The 100. Insights and lessons from 100 of the greatest speakers and speeches ever delivered

John F. Kennedy’s phrase: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

perhaps to accept a certain definition of freedom, to assert a “right”, to offer hope, inspiration, practical support or simple guidance.

They make their message clear and spend a great deal of time in preparation to ensure complete clarity – and they have a real, immovable passion for their subject.

They want to say something useful and say it well, even if they find the process hard.

They prepare and practise their craft

good (as opposed to trite)

Speed and brevity are much more important than they were fifty years ago or indeed ten years ago.

changed. No modern political leader would write a speech running to tens of thousands of words, as Emmeline Pankhurst and Nikita Khrushchev did, w

The same applies to the modern nature of conferences, business seminars and events of all shapes and sizes.

Certainly, the expectations of modern audiences have changed and speechmakers have had to adapt. It was ever thus.