It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.
- Mark Twain

The end of your speech, like the end of a pencil, should have a point! (duplicate??)
- Richard C. Borden

Only a brilliant man knows whether the applause for his words is politeness or appreciation.

Speeches are like babies; easy to conceive but hard to deliver.

Before I speak, I have something important to say.
- Groucho Marx

"As an apple of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it." - Proverbs 25:11

KEEP IT SIMPLE
The Lord's Prayer contains 56 words
The Gettysburg Address contains 272 words
The Ten Commandments contains 297 words
The USA Declaration of Independence contains 300 words
A bag of Lay's Potato Chips contains 401 words
The IRS Form 1040EZ contains 418 words
Average USA-Today cover story contains 1,200 words
A recent federal publication on setting the price of cabbage contains 26,911 words

To keep audience focus and attention during a presentation, do a "prize" give-away every 20 minutes or so. Ask a review question on a pertinent point you recently made, first person with the correct answer gets the prize.

It has been said that every speaker has his moment, and some listeners wish it was just that - a moment. So, remembering that the capacity of the mind to absorb is limited by what the seat can endure, I will keep my remarks short.

Once you get people laughing, they're listening and you can tell them almost anything.
- Herb Gardner

A loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it's a whisper.
- Barry Neil Kaufman

Words must be weighed, not counted.

I don't think I handle the notes much differently from other pianists. But the pauses between the notes - oh, there is where the artistry lies!
- Arthur Schnabel (responding to a reporter inquiring as to the secret of his genius)

The essential mark of an unbiased presentation is whether it addresses opposing views accurately, in their strongest forms. Propaganda, on the other hand, ignores or caricatures its opponents, or gives weak, watered-down renditions of their arguments.
- Michael Behe

It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.
- Mark Twain

The story is told of the way Secretary of State William M. Evarts began a Thanksgiving dinner speech. He said, "You have been giving your attention to a turkey stuffed with sage; you are now about to consider a sage stuffed with turkey."

Few sinners are saved after the first 20 minutes of a sermon.
- Mark Twain

If you haven't struck oil in five minutes, stop boring.
- George Jessel, on after-dinner speakers

When the main portion of the meal was finished, the presiding person whispered to the first speaker, "Shall we let the people enjoy themselves a little longer, or would you like to deliver your speech now?"

Be sure your brain is in gear before engaging your mouth.

Eloquence: saying the proper thing and stopping.
- Francois de la Rochefoucauld

The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.
- Benjamin Franklin

Governor Claude A. Swanson of Virginia had made a long and rambling speech. Afterwards a woman came up to... shake his hand. "How did you like my speech?" he asked. She answered, "I liked it fine. But it seems to me you missed several excellent opportunities." Swanson was puzzled. "Several excellent opportunities to do what?" "To quit," she replied.

Use QUESTIONS as an effective teaching aid: Can you imagine trying to improve your target shooting if you don't look at the target to see the results of each shot? Questions help you to see how well you are hitting the target. Same would be true of trying to bowl by throwing the ball over a curtain that blocked the view of the pins.

For effective public speaking, remember the "SPEAK" acronym:
S = Simplify your material
P = Prepare & Practice
E = Enthusiasm
A = Anxiety - channel it
K = Knowledge of your subject

The ability to express an idea is well nigh as important as the idea itself.
- Bernard Baruch

The mind is a wonderful thing. It starts working the minute you're born and never stops working until you get up to speak in public.

When making a slide for a presentation, avoid the "Lord's prayer on the head of a pin" syndrome. A whole KJV Bible has been placed on one 2 1/4 inch Microfiche. Interesting, but not very useful. Are the slides in your presentation too busy?

Understand it? Why this is so simple a 4 year old child could understand it. Quick, someone run out and get me a 4 year old child.
- Groucho Marx

If I went back to college again, I'd concentrate on two areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important that the ability to communicate effectively.
- President Gerald R. Ford

A speaker who is attempting to move people to thought or action must concern himself with Pathos (i.e., their emotion.)
- Aristotle

The power of the VISUAL: Consider the safety instructions sheet found on every airplane. This serves as a excellent example of the power of the visual over the written. Why? Overcomes language barriers, catches your attention, more info in shorter amount of time, get a "gestalt" viewpoint, easier to remember. Use VISUALS to capture the attention and retention of YOUR audiences.

Never speak more clearly than you think.
- Jeremy Bernstein

INTIMIDATION: A survivor of the Jamestown flood finally died and arrived in heaven. He asks Peter if he can give a speech regarding his experiences and how he managed to survive. Just before he gives his speech, Peter says "Oh, by the way, just one small thing you might be interested in knowing - Noah is in the audience."

ORATORY: The art of making deep noises from the chest sound like important messages from the brain.

JUST FOR SPEAKERS: (Try using these statements when appropriate!)

  • These handouts may not make much sense at first, but you'll discover that they're very handy to doodle on when I get real boring!
  • This lighting really plays tricks on your eyes. I'm actually a lot more handsome and skinnier than I look!
  • That's a very good question. See me during the break, and I'll avoid answering it then, too!
  • Don't be embarrassed to ask even the simplest, most basic question - after all, those are the only ones I'll be able to answer!
  • Some of you in the rear may not be able to hear me. Those of you in the front may want to go back and join them.
  • I'm not being paid to speak with you tonight. So that, right of the bat, blows my credibility.
  • Before I begin, those of you with cellular phones may want to arrange for a wake-up call.
  • People always feel optimistic about listening to me. They figure the next speaker can't possibly be as bad!

    NERVOUSNESS: Nothing wrong with having butterflies; but you want to have them fly in formation. Harnest your nervousness, make it work FOR you instead of AGAINST you. If you don't have any nervousness, you're not going to do a good job.

    SEMINAR OPENER: The following quiz can be used as an ice-breaker at the beginning of a seminar. We are going to take a brief quiz designed to assess the type of audience we have here today. This quiz is based upon your individual preference for one of four symbols. The four symbols are: (Draw CIRCLE, TRIANGLE, "Z" and SQUARE) These symbols represent basic differences in personality traits. Which one appeals to you the most? (Think about it for a minute) How many thought the SQUARE best represented them? (write number down, then inform group it represents INTELLIGENCE) Then proceed with: "Z" - CREATIVITY, TRIANGLE- LEADERSHIP, CIRCLE - SEX & BOOZE. Follow with some apropos comments regarding the group!

    Public Speaking IMPACT is based 55% on VISUAL (how you look when you say it), 38% on VOCAL (how you say it) and 7% on VERBAL (what you say). To illustrate the impact of the VISUAL, pick a few pictures from a recent issue of a magazine, describe them (ad for hotel, car etc.) one at a time, then show picture to audience. If a picture does that, what would a REAL LIVE DEMONSTRATION do? (an actual tour of a hotel, sit in a new car, etc.)

    Tips on SPONTANEOUS SPEAKING:
    Don't get unnerved.
    Take a few deep breaths.
    Compose self/thoughts.
    Discuss only 2-3 key points (don't give an A-Z).
    Stick to one subject.
    Close firmly.
    Don't ramble on.

    8 GREATEST SPEECH BLUNDERS:
    1. Dullness itself: Relying on only one or two illustrations to make your points. (Use salient statistics ... timely quotes ... appropriate examples ... personal stories to help visualize and remember)
    2. NOT repeating your message enough. (Repetition is crucial to retention. Half an hour after a presentation, the average listener has already forgotten 40 percent of what was said. By the end of the week, 90 percent is usually forgotten. The more you repeat and illustration your message, the more retention you'll get.)
    3. NOT answering the audience's most major question, "What's in it for me?"
    4. Burying your point. (Use signal phrases such as "What's important here," or "This can't be overemphasized" to focus people's attention on the most important parts of your speech.)
    5. Forgetting to practice (and time) your speech out loud.
    6. Forgetting to check visual aids for readability.
    7. Answering hypothetical questions after the speech. (Turn the question back to reality by saying "Based on these facts and the existing situation, this is how I would handle the situation" or ask others in the audience for how they would handle.)
    8. Getting distracted before you speak. (Always take 5 minutes or more to collect your thoughts, focus on your message and breathe before stepping up to the lectern.)

    Roger's Rules for SUCCESS (Book by H.C. Rogers):
    The process of successful communication breaks down into 3 parts:
    1. Know yourself
    2. Know your objective and the major points of your message
    3. Know your audience and speak to the individual (even in large groups)
    Consider: Timing, Listening & Sensitivity

    Woodrow Wilson was once asked how long it would take him to prepare for a 10 minute speech. He replied "Two weeks". He was then asked how long it would take for a 1 hour speech. "One week", he replied. 2 hour speech? "I'm ready right now," he replied. (It's easy to fill in time with "fat". It's much more difficult and takes more advance preparation to succinctly trim the fat and deliver the "lean".)

    What is the amateur speaker's number one mistake? Looking away from the audience to read from slides or visual aids. Use a script or cue cards instead, or look at the original on the overhead projector while facing the audience.

    THINK before you SPEAK.

    It isn't HOW MUCH you say, but WHAT you say, HOW you say it and WHEN you say it.

    When in DOUBT, say NOTHING.

    Audience Involvement Techniques:
    STYLE: Drama, Eye Communication, Movement, Use of Visuals
    INTERACTION: Questioning, Demonstrations, Gimmicks
    CONTENT: Interest, Humor


    End of Quotes on "Public Speaking"

    12/10/2008

    Return to main page for: "Bright Quotes"