difference between quoting and paraphrasing.

What is a quotation in writing?

Quotations serve multiple purposes in writing. Students and professionals alike can benefit from using quotations in their work. Whether you’re writing a research paper or a blog article, you’ll likely find yourself needing to use them at some point. Quoting can add perspective, validation, and evidence to your piece.

What do you mean by quoting?

Quoting is a technique that allows you to include an original passage from a source in your work as a direct quote. You do this by framing or surrounding the quote in quotation marks like this, “This is an example of a sentence framed by quotation marks.” 

However, you can’t just add quotation marks and call it a day. You also need proper attribution for your source. 

Keep in mind that there is a difference between direct quoting and indirect quoting. With direct quoting, you include the source’s exact words framed within quotation marks. 

With indirect quoting, you can paraphrase what the person or text said in your own words instead of copying it verbatim. Indirect quoting, also known as indirect speech or discourse, is mostly used to summarize what someone said in a talk or interview. Indirect quotations are never placed within quotation marks.

How do you properly quote? 

To properly quote someone, you’ll need to follow some general quoting rules along with properly citing your source using your preferred MLA, APA, or Chicago style guide. 

For example, many people incorrectly use punctuation with quotation marks. Do you know whether or not to include punctuation inside the quotation marks?

Here’s how to handle punctuation marks with quotes, as well as a few more rules to consider when including quotations in your work:

Punctuation

As a good rule of thumb, periods and commas should go inside quotation marks. On the other hand, colons, semicolons, and dashes go outside of the quotation marks. 

However, exclamation points and question marks aren’t set in stone. While these tend to go on the inside of quotation marks, in some instances, you might place them outside of the marks. 

Here are a few examples to illustrate how this would work in practice:

“ You should keep commas inside the quotation marks, ” he explained.

She wanted to help, so she said, “ I’m happy to explain it ” ; they needed a thorough explanation, and she loved to teach her students.

It gets a little trickier with exclamation marks and question marks when quoting. These can be either inside the quotation marks or outside of them, depending on the situation. Keep question and exclamation marks inside the quotations if they apply to the quoted passage. If they apply to your sentence instead of the quote, you’ll want to keep them outside. Here’s an example:

He asked the students, “ Do you know how to use quotation marks? ”

Did the students hear the teacher when he said, “ I will show you how to use quotation marks ”?

Closing quotations

Once you start using a quotation mark, you have to close it. This means that you can’t leave a quote open like the example below because the reader wouldn’t know when the quote is over.

Capitalization

The rule of capitalization changes depending on the context. 

For example, if you quote a complete sentence, then you should capitalize the first word in the sentence. However, if you are quoting a piece of a sentence or phrase, then you wouldn’t need to start with capitalization, like this:

She said, “ Here’s an example of a sentence that should start with a capital letter. ”

He said it was “ a good example of a sentence where capitalization isn’t necessary. ”

Sometimes, you’ll want to split a quote. You don’t need to capitalize the second half of the quote that’s divided by a parenthetical. Here’s an example to show you what that would look like:

“ Here is an example of a quote, ” she told her students, “ that doesn’t need capitalization in the second part . ”

What is the purpose of quoting? 

As stated above, quotations can serve multiple purposes in a written piece. Quotes can signify direct passages or titles of works. Here are a few of the reasons to include a quote within your written work:

These intentions can apply whether you’ve interviewed your source or are taking a quote from an existing, published piece. 

However, before you use a quote, you’ll want to understand how it can strengthen your work and when you should use one. We’ll discuss when you should use quotes and how to properly cite them using different style guides in the next section.

When you should use quotes

Quotations should be used strategically, no matter what type of writing you’re doing. For instance, if you’re a professional copywriter crafting a white paper or a student writing a research paper, you’ll likely want to include as much proof as possible in your work. However, stuffing your paper with a ton of quotations can do more harm than good because the piece needs to represent your ideas and interpretations of the source, not just good quotes.

That being said, quoting reputable sources in your work is an excellent way to prove your points and add credibility to the piece. Use quotations in your work when you want to share accurate ideas and passages from source materials.

You should also use quotes when you want to add emphasis to a source on the topic you’re covering. 

For example, if you’re writing a research paper, then it would be beneficial to add quotes from a professor involved in the study you’re referring to in your piece.

How to cite a quote in MLA, APA, and Chicago 

MLA, APA, and Chicago are three of the most common citation styles. It’s a standardized way of crediting the sources that you quote. Depending on your assignment, you may need to use a specific one when citing your sources.

This section shares how to cite your quotes in these three popular citation styles, along with several examples of each.

Modern Language Association (MLA) is most often associated with academics in English or philosophic fields. With this style of citation, you’ll need to include quotes word-for-word. It’s fine to use only phrases or pieces from a specific quote, but you’ll need to keep the spelling and punctuation the same.

Here are some other criteria to keep in mind when citing using MLA style:

• If the quote goes longer than four lines, you must use a blockquote. Do not indent at the start of the quote block.

• Start quotes on the next line, ½ inch from the left margin of the paper.

• Quotes must be double spaced like the rest of the paper.

• Only use quotations when quotation marks are a part of the source.

• Include in-text citations next to the blockquote.

• If a blockquote is longer than a paragraph, you must start the next paragraph with the same indent.

• Don’t include a number in the parenthetical quotation if the source doesn’t use page numbers.

Here’s an example of a short, direct quote with MLA using a website resource without page numbers:

She always wanted to be a writer. “ I knew from a young age that I wanted to write a novel . ” (Smith)

And an example of a blockquote from page 2 of the source:

John Doe shares his experience getting his book published in the prologue:

I never expected so many people to be willing to help me publish this book. I had a lot of support along the way. My friends and colleagues always encouraged me to keep going. Some helped me edit, and others reminded me why I started in the first place. One of my good friends even brought me dinner when she knew I was going to be working late. (2)

With MLA, the reader can reference the full sources at the end in the Work Cited section. For this example, it could look like this:

Works Cited

Smith, J. (2021). Example Blog Post. Retrieved 2021, from www.example.com

Doe, J. (2021). Book Title One (1st ed., Vol. 1). Example, TX: Example Publishing.

See this article for more information on MLA style citations.

American Psychological Association (APA) is used often in psychology, education, and criminal justice fields. It often requires a cover page and abstract.

Here are a few points to consider when using APA style to cite your sources:

• Citation pages should be double spaced.

• All citations in a paper must have a full reference in the reference list.

• All references must have a hanging indent.

• Sources must be listed in alphabetical order, typically by the last name.

Using the same source examples as we did with MLA above, here is how they would be cited in APA:

Doe, Jane. Example Blog Post . 2021, www.example.com. 

Doe, John. Book Title One . 1st ed., vol. 1, Example Publishing, 2021. 

See this article for more information on APA style citations.

Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is commonly used in history and humanities fields. It was created to help researchers. Here are a few points to keep in mind for Chicago Style:

• There are 2 types of referencing styles:

    → Notes and Bibliography

    → Author-Date

• The list of bibliography must be single-spaced.

• The text should be double spaced, except for block quotations, tables, notes, and bibliographies.

• The second line should be indented for sources.

•Author last names must be arranged alphabetically.

Here’s how the same example sources used above would be cited using Chicago style:

Doe, Jane. “Example Blog Post,” 2021. www.example.com. 

Doe, John. Book Title One . 1. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Example, TX: Example Publishing, 2021.

See this article for more information on Chicago style citations.

Types of quotes and examples

There are two main types of quotes: direct and indirect.

Whenever you want to use someone’s statement word-for-word in your text, you’ll need to include properly cited, direct quotations. However, if you want to paraphrase someone’s words then indirect quotes could be more appropriate.

For example, say that you’re writing a press release for a company. You could interview different people within the company’s staff and paraphrase their quotes. This is particularly useful if the direct quote wouldn’t work well within your piece. For instance, you could change this direct quote example into an indirect quote that would more succinctly represent the speech:

Direct quote:

Indirect quote:

Keep in mind when using quotations that you should aim for using as few words as necessary. You don’t want to quote an entire paragraph when only one sentence contains the key information you want to share. If you need to add context, do so in your words. It’ll make for a much more interesting piece if you’re using quotes to support your stance alongside your interpretation instead of just repeating what’s already been said.

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How to Start a Speech

As vocal coaches, we’ve seen many speakers struggle at the beginning of a speech. Learning how to start a speech is crucial for any speaker, as this can ensure your audience stays engaged right from the start. Discover how to do this by using our effective strategies to kick off every speech in an impactful way.

Crafting a strong opening requires a blend of creativity and strategy. You want your initial words to resonate, offering a compelling reason for your audience to invest their attention in your message. Whether you choose humor, a striking fact, or a powerful quote, your beginning should be relevant to your main topic and align with the general objective of your speech.

Understanding Your Audience

To adeptly captivate your audience, you’ll need insights into who they are and what matters to them. Fostering an emotional rapport with the crowd sets the stage for a receptive and engaged audience.

By demonstrating genuine empathy and understanding, you can create a connection that resonates deeply, allowing your message to penetrate their hearts and minds. This connection forms the foundation for a memorable and impactful speech experience, regardless if it’s a memorized or an impromptu speech.

Assessing Demographics and Preferences

Begin by gathering data on the age, occupation, and education level of your audience members. Consider their cultural background and interests as well. This information will shape the language, references, and examples you choose. For example, if your audience primarily consists of young entrepreneurs in the tech field, using current tech industry examples can be more engaging.

• Age tailors your language and references.
• Occupation/education influences the complexity of concepts discussed.
• Interests help align your speech with your audience’s passions.

In practice, you could distribute pre-event surveys or mine social media data, if available. Understanding these aspects makes sure that your words are not just heard but also resonate.

Building an Emotional Connection

Establishing an emotional connection transcends the mere understanding of demographics. It involves tapping into the collective feelings of your audience. Begin by identifying common values and experiences that you share with your audience. Using anecdotes that speak to these shared experiences can be a powerful tool in forming a bond.

• Shared values/experiences create a sense of unity.
• Empathy demonstrates that you understand their struggles or aspirations.

Use empathetic language to show comprehension and concern for their viewpoints or challenges. By doing so, you bolster an emotional bridge that guarantees your message doesn’t just reach ears, it lingers in the minds and hearts of your listeners.

Crafting a Strong Opening

Your speech’s opening is your first impression and your unique opportunity to captivate your audience. A strong opening grabs attention and also sets the tone for the messages that follow. Let’s look at how you can open your speech in a manner that’s both engaging and memorable.

Using a Powerful Quote

Begin with a quote that resonates with the theme of your speech. Make sure it’s relevant and comes from a credible source your audience recognizes. A well-chosen quote can offer a profound insight or spark curiosity. For instance, quoting a known figure like Nelson Mandela might give your speech a sense of gravity and wisdom right from the start.

Telling a Personal Story

Storytelling is a powerful tool . Start with a personal story or anecdote that ties into the main topic of your speech. This approach makes your message relatable and can stir emotions in your audience. When telling your story, remember to be concise and make the connection to your topic clear.

Refer to a Well-Known Person

Referring to a well-known person can instantly create a connection with your audience. It could be a recent achievement of a public figure or a historical character’s famous deed. Make sure this reference is intriguing and sets up the direction for your talk.

Injecting Humor

Humor can be a winning strategy , but it must be used cautiously. A well-timed joke that’s appropriate for the audience can break the ice and make your opening more engaging. Bear in mind to keep it tasteful and relevant to avoid losing your listeners’ respect.

Referring to Current Events

Linking your speech to current events can demonstrate immediacy and relevance, providing a timely hook for your audience. Mentioning a recent headline or a trending topic can show that your speech is up-to-date, offering a new perspective or insight on the matter at hand.

Engaging Your Audience From the Start

Interactive Questions and Show of Hands

Engaging your audience can be as simple as involving them directly in your speech. By starting with a thought-provoking question, you actively engage their minds. This could be a rhetorical question to make them think or an actual query expecting a show of hands. Here’s how you can do it effectively:

• Explicitly invite your audience to raise their hand in response.
• Ask questions that relate directly to your audience’s experiences or interests.
• Create curiosity by posing a problem that your speech will solve.

Sharing Relevant Statistics and Facts

Another method to grab attention is by hitting your audience with a compelling statistic that highlights the importance of your topic. Relevant facts can:

• Provide a surprising insight related to your topic.
• Establish your credibility as a knowledgeable speaker.
• Engage your audience by presenting a problem backed by data.

Remember that statistics should be up-to-date and verifiable. When discussing recent stats from reliable sources, guarantee they resonate with the audience. For example:

• “Did you know that according to Voiceplace, 90% of audiences value a presentation more when it starts with a compelling fact?”
• “Consider this: Recent findings on Voiceplace show that attention spans are shorter than ever. Your opening needs to combat that trend effectively.”

Utilizing Effective Speech Techniques

Crafting an engaging speech involves the strategic use of visuals and an understanding of non-verbal cues. These elements can significantly enhance your delivery and engage your audience on a deeper level .

Incorporating Visuals and Demonstrations

Visual aids can transform your presentation from monotonous to captivating.

• Use slides wisely: Do not overload your slides with text. Aim for high-quality images and concise bullet points.
• Props and physical objects: Bringing a physical object related to your topic can serve as a powerful visual metaphor or illustrate a point clearly.
• Relevant demonstrations: Live demonstrations not only break the monotony yet also help reinforce your message by showing real applications.

Mastering Tone and Body Language

Your voice is an indispensable tool to convey your passion and authenticity. The same thing happens with your physical expression. 

• Voice modulation: Practice varying your pitch, pace, and volume to maintain interest and emphasize key points.
• Purposeful gestures: Use hand gestures to underscore ideas , and make sure your posture is open and inviting.
• Facial expressions: Whether it’s excitement, concern, or joy, use your facial expressions to reflect the emotion of your topic and connect with your audience.

Remember, your goal is to appear confident and in control, which comes from preparation and experience. Practice is imperative, so seize every opportunity to rehearse and refine your performance.

Related Questions

How do you introduce yourself in a speech.

When you introduce yourself in a speech, it’s important to begin with your name and, if relevant, your position or the role you’re playing in the event. Your introduction should be concise yet engaging, offering the audience insight into your background and relevance to the topic at hand. Keep your tone warm and approachable, setting a welcoming atmosphere. 

What Is a Good Quote to Start a Speech?

A good quote to kick off a speech should resonate with the essence of your message and grab the audience’s attention. Select a quote that aligns with your topic and provides a springboard for your main points. Make sure the chosen quote is attributed to a reputable figure whom your audience recognizes and respects. 

What Should I Do Before Starting a Speech?

Before you begin your speech, it’s important to engage in thorough preparation, that includes practicing your speech, including your pace, tone, and body language, which will enhance your confidence and delivery. Inspecting the venue and testing any equipment you’ll be using guarantees you’ll be free from technical difficulties.

Starting a speech with a strong opening is imperative. To create a solid and memorable opening, it’s important to understand your audience, establish an emotional connection, and use powerful quotes, personal stories, humor or current events. These techniques combined with regular practice will ensure that you captivate your audience right from the start.

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How to Start a Speech: 27 Key Tips to Captivate Your Audience from the Get-Go

Do you wonder how to start a speech here are some cool tips to captivate your audience.

Public speaking is an essential skill for leaders, educators, and professionals across various fields. It is a powerful tool for sharing ideas, influencing others, and building a strong personal brand. While many people find it intimidating, mastering the art of public speaking can be achieved with the right techniques, practice, and mindset. One of the most crucial aspects of delivering a successful speech is nailing the opening, as it sets the tone for the entire presentation and can make or break audience engagement.

Whether you are a seasoned orator or a novice presenter, starting a speech effectively can be challenging. After all, first impressions matter, and the first few minutes of your presentation determine whether your audience will be engaged, bored, or indifferent. To help you captivate your audience from the start, we have compiled a comprehensive list of 27 key tips to consider when crafting your speech opening. These tips, combined with relevant examples, will guide you in creating an impactful and memorable introduction.

Understanding your audience, identifying the purpose of your speech, and maintaining a clear structure are all essential elements to consider. However, the true magic lies in the delivery. It is important to practice and refine your skills to ensure a confident and captivating performance. The following tips have been meticulously curated to provide a roadmap for success, enabling you to transform your speech from ordinary to extraordinary.

This blog post aims to provide you with a wealth of knowledge and examples, empowering you to overcome your public speaking fears and conquer the stage. By implementing these tips, you will be well on your way to delivering a powerful, engaging, and persuasive speech that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

27 Key Tips for Better Speech with Relevant Examples:

• Begin with a strong opening line: Your opening line should be engaging and thought-provoking. For example, “Imagine a world where poverty is a distant memory.”
• Use a quote: Start your speech with a relevant and powerful quote. For instance, “As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.'”
• Tell a story: Share a personal or anecdotal story that relates to your speech topic. This will create an emotional connection with your audience.
• Utilize humor: Make your audience laugh with a tasteful joke or amusing anecdote. This can help break the ice and make your audience more receptive to your message.
• Ask a rhetorical question: Pose a question that encourages your audience to think critically about your topic, e.g., “What if I told you that a single decision could change your life forever?”
• Share a shocking statistic: Present a surprising fact or figure to grab your audience’s attention, such as, “Did you know that 1 in 4 people will experience mental health issues in their lifetime?”
• Use a prop or visual aid: Show your audience something tangible that relates to your topic, like a product, a photograph, or a diagram.
• Employ the power of silence: Pause for a few seconds before beginning your speech to build anticipation and capture your audience’s attention.
• Connect with your audience: Make eye contact, smile, and be personable. This will help you establish rapport and trust with your listeners.
• Address your audience directly: Refer to your audience as “you” to make your speech feel more personal and engaging.
• Establish your credibility: Briefly mention your expertise, background, or accomplishments related to your speech topic to establish your authority.
• State the purpose of your speech: Clearly outline the objective of your presentation and what you hope your audience will take away from it.
• Preview your main points: Give a brief overview of the key points you will cover during your speech, so the audience knows what to expect.
• Use a metaphor or simile: Make a comparison that illustrates your main point, such as, “Conquering your fears is like climbing a mountain – it may be difficult, but the view from the top is worth it.”
• Employ repetition: Repeat a key phrase or message to emphasize its importance and help your audience remember it.
• Share a personal experience: Connect with your audience by sharing a relatable experience that demonstrates your vulnerability and authenticity.
• Create suspense: Build intrigue by hinting at a compelling revelation or insight that will be shared later in your speech.
• Invoke emotion: Appeal to your audience’s emotions by using vivid language and descriptions that evoke feelings such as happiness, sadness, or excitement.
• Reference current events: Relate your speech topic to a recent news story or event to demonstrate its relevance and timeliness.
• Use an anecdote from history: Share a historical event or figure that relates to your speech topic, such as referencing Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address when discussing the power of public speaking.
• Start with a bold statement: Capture your audience’s attention with a controversial or thought-provoking assertion, like, “Our education system is failing our children.”
• Use a call to action: Encourage your audience to take action, whether it’s to support a cause, change a behavior, or adopt a new perspective.
• Address potential objections: Acknowledge any counterarguments or concerns your audience may have, and address them in your opening.
• Incorporate a relevant pop culture reference: Connect with your audience by referencing a popular movie, TV show, or song that relates to your topic.
• Use alliteration or rhyme: Craft a memorable opening line by using alliteration or rhyme, such as, “The power to persuade starts with the perfect presentation.”
• Offer a surprising insight: Share an unexpected fact or revelation that challenges your audience’s assumptions and piques their interest.
• Demonstrate vulnerability: Show your human side by admitting your own fears or struggles related to your speech topic.

The art of starting a speech effectively is a skill that can be honed with practice and dedication. By incorporating these 27 tips into your speech preparation and delivery, you can set the stage for a captivating and memorable presentation. Keep in mind that each audience is unique, and you may need to adjust your approach depending on your listeners’ needs and expectations. Nevertheless, these tips will provide a strong foundation for you to build upon, ensuring that you make a powerful first impression.

As you continue to refine your public speaking skills, remember that the key to success lies in engaging your audience, being authentic, and delivering a message that resonates with them. By doing so, you will not only captivate your listeners but also leave a lasting impact that goes beyond the stage.

In conclusion, delivering an exceptional speech begins with a strong and engaging opening. With these 27 tips and examples, you now have the tools to craft a compelling introduction that will set the tone for an unforgettable presentation. So, embrace your inner orator and step confidently onto the stage – your audience awaits!

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50 Speech Closing Lines (& How to Create Your Own) | The Ultimate Guide

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

While speech openings are definitely one of the most important components of a speech, something that is equally as important is the way you conclude your speech.

There are few worse ways to end your speech than with a terse ‘thank you’–no elaboration or addition whatsoever.

Speech endings are just as crucial to the success of your speech as speech openings, and you must spend just as much time picking the perfect ending as you do to determine your best possible speech opening.

The words you speak at the beginning and end of your speech are words that your audience will pay the most attention to, and remember longer than any other part of your speech.

Speech endings can put even the most experienced speaker in flux, and increase their anxiousness manifold as they sit there attempting to figure out the perfect way to end your speech.

If you’re someone who’s in flux about your speech ending too, don’t worry. We’ve got some amazing ways to conclude your speech with a bang!

1. Circling Back To The Beginning

The idea behind circling back to the beginning of your speech is to reinforce the idea of your speech being a complete whole. By circling back to the beginning and connecting it to your ending, you let the audience understand that the idea of your speech is complete & standalone.

Circling back to the beginning of your speech also acts as an excellent way of reinforcing the central idea of your speech in the audience’s mind, and makes it more likely that they will remember it after the speech ends.

Need more inspiration for speech opening lines? Check out our article on 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines & Tips To Create Your Own.

How To Circle Back To The Beginning

The easiest way to do this is to set up your beginning for the conclusion of your speech. That is, if you’re saying something like, say, a story or joke in the beginning, then you can leave your audience in a cliffhanger until the ending arrives.

Another great way to circle back to the beginning is by simply restating something you said at the start. The added knowledge from attending the rest of your speech will help the audience see this piece of information in a new–and better–light.

1. Will Stephen

Ending Line: “I’d like you to think about what you heard in the beginning, and I want you to think about what you hear now. Because it was nothing & it’s still nothing.”

2. Canwen Xu

Speech Ending: My name is Canwen, my favorite color is purple and I play the piano but not so much the violin…

Think of a memorable moment from your life, and chances are you’ll realize that it involved a feeling of happiness–something that we can associate with smiling or laughter. And what better way to generate laughter than by incorporating the age-old strategy of good humor.

The happy and lighthearted feeling you associate with good memories is the kind of emotional reaction you want to create in your audience too. That’s what will make your speech stick in their memory.

Done incorrectly, humor can be a disaster. Done right, however, it can entirely transform a speech.

Humor doesn’t only mean slapstick comedy (although there’s nothing wrong with slapstick, either). Humor can come in many forms, including puns, jokes, a funny story…the list is endless.

How To Incorporate Humor In Your Speech Ending

The simplest way to incorporate humor into your speech ending is by telling a plain old joke–something that’s relevant to your topic, of course.

You can also tell them a short, funny anecdote–may be an unexpected conclusion to a story you set up in the beginning.

Another way would be by employing the power of repetition. You can do this by associating something funny with a word, and then repeating the word throughout your speech. During the end, simply say the word or phrase one last time, and it’s likely you’ll leave off your audience with a good chuckle.

1. Woody Roseland

Ending Line: “Why are balloons so expensive? Inflation.”

2. Andras Arato

Ending Line: “There are three rules to becoming famous. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.”

3. Hasan Minhaj

Ending Line: “And you want to know the scariest part? Pretty soon every country on the earth is going to have its own TLC show.”

4. Sophie Scott

Speech Ending: In other words, when it comes to laughter, you and me baby, ain’t nothing but mammals.

5. Tim Urban

Speech Ending: We need to stay away from the Instant Gratification Monkey. That’s a job for all of us. And because there’s not that many boxes on there. It’s a job that should probably start today. Well, maybe not today, but, you know, sometime soon.

6. Hasan Minhaj

Speech Ending: Showing my legs on TV is probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done. And keep in mind last week I went after the Prince of Saudi Arabia.

3. Question

The idea behind posing a question at the end of your speech is to get the wheels in your audience’s minds turning and to get them thinking of your speech long after it has ended. A question, if posed correctly, will make your audience re-think about crucial aspects of your speech, and is a great way to prompt discussion after your speech has ended.

How To Add Questions To Your Speech Ending

The best type of questions to add to your speech ending is rhetorical questions. That’s because, unlike a literal question, a rhetorical question will get the audience thinking and make them delve deeper into the topic at hand.

Make sure your question is central to the idea of your speech, and not something frivolous or extra. After all, the point of a question is to reinforce the central idea of your topic.

1. Lexie Alford

Speech Ending: Ask yourself: How uncomfortable are you willing to become in order to reach your fullest potential?

2. Apollo Robbins

Speech Ending: If you could control somebody’s attention, what would you do with it?

Quotes are concise, catchy phrases or sentences that are generally easy to remember and repeat.

Quotes are an age-old way to start–and conclude–a speech. And for good reason.

Quotes can reinforce your own ideas by providing a second voice to back them up. They can also provoke an audience’s mind & get them thinking. So, if you add your quote to the end of your speech, the audience will most likely be thinking about it for long after you have finished speaking.

How To Use Quotes In Your Speech Ending

While adding quotes to your speech ending, make sure that it’s relevant to your topic. Preferably, you want to pick a quote that summarizes your entire idea in a concise & memorable manner.

Make sure that your quote isn’t too long or complicated. Your audience should be able to repeat it as well as feel its impact themselves. They shouldn’t be puzzling over the semantics of your quote, but its intended meaning.

1. Edouard Jacqmin

Speech Ending: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

2. Chris Crowe

Speech Ending: “It’s more certain than death and taxes.”

3. Olivia Remes

Speech Ending: I’d like to leave you with a quote by Martin Luther King: “You don’ have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

4. Tomislav Perko

Speech Ending: Like that famous quote says, “In twenty years from now on, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do.

5. Diana Nyad

Speech Ending: To paraphrase the poet, Mary Oliver, she says, “So, what is it? What is it you’re doing with this one wild and precious life of yours?”

5. Piece Of Advice

The point of giving a piece of advice at the end of your speech is not to pull your audience down or to make them feel bad/inferior about themselves. Rather, the advice is added to motivate your audience to take steps to do something–something related to the topic at hand.

The key point to remember is that your advice is included to help your audience, not to discourage them.

How To Add Piece Of Advice To Your Speech Ending

To truly make your audience follow the advice you’re sharing, you must make sure it resonates with them. To do so, you need to inject emotions into your advice, and to present it in such a manner that your audience’s emotions are aroused when they hear it.

Your advice shouldn’t be something extra-complicated or seemingly impossible to achieve. This will act as a counter-agent. Remember that you want your audience to follow your advice, not to chuck it away as something impossible.

Our article, 15 Powerful Speech Ending Lines And Tips To Create Your Own , is another great repository for some inspiration.

1. Ricardo Lieuw On

Speech Ending: “Learn something new, or a new way of approaching something old because there are a few skills are valuable as the art of learning.”

2. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Speech Ending: “If we want to improve the competence level of our leaders, then we should first improve our own competence for judging and selecting leaders.”

3. Sharique Samsudheen

Speech Ending: “Some people love money, some people hate money, some people crave money, some people even kill for money. But what they miss is they just need to learn how to manage money well, and that will give them financial freedom.”

4. Kate Simonds

Speech Ending: Teens, you need to believe in your voices and adults, you need to listen.

5. Melissa Butler

Speech Ending: When you go home today, see yourself in the mirror, see all of you, look at all your greatness that you embody, accept it, love it and finally, when you leave the house tomorrow, try to extend that same love and acceptance to someone who doesn’t look like you.

6. Iskra Lawrence

Speech Ending: Speak to your body in a loving way. It’s the only one you got, it’s your home, and it deserves your respect. If you see anyone tearing themselves down, build them back up And watch your life positively grow when you give up the pursuit of perfection.

6. Contemplative Remark

As the name itself suggests, contemplative remarks are intended to make your audience contemplate or mull over something. The ‘something’ in question should be the idea central to your speech, or a key takeaway that you want them to return home with.

The idea is to get your audience thinking and to keep them thinking for a long, long time.

How To Add A Contemplative Remark To Your Speech Ending

To add a contemplative remark to your speech ending, you first need to figure out your key takeaway or main theme. Then, you want to arrange that as a question, and propose it to your audience at the end of your speech.

Remember that your question shouldn’t be something too wordy or complicated to understand. As with the quotes, you don’t want your audience stuck on the semantics. Rather, you want them to focus on the matter at hand.

1. Lisa Penney

Speech Ending: “So I invite you to pay more attention to your thoughts & consider the legacy you leave behind.”

2. Grant Sanderson

Speech Ending: “Some of the most useful math that you can find or teach has its origin in someone who was just looking for a good story.”

3. Greta Thunberg

Speech Ending: “We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up & change is coming whether you like it or not.”

4. Bill Eckstrom

Speech Ending: Now, think about this: it’s not the complexity-triggering individuals or events you should fear the most, but it’s your own willingness to accept or seek discomfort that will dictate the growth of not just you, but our entire world.

5. Robert Hoge

Speech Ending: Choose to accept your face, choose to appreciate your face, don’t look away from the mirror so quickly; understand all the love, and the life, and the pain that is the part of your face, that is the art of your face. Tomorrow when you wake up, what will your choice be?

7. Personal Anecdote

Personal anecdotes, as the name suggests, are anecdotes that are personal to the speaker or instances from their life. Personal anecdotes are a great way to incorporate the magical powers of storytelling in your speech, as well as to make a personal connection with the audience. Using personal anecdotes, you can hit two birds with one stone!

How To Add Personal Anecdotes To Your Speech Ending

To add personal anecdotes to your speech ending, you need to filter through your life experiences to find out ones that directly relate to your topic at hand. You don’t want to include an anecdote, no matter how compelling it is, if it doesn’t relate to your topic.

Remember to not keep your anecdote too long. Your audience will most likely lose their attention if you do so.

1. Sheila Humphries

Speech Ending: “Why do you go work for these people?” My answer to them was, “If I could help one child make it in this world, it’ll be worth it all.”

8. Call To Action

A call-to-action is one of the absolute best ways to conclude a speech with a bang. A well-written speech should aim to alter the audience’s mind or belief system in some way and to make them take an action in that direction. One crucial way to assure your audience does this is by using a call to action.

How To Add A Call To Action To Your Speech Ending

A call to action comes right before the ending of your speech to provide your audience with a clear idea or set of instructions about what they’re supposed to do after your talk ends.

A call to action should provide a roadmap to the audience for their future steps, and to outline clearly what those future steps are going to be.

1. Armin Hamrah

Speech Ending: “So tonight, after you finish your Math homework & before you lay your head down on that fluffy pillow, bring a piece of paper and pen by your bedside…”

2. Graham Shaw

Speech Ending: “So I invite you to get your drawings out there & spread the word that when we draw, we remember more!”

3. Andy Puddicombe

Speech Ending: You don’t have to burn any incense, and you definitely don’t have to sit on the floor. All you need to do is to take out 10 minutes out a day to step back, familiarize yourself with the present moment so that you get to experience a greater sense of focus, calm, and clarity in your life.

4. Amy Cuddy

Speech Ending: Before you go into the next stressful evaluative situation, for two minutes, try doing this in the elevator…

5. Jia Jiang

Speech Ending: When you are facing the next obstacle or the next failure, consider the possibilities. Don’t run! If you just embrace them, they might become your gifts as well.

9. Motivational Remark

As the name clearly explains, a motivational remark motivates your audience to carry out a plan of action. It ruffles the audience’s mind and emotions and has a powerful impact on the steps that your audience will take after you’ve finished speaking.

How To Add A Motivational Remark To Your Speech Ending

The key to a good motivational remark is to inspire your audience. Your motivational remark should act as a ray of hope to your audience and positively inspire them to take a desired course of action.

Your motivational remark should not be negative in any way. You don’t want to guilt or coerce your audience into doing something or feeling a certain way. You want to leave them on a positive note to move forward with their life.

1. Khanh Vy Tran

Speech Ending: “No matter what you’re going through right now & no matter what the future holds for you, please don’t change yourself. Love yourself, accept yourself & then transform yourself.”

2. Mithila Palkar

Speech Ending: “Get a job, leave a job, dance, sing, fall in love. Carve your own niche. But most importantly: learn to love your own randomness.”

3. Andrew Tarvin

Speech Ending: “Anyone can learn to be funnier. And it all starts with a choice. A choice to try to find ways to use humor. A choice to be like my grandmother, to look at the world around you and say WTF–wow, that’s fun.”

4. Laura Vanderkam

Speech Ending: There is time. Even if we are busy, we have time for what matters. And when we focus on what matters, we can build the lives we want in the time we’ve got.

5. Julian Treasure

Speech Ending: Let’s get listening taught in schools, and transform the world in one generation into a conscious listening world, a world of connection, a world of understanding, and a world of peace.

6. Mariana Atencio

Speech Ending: Let’s celebrate those imperfections that make us special. I hope that it teaches you that nobody has a claim on the word ‘normal’. We are all different. We are all quirky and unique and that is what makes us wonderfully human.

10. Challenge

Much like a call to action, the aim of proposing a challenge at the end of your speech is to instigate your audience to take some desired course of action. A challenge should make an appeal to your audience’s emotion, and motivate them to meet it.

How To Add A Challenge To Your Speech Ending

To apply a challenge effectively to your speech ending, you need to make sure that it’s something relevant to your topic. Your challenge should drive the central topic of your speech forward, and make your audience engage in real-life steps to apply your idea in the real world.

While its always a good idea to set a high bar for your challenge, make sure its an achievable one too.

1. Jamak Golshani

Speech Ending: “I challenge you to open your heart to new possibilities, choose a career path that excites you & one that’s aligned to who you truly are.”

2. Ashley Clift-Jennings

Speech Ending: So, my challenge to you today is, “Do you know, would you even know how to recognize your soulmate?” If you are going out in the world right now, would you know what you are looking for?

11. Metaphor

Metaphors are commonly used as a short phrase that draws a comparison between two ideas in a non-literal sense. People use metaphors quite commonly in daily life to explain ideas that might be too difficult or confusing to understand otherwise. Metaphors are also great tools to be used in speech, as they can present your main idea in a simple and memorable way.

How To Add Metaphors To Your Speech Ending

To add a metaphor to your speech ending, you need to first decide on the main idea or takeaway of your speech. Your metaphor should then be organized in such a way that it simplifies your main idea and makes it easier for your audience to understand & remember it.

The key is to not make your metaphor overly complicated or difficult to retain and share. Remember that you’re trying to simplify your idea for the audience–not make them even more confused.

1. Ramona J. Smith

Speech Ending: “Stay in that ring. And even after you take a few hits, use what you learned from those previous fights, and at the end of the round, you’ll still remain standing.”

2. Shi Heng YI

Speech Ending: “If any of you chooses to climb that path to clarity, I will be very happy to meet you at the peak.”

3. Zifang “Sherrie” Su

Speech Ending: “Are you turning your back on your fear? Our life is like this stage, but what scares are now may bring you the most beautiful thing. Give it a chance.”

12. Storytelling

The idea behind using stories to end your speech is to leave your audience with a good memory to take away with them.

Stories are catchy, resonating & memorable ways to end any speech.

Human beings can easily relate to stories. This is because most people have grown up listening to stories of some kind or another, and thus a good story tends to evoke fond feelings in us.

How To Incorporate Stories In Your Speech Ending

A great way to incorporate stories in your speech ending is by setting up a story in the beginning and then concluding it during the end of your speech.

Another great way would be to tell a short & funny anecdote related to a personal experience or simply something related to the topic at hand.

However, remember that it’s the ending of your speech. Your audience is most likely at the end of their attention span. So, keep your story short & sweet.

1. Sameer Al Jaberi

Speech Ending: “I can still see that day when I came back from my honeymoon…”

2. Josephine Lee

Speech Ending: “At the end of dinner, Jenna turned to me and said…”

Facts are another excellent speech ending, and they are used quite often as openings as well. The point of adding a fact as your speech ending is to add shock value to your speech, and to get your audience thinking & discussing the fact even after your speech has ended.

How To Add Facts To Your Speech Ending

The key to adding facts to your speech ending is to pick a fact that thrusts forward your main idea in the most concise form possible. Your fact should also be something that adds shock value to the speech, and it should ideally be something that the audience hasn’t heard before.

Make sure that your fact is relevant to the topic at hand. No matter how interesting, a fact that doesn’t relate to your topic is going to be redundant.

1. David JP Phillips

Speech Ending: 3500 years ago, we started transfering knowledge from generation to generation through text. 28 years ago, PowerPoint was born. Which one do you think our brain is mostly adapted to?

14. Rhethoric Remark

Rhetoric remarks are another excellent way to get the wheels of your audience’s minds turning. Rhetoric remarks make your audience think of an imagined scenario, and to delve deeper into your topic. Rhetoric remarks or questioned don’t necessarily need to have a ‘right’ or one-shot answer, which means you can be as creative with them as possible!

How To Add Rhethoric Remarks To Your Speech Ending

Since rhetorical questions don’t need to have a definite answer, you have much freedom in determining the type of question or statement you wish to make. However, as with all other speech endings, a rhetorical question shouldn’t be asked just for the sake of it.

A rhetorical question should make your audience think about your topic in a new or more creative manner. It should get them thinking about the topic and maybe see it from an angle that they hadn’t before.

Rhetorical questions shouldn’t be too confusing. Use simple language & make sure it’s something that the audience can easily comprehend.

1. Mona Patel

Speech Ending: Pick your problem, ask “What if?” Come up with ideas. Bring them down. Then execute on them. Maybe you’re thinking, “What if we can’t?” I say to you, “What if we don’t?”

2. Lizzie Velasquez

Speech Ending: I want you to leave here and ask yourself what defines you. But remember: Brave starts here.

Another great way to end your speech with a literal bang is by using music! After all, if there’s something that can impact the human mind with just as much force as a few well-placed words, it’s the correct music.

How To Add Music To Your Speech Ending

To add music to your speech ending, you must make sure that the music has something to do with your speech theme. Remember that you’re not playing music in your concert. The piece of music that you choose must be relevant to your topic & work to have a contribution in your overall speech.

1. Tom Thum

Speech Ending: *ends the TED Talk with beat boxing*

16. Reitirate The Title

The title of your speech is its most important component. That’s why you need to pay careful attention to how you pick it, as it is something that your viewers will most likely remember the longest about your speech.

Your title will also act as a guiding hand towards how your audience forms an initial idea about your speech and is what they will associate your entire speech with.

By repeating your title at the end of your speech, you increase the chances that your audience will remember it–and your speech–for a long time.

How To Retierate The Title In Your Speech Ending

Your title is something that your audience associates your entire speech with. However, you don’t want to simply add the title in your speech end for the sake of adding it. Instead, make it flow naturally into your speech ending. This will make it seem less forced, and will also increase the chances of your audience remembering your entire speech ending and not just the title of your speech.

1. Ruairi Robertson

Speech Ending: I feel we can all contribute to this fight worth fighting for our own health, but more importantly, our future generations’ health by restoring the relationship between microbe and man. There is SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

Need more inspiration for speech closing lines? Check out our article on 10 Of The Best Things To Say In Closing Remarks.

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To sum up, speech endings are just as imperative to the success of your speech as speech openings, and you must spend just as much time picking the perfect ending as you do to determine your best possible speech opening. The words you speak at the beginning and end of your speech are words that your audience will pay the most attention to, and remember longer than any other part of your speech.

Still looking for inspiration? Check out this video we made on closing remarks:

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes delivers 'All In' speech to Texas Tech football team

The start of the new college football season has many fans and current NFL players excited. Every team gets a clean slate and eyes on a national championship. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is one of the many stars pushing to support their alma mater in any way possible as the 2024 campaign begins.

Mahomes recently returned to Texas Tech to provide extra motivation for the football team as they prepare for the start of the new college football season.

"I give y'all one thing: if I don't give y'all anything from this entire speech that I learned from my time at Texas Tech and in the NFL, and it's what I live by today, is when you play this game, you got to be all in," said Mahomes. "You got to be all-in on everything you do. And if I have one regret about my time at Texas Tech, I don't believe I truly was all in. We had great offenses and exciting teams. I got drafted in the first round, but was I all in? Was I all in on doing whatever it took in my extra time to win that Big 12 championship? And so, when I look back at my career, I don't believe I was. I went to class, practiced hard, worked out, and had a good time. I had a great time, but you could do all that and still be great in everything you do."

The three-time Super Bowl champion intently stared at every player in the room as he delivered his speech motivating the group ahead of their 2024 season opener next weekend.

All in. @PatrickMahomes | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/fdDjxBvH5e — Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) August 24, 2024

"I'll let you all know one thing: for winning the Super Bowl Championship, you have a way better time doing that than that extra stuff you're gonna do on the weekends or whatever that is. So when y'all step in this building, are you all in? When you're at practice and need to get in that extra rep, are you all in? There has to be a commitment to greatness, and that commitment is what will take y'all to that Big 12 championship." said Mahomes. "And trust me, I believe, I believe in all y'all. I've seen the work; I've seen the brand. I've been watching the videos, all the hype stuff, but at the end of the day, it comes down to how you're gonna play on that football field. I believe y'all have everything it takes right here. So make sure When you come to work every single day, when you step out of this building or step into it. You're all in."

During his illustrious career as a Red Raider, Mahomes accumulated 11,252 passing yards and 115 total touchdowns in three seasons. The Chiefs selected him tenth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, but he maintained a strong bond with the university, supporting the program's growth.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes delivers 'All In' speech to Texas Tech football team

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Work on Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake’s St Andrews cinema plan to start within weeks

The celebrity duo back plans for a "premium sports and entertainment gastropub".

Work to transform St Andrews cinema to include a sports bar is due to start before the end of the year.

Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake’s company T-Squared Social has confirmed the New Picture House will close in mid-September.

And the new entertainment offering is scheduled to open in time for the 2025 summer season.

The firm has pledged to engage with the St Andrews community and Fife Council throughout the work.

Planning permission to turn the B-listed North Street cinema into “a premium sports and entertainment gastropub” was granted on July 1.

And an alcohol operator’s licence has since been granted.

The community is now largely on board with the plans, which retain two cinema screens, despite an initial backlash .

‘Exciting time for St Andrews’

New Picture House managing director David Morris will stay to manage the transition to the new venture.

He said: “While inevitably the cinema has to close to make way for the forthcoming renovation, this is an exciting time for both the cinema and St Andrews.

“I cannot wait to open the doors of this new entertainment offering to the community, ensuring the continuation of an economically-viable cinema for the town.”

Backed by Timberlake and Woods, the redevelopment plan will deliver a blended cinema, dining and entertainment offering in St Andrews.

The developers say this will make the picture house economically viable and save it from closure.

How will the St Andrews cinema look after the redevelopment?

Cinema three will be retained in its present form with improvements to seating and technology.

Meanwhile, the seating in cinema two will be replaced with comfortable seat groupings, allowing people to socialise, with an area for electronic darts.

And the main auditorium (cinema one) will retain the large screen to show films.

However, the multi-functional space will include a range of sports simulators including golf, rugby, lacrosse and football.

The seating there will be flexible, changing to suit the auditorium’s use on a day-to-day basis.

The auditorium’s character is also being protected with existing ceiling, walls and stage features retained.

And the cinema’s upper level will stay as it is, with over 300 seats retained for film lovers.

The exterior of the cinema will also remain the same, with all renovations happening inside.

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More Than A Magazine, A Movement

Tim Walz’s DNC Speech Was a Masculinity-Themed Populist Pep Talk

Tim walz’s performance reclaimed patriotism and a confident, yet compassionate, vision of masculinity..

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz introduced himself to the country with a rousing acceptance speech on the third night of the Democratic National Convention last week in Chicago. Many commentators observed that the energetic 16-minute speech sounded more like a pep talk by “Coach Walz” than a piece of traditional political oratory.

But it was both.

Like many great political speeches, it was a powerful confection of substance and passion. Mario Cuomo famously quipped that successful politicians need to “campaign in poetry” and “govern in prose.” If Walz’s speech was a type of poetry, it had elements of a slam performance. He used blunt, evocative language—as one might expect from a man who’s been a high school teacher, Army master sergeant, football coach and politician.  

He knows how to command people’s attention, especially men’s.

In fact, from the moment Walz emerged as Kamala Harris’ choice for VP , people in the chattering classes observed that the national Democratic Party has sorely missed his type of persona and mode of communicating for a very long time. 

In particular, his identity as a conventional Midwestern white man who hunts, fishes and was a highly successful football coach might just be the perfect complement to that of his running mate, Kamala Harris, who clearly has formidable political skills of her own. A liberal woman of color from the San Francisco Bay area, Harris needs the votes of working and middle-class white men in the battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. 

Many of these voters have deserted the Democratic Party in recent decades, in part because they believe the party doesn’t care about people like them. Underlying macroeconomic factors like deindustrialization, automation, rising imports and competition from low-cost countries, and successful conservative attacks on organized labor have all played an important role.

So has the right-wing political info-tainment media complex, which has relentlessly advanced the narrative that Democrats have contempt for average people and their way of life.    

This characterization of the Democrats has always been a caricature. While Democratic administrations have been complicit in neoliberal policies such as free-trade that advanced these macroeconomic trends, they have also supported policies that protect working people from the worst impacts of the changing economy. 

“Coastal elites” exist in both major parties, but tens of millions of people who vote Democrat are working and middle-class people of all ethnicities and racial identities who struggle like anyone else to make a better life for themselves and their families, and are anything but pretentious snobs. 

Until very recently, the Democratic Party has done a poor job of counteracting right-wing propaganda that paints anyone even mildly left of center as either a smug elitist or a totalitarian communist, rather than someone who simply believes that everyone deserves a fair shake, that powerful systems get in the way, and that government has a critical role to play.   

Tim Walz’s presence on the Democratic ticket is a symbolically powerful corrective to the cartoonish and distorted perception about Democrats that millions of white voters have been fed for decades via conservative talk radio and Fox News. Many of these voters think Democrats hate white men in particular. Partly because of this perception, 70 percent of high school-educated white men voted for Donald Trump in 2020, over the 28 percent that voted for Joe Biden.

Breaking Down Walz’s Acceptance Speech

The Harris-Walz team is counting on Walz’s communications skills to navigate the fraught cultural politics of (white) masculinity, in the hope of making inroads with this critical group. Both the content and delivery of his DNC speech provide some clues about why he might succeed at this task—which is why I’ve analyzed a number of key lines from the speech.

I grew up in Butte, Nebraska, a town of 400 people. I had 24 kids in my high school class. And none of them went to Yale.

Walz delivered this line near the beginning of his speech to establish: 1) his rural bona fides, and 2) his class credentials. He did this to preempt two of the major lines of right-wing attack against the Democratic Party over the past half-century.

Plutocratic populists have persuaded millions of working people to support political agendas friendly to the wealthy and powerful in part by convincing them that the very people who work hardest to advance the interests of workers and consumers—liberals and progressives—look down on regular people. With his evocation of small-town life and use of a good-natured rib against the Ivy League, Walz, a graduate of public schools and a public university, established his everyman chops and got in a dig at his adversary JD Vance, who has family roots in rural poverty but went on to graduate from Yale Law School and build a career in finance under the sponsorship of uber-wealthy venture capitalists.    

But they’re your neighbors. And you look out for them .  And they look out for you.  

Much commentary about Walz has emphasized his Minnesota niceness. Some have compared him to Ned Flanders from The Simpsons , a caricature of dorky earnestness. By all accounts Walz is genial and approachable, and represents a “positive masculinity” built on commitment to family, community and country.

But listen to the way he speaks. Underneath the “nice guy” vibe is a tough, assertive, take-charge guy. You don’t build a record of success like his in the military, coaching football and politics just by being friendly and lovable. 

I proudly wore our nation’s uniform for 24 years.

Walz’s assertion of patriotic pride is part of the stunning effort at the DNC to rebrand the Democrats as the party of patriotism and loyalty to country. The equation of patriotism solely (or primarily) with militarism is something feminists and progressives have long critiqued. But the political benefits of “taking back the flag” are incalculable.

Walz’s statement sets up a stark contrast with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement he leads, a movement of radicals and insurrectionists that has fully taken over the Republican Party and is indifferent at best to the principles of American democracy. Just as important, Walz’s statement reminds people that he has—and will use—the masculine street cred that redounds to men who have worn the uniform. 

We ran a 4-4 defense, we played through to the whistle on every play, and we even won a state championship.

This one sentence does the work of reminding people that he was not only a blood and guts football coach, but one who demanded full effort on the part of his players. “Playing through to the whistle” is a football metaphor for all-out, aggressive commitment to the mission. And the fact that many of the now-middle-aged (and all white) players on that championship team appeared on stage at the DNC in their high school football jerseys before Walz spoke was a powerful show of loyalty he earned from the men he led, a tangible testament to his leadership.  

They [his players and students] saw in me what I had hoped to instill in them: a commitment to the common good.

One of the great tensions in American life is the never-ending struggle between the masculinist ideology of rugged individualism and a larger (and in binary gender terms, more “feminine”) sense of community and the common good. The brand of masculinity that Walz embodies honors individual effort, but always in service to the group. He rightfully boasted in his speech that as governor of Minnesota, his administration made sure that every kid in the state gets breakfast and lunch every day.

“So while other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours.”

This commitment to the collective welfare—what is suggested, for example, by the name the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania —doesn’t diminish a man’s stature (or any political leader’s). It enhances it. This stands in stark contrast to the malignant narcissism and “what’s in it for me?” transactionalism of the Trumpian worldview.    

I learned how to compromise without compromising my values.

Walz is saying that compromise is not capitulation. This is a strong refutation of the “my-way-or-the-highway” approach associated with ego-driven, hypermasculine, competitive aggression. But it can also be read as a commitment to pragmatism, a preemptive response to either left-wing or “woke” self-righteousness, where compromise is sometimes incorrectly described as “selling out.” It suggests the truism in politics that giving up something to get something is usually a requirement if you actually want to get things done. In fact, the refusal to compromise is a character trait associated with the authoritarian personality, a rather stark contrast to the more collaborative temperament required for democratic governance.

Look, I know guns. I’m a veteran. I’m a hunter, and I was a better shot than most Republicans in Congress, and I’ve got the trophies to prove it. But I’m also a dad. I believe in the Second Amendment, but I also believe our first responsibility is to keep our kids safe.

By invoking his credentials as someone who is comfortable around guns and skilled at using them, he established his standing to argue for restrictions on their access. His gun-friendly credentials also provide a permission structure for men—whether or not they own guns—to argue for greater gun safety restrictions.

Also, by invoking his status as a dad, he offers a reframe about the ways in which parents can protect their children. It’s not just about having powerful firearms at the ready. In fact, you can be an even more effective protector by supporting and enacting policies to make sure those firearms can never fall into the hands of troubled boys or young men.  

We’ve got a golden rule: mind your own damn business.

With this one line, delivered firmly and unapologetically, Walz sends a message to men that they shouldn’t shy away from openly supporting reproductive justice. Many pro-choice men are unsure of how forcefully they should enter this women-led debate. Walz gives them a way to do this without needing to articulate the many nuances surrounding the gender politics of this issue. It also aligns directly with the grand strategy in the reproductive justice movement to frame the issue as a matter of freedom from government coercion, which polls show resonates with a strong majority of male voters.    

She’s fought on the side of the American people. She’s taken on the predators and fraudsters. She’s taken down the transnational gangs. And she’s stood up to powerful corporate interests. She has never hesitated to reach across that aisle if it meant improving your lives.

Once he had established himself as a powerful, confident man and assertive leader, Walz was ready to pivot to Kamala Harris’ qualities of leadership and why he supports her, helping her to rebuild her identity as a tough prosecutor. Notice the words he used to describe her: she fought ; she’s taken on; she’s taken down; she’s stood up to. This is the language of masculine aggression, spoken about a woman in a tone of respect and admiration from a man who, we already know, is a proven leader of men— and who is clearly impressed, not threatened, by those qualities in his female running mate.

Perhaps more than anything, this is the role that Walz plays on the Democratic ticket. His very presence and persona says to men—including some fairly traditional white men in the Midwestern battleground states—that Kamala Harris is someone they, too, can and should support. 

Our job is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling … Look, we’ve got 76 days. That’s nothing. There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead. We’re gonna leave it on the field.

Walz ended his speech with a flourish that resonated deeply with anyone who’s been in a locker room before a game and heard an impassioned coach’s pep talk. But people who played football, or know the sport well, heard something else as well. Football is a tough, blue-collar sport, but it has a glamorous side. There are star quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, and star receivers like Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson.

It’s nowhere near as glamorous for the men “in the trenches,” the offensive linemen and (defensive) linebackers who do the “blocking and tackling.” But anyone who knows football knows that it’s in the trenches where you win or lose football games. In that sense, Walz’s use of a populist football metaphor has special resonance with blue-collar white men. It says to them: “You can retain your identity and be part of a historic movement to elect a Black and Asian American woman president of the United States. We respect you and need you. Let’s get to work!”

By all accounts, Walz’s speech electrified the arena. Many others watching at home reported shouting out in joy. Even some working journalists admitted that they were excited. MSNBC star Rachel Maddow said that at one point everybody at the network’s “mothership” got out of their seats and were “stamping and clapping.” 

It seems likely that some of the excitement stems from the ways in which Tim Walz’s performance reclaimed for the Democrats not only patriotism, but also identification with a supremely confident and yet compassionate vision of masculinity.

What remains to be seen, of course, is whether the excitement Walz generates can help Kamala Harris win enough votes—including those of men—to secure the state-by-state majorities she needs to secure 270 electoral votes.

Lessons from the DNC: How Abortion Protects Us From the Choices We Can’t Make

Gun Violence—A Black Feminist Issue: An Excerpt From Roxane Gay’s New Essay, ‘Stand Your Ground’

If Conservatives Want Stronger Marriages, They Should Look to Liberal Solutions

U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms . has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms . today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you . For as little as $5 each month , you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms . Studios events and podcasts . We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity .

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin’s perfect start to the season continues with 2-0 win against 10 man Kilmarnock

Scotland international striker Kevin Nisbet makes Aberdeen debut when coming off the bench just 24 hours after completing a loan move from Millwall.

Boss Jimmy Thelin’s flawless start to his Pittodrie career continued as Aberdeen sent an increasingly strong message to Scottish football.

Swede Thelin has now racked up eight wins from eight in all competitions following a 2-0 win against 10-man Kilmarnock Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.

Scotland international Kevin Nisbet made his Aberdeen debut when coming off the bench just 24 hours after completing a loan move from Millwall.

However it was attacker Pape Gueye who grabbed the limelight with two clinical headed goals to hammer home his own argument for a regular starting slot.

Kilmarnock were reduced to 10 men early in the second half following the dismissal of Brad Lyons for a foul on Ester Sokler.

Thelin has raced to the best start by an Aberdeen manager in the club’s 121-year history and the feelgood factor is buzzing through Pittodrie and the fanbase.

Just three games into the Premiership season Thelin’s red-hot Dons have already opened up sizeable points advantages over two teams that secured Euro qualification via the league last term.

Thelin’s rampant Reds are nine points ahead of Kilmarnock and eight in front of Hearts.

Very, very early days in a 38 game league campaign but Aberdeen under Thelin are delivering an early, and strong, statement of intent.

Under Thelin Aberdeen have won their opening three games in a Premiership campaign for the first time since 2017-18.

They are also through to the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals.

Aberdeen lost all three of their league meetings against Kilmarnock last season, all without scoring.

That was as many defeats as the Reds had suffered in their previous 35 league matches against Killie  (won 25, drawn seven, lost three).

Thelin ended that losing streak against former Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes, now Killie manager.

Loan signing Kevin Nisbet

Scotland international Nisbet made his debut after sealing a loan move from Millwall.

Nisbet, 27, transferred to the English Championship club in a £2m deal from Hibs last season but suffered a frustrating season due to injury and managerial changes.

Drafted in to bolster the attack following the club record transfer for striker Bojan Miovki to Spanish La Liga Girona, Nisbet has a proven scoring record in Scotland.

He netted 39 goals in 101 appearances for Hibs.

Nisbet was introduced for his Dons debut in the 79th minute.

However it was Gueye who showed his prowess in front of goal with a double.

A £500,000 signing last summer Gueye was frozen out of the starting line-up last season and then sent on loan to Norwegian club Kristiansund BK.

Thelin offered Gueye the opportunity to kick-start his Pittodrie career and the striker is repaying that faith.

Gueye has now scored three goals in the last two Premiership matches having netted in the 3-1 win against St Mirren.

Finnish winger Keskinen impresses

Finnish winger Topi Keskinen was elevated to the starting line-up following his goal scoring debut off the bench in the 1-0 Premier Sports win against Queen’s Park.

An £860,000 signing from Finnish top flight HJK Helsinki, Keskinen delivered another impressive performance where his speed and movement dragged apart the Killie defence to open up space.

There is a palpable air of anticipation amongst fans when Keskinen receives the ball and explodes down the wing on a lightening fast, creative run.

Keskinen left to a standing ovation from Aberdeen supporters when replaced by Vicente Besuijen in the 70th minute.

Pape Gueye fires Aberdeen ahead

Aberdeen threatened in the 15th minute when Keskinen drilled a 15 yard half-volley inches wide.

Moments later another low drive from the increasingly influential Keskinen was blocked.

Aberdeen deservedly went ahead in the 23rd minute when Graeme Shinnie crossed from the left edge of the penalty box.

The skipper’s delivery picked out Pape Gueye who bulleted a powerful 12-yard header home.

Kilmarnock reduced to 10 men

Kilmarnock were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute when captain Brad Lyons was red carded for a reckless challenge on Ester Sokler.

Referee Matthew MacDermid initially awarded a yellow card.

However following a VAR review, where MacDermid scrutinised footage of the challenge on the pitch-side monitor, it was upgraded to a straight red.

Aberdeen should have made in 2-0 in the 59th minute when Jack MacKenzie’s low cross found Sokler unmarked 10 yards out.

With the goal beckoning the striker blazed his shot over.

Another goal did come in the 64th minute when Gueye met a Jamie McGrath corner to flick a clinical and incisive header into goal from 10 yards.

In the 70th minute Heltne Nilsen had an effort saved as Aberdeen pushed on to try to extend their lead.

ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1) : Mitov 7;  Devlin 7, Rubezic 7. Molloy 7, MacKenzie 7; Shinnie 7. Heltne Nilsen 7 (Palaversa 88); Keskinen 7 (Besuijen 71), Gueye 7 (Nisbet 79), McGrath 7 (Morris 88); Sokler 7 (Ambrose 79)

Subs not used: Doohan, McGarry, Milne. MacDonald

KILMARNOCK (4-3-3-) : O’Hara 6; Burroughs 7, Deas 6, Mayo 6, Findlay 6; Lyons 4, Donnelly 6, Watson 3 (Anderson 31); Kennedy 6 (Polworth 75), Watkins 6 (Cameron 75), Armstrong 5 (McKenzie 56).

Subs not used: McCrorie, Ndaba, Mackay-Steven, Wales, Bainbridge

Referee: Matthew MacDermid

Attendance: 16,146

Man of the match: Pape Gueye (Aberdeen)

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In-form attacker Pape Habib Gueye aims to be 'goal machine' for Aberdeen

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Full Transcript of Kamala Harris’s Democratic Convention Speech

The vice president’s remarks lasted roughly 35 minutes on the final night of the convention in Chicago.

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By The New York Times

• Aug. 23, 2024

This is a transcript of Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech on Thursday night in which she formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency.

OK, let’s get to business. Let’s get to business. All right.

So, let me start by thanking my most incredible husband, Doug. For being an incredible partner to me, an incredible father to Cole and Ella, and happy anniversary, Dougie. I love you so very much.

To our president, Joe Biden. When I think about the path that we have traveled together, Joe, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show, and your character is inspiring. And Doug and I love you and Jill, and are forever thankful to you both.

And to Coach Tim Walz. You are going to be an incredible vice president. And to the delegates and everyone who has put your faith in our campaign, your support is humbling.

So, America, the path that led me here in recent weeks was, no doubt, unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys. So, my mother, our mother, Shyamala Harris, had one of her own. And I miss her every day, and especially right now. And I know she’s looking down smiling. I know that.

So, my mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.

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