Inspirational and Motivational Quotes on Public Speaking

Here are some inspiring and motivating quotes on the subject of Public Speaking. I’m working on some articles on the fear of public speaking and learning the skills to make you a better public speaker. Enjoy!

“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” ~ Jerry Seinfeld (1954-…, American actor and comedian)

“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882, American philosopher, lecturer, essayist, and poet)

“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. ~ Mark Twain (1835-1910, American author and humorist)

“Grasp the subject, the words will follow. ~ Cato The Elder (234 BC-149 BC, Roman statesman)

“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” ~ Dale Carnegie (1888-1955, developer of courses in public speaking and interpersonal skills, and author of How to Win Friends and Influence People)

“Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.” ~ Dorothy Sarnoff (1914-2008, American operatic soprano, musical theatre actress, and self-help guru)

“There are only two types of speakers in the world. 1. The nervous and 2. Liars.” ~ Mark Twain (1835-1910, American author and humorist)

“Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” ~ D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930, English author, poet, playwright, essayist and literary critic)

“A good orator is pointed and impassioned.” ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero (106BC-43 BC, widely considered one of Rome’s greatest orators)

“The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.” ~ George Jessel (1898-1981, American actor, known in his lifetime as “Toastmaster General of the United States”)

“Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.” ~ Evan Esar (1899-1995, American humorist)

“It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” ~ Mark Twain (1835-1910, American author and humorist)

“Speak when you are angry—and you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” ~ Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990, educator and “hierarchiologist”, best known to the general public for the formulation of the Peter Principle)

“Why doesn’t the fellow who says, “I’m no speechmaker,” let it go at that instead of giving a demonstration?” ~ Kin Hubbard (1868-1930, American cartoonist, humorist, and journalist)

“Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt, on speechmaking (1882-1945, 32nd President of the United States)

“When a sermon at length comes to an end, people rise and praise God, and they feel the same way after many other speeches.” ~ John Andrew Holmes (American physician and writer)