powerful speeches 21st century

55 Speeches by Influential People of the 21st Century

From Sir Ken Robinson to Steve Jobs

5 Powerful speeches by women in the 21st century

This women's equality day, join us in celebrating some of the most powerful speeches by women..

We may only be two decades in, but the 21st century has seen monumental shifts regarding gender equality. Movements such as #metoo, global fights for abortion rights, and the Saudi Arabian women's driving ban are a few that have highlighted the issue.

When you think of great speeches in history, images of Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, and Barack Obama may spring forth. Due to ingrained biases, women have always needed to 'speak louder to have their voices heard'. Women's Equality Day, often referred to as Gender Equality Day, commemorates when Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation granting American women the right to vote . On this Women's Equality Day (26th August 2021), we celebrate powerful speeches by women on the world stage fighting for equal rights. 

Oprah Winfrey

While receiving an award for 'Outstanding Contributions to the World of Entertainment' at the 2018 Golden Globes, Oprah Winfrey gave one of the most moving speeches by a woman at the awards. 

As someone born into poverty to a single mother who overcame discrimination with race and gender to succeed, she gave a rousing speech addressing the evolution of women's equality. Even more fitting, she was the first black woman to have received that award.

Key points of interest

[00:05:20] 

'In 1944, Recy Taylor was a young wife and a mother. She was just walking home from a church service she attended in Abbeville, Alabama, when she was abducted by six armed white men raped and left blindfolded by the side of the road coming home from church. They threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone. But her story was reported to the NAACP, where a young worker by the name of Rosa Parks became the lead investigator on her case'

[00:08:21] 

'So I want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon. And when that new day finally dawns. It will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say me too again.'

Read the entire transcript here .

Frances McDormand

Upon receiving her 2nd Oscar in 2018, Frances McDormand's speech received a standing ovation after highlighting the integral role women have in Hollywood - both in front of and behind the camera. 

The 'mic drop' moment was the mention of the ' inclusion rider .' An inclusion rider is a clause actors and filmmakers can insert into their contracts to ensure an appropriate level of diversity in a cast, from women to people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.

Key points of interest: 

[00:03:16] 

'And now I want to get some perspective. If I may be so honored to have all the female nominees in every category stand with me in this room tonight. [...] OK, look around, everybody, look around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed'

[00:04:15] 

'I have two words to leave with you tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, Inclusion Rider.'

Read the whole speech here .

Emma Watson

From actress to activist, Emma Watson is an outspoken supporter of gender equality. In a passionate women's rights speech at the UN in 2014, she declared gender equality an issue for both males and females to advocate. She asserted that 'feminism' has almost become a dirty word and that it is down to the inadvertent feminists to strengthen the movement. 

She also talked about gender equality from a male perspective, highlighting mental health and gender stereotypes, demonstrating that men do not have gender equality either. 

Key points of interest:

[00:01:51] 

'The more I've spoken about feminism, the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain. It is that this has to stop. For the record, feminism, by definition, is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.'

[00:04:05] 

'I am from Britain. And I think it is right that I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and the decisions that will affect my life. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly, I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights. No country in the world can yet say that they have achieved gender equality.'

[00:08:35] 

'If men don't have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won't feel compelled to be submissive. If men don't have to control, women won't have to be controlled. Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive, both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals.'

The entire transcript can be found here .

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is one of the leading women's rights activists globally and the youngest person (and first Pakistani) to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. In her acceptance speech, she delivered a heartfelt message advocating a women's right to education. She sheds light on women's rights from a unique cultural point of view.

[00:03:39] 

'I have found that people describe me in many different ways. Some people call me the girl who was shot by the Taliban and some the girl who fought for her rights. [...] As far as I know, I'm just a committed and even stubborn person who wants to see every child getting quality education. Who wants to see women having equal rights and who wants peace in every corner of the world.'

Read the transcript in Trint .

Greta Thunberg

The youngest on our list, Greta Thunberg, is a name synonymous with activism. This is more of an honorable mention as her speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 focused on climate change rather than gender equality. However, even at the age of 16, and speaking in her non-native tongue, Thunburg faced gender-based bias following the speech. There was online backlash due to her emotional tone and age, proving that women's rights have a long way to go before equality is reached. 

Key point of interest:

[00:00:54] 

'You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is the money and fairy tales of his time of economic growth. How dare you?'

The speech transcript is here for you to read .

What's next for women's equality?

Thanks to these speeches by women, the topic of gender equality remains at the forefront of the public's mind. Having said that, there is still some way to go in the case of equal pay and gender stereotypes and other global issues. However, these speeches have given women a platform in which to make their voices heard. 

Trint is an employer committed to equality for both genders with a number of initiatives like our Women in Tech and Diversity and Inclusion groups. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to our employees. 

We used Trint to transcribe the MP4 files of these speeches, try it out for yourself .

Your free trial awaits, learn more about trint for enterprise.

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'It Was Said' Podcast Breaks Down Iconic American Speeches

NPR's Scott Simon talks with historian Jon Meacham about his new podcast, It Was Said, which examines impactful speeches from modern American history.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

What makes a great public speech in America? Some are written by hand on an envelope, some by staff, some by committee, some are just spontaneous. In this political year, Jon Meacham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, has a podcast about American speeches called "It Was Said."

(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR: We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now because I've been to the mountaintop.

BARACK OBAMA: (Singing) Amazing grace.

MEGHAN MCCAIN: The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great.

SIMON: Jon Meacham joins us now from Nashville. Jon, thanks so much for being with us.

JON MEACHAM: Thank you, Scott.

SIMON: Was it a pleasure to revisit some of these speeches or, given political rhetoric nowadays, a little dispiriting?

MEACHAM: Both (laughter). The great thing about rhetoric is, you know, the original Greek sense of the word was not simply words in the air but words designed to create action. It was an explicit covenant, dialectic between the speaker and the audience. And what I find so fascinating about history in general and particularly these speeches is, it's not that it's a lost art because it was never a prevalent art. These speeches stand out not because they were common at the time but because they were uncommon.

SIMON: Your first episode delves into what led up to Martin Luther King's final speech from - we just heard a clip, become known as the Mountaintop speech. You follow that with an episode about a speech that occurred 24 hours later. Robert F. Kennedy, before a crowd of Black supporters in Indianapolis, has just learned that Dr. King has been assassinated.

(SOUNDBITE OF SPEECH)

ROBERT F KENNEDY: I have some very sad news for all of you. And that is that Martin Luther King was shot and was killed tonight in Memphis, Tenn. Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings. He died in the cause of that effort.

SIMON: Some people urged him not to speak, didn't they?

MEACHAM: Particularly the police in Indianapolis were hoping that Senator Kennedy could be prevailed upon to not come from the airport. He had just flown in. It was John Lewis, future Congressman, icon of the movement, who said no. These people are here. They need their leader. They've lost one leader. And, of course, the poignant overhang of that evening is that two months and two days later, Robert Kennedy would be gunned down in Los Angeles.

SIMON: It's a very eloquent address that he obviously gives spontaneously. Then at one point, he says, my brother was also shot by a white man. In these times, is a trickier to say that, to suggest that John F. Kennedy was somehow brought down by the same kind of bigotry that Martin Luther King was?

MEACHAM: It's complicated now, and it was complicated then. One of the many things we lost at the Ambassador Hotel in June of 1968 was a political figure, a white man who had experienced something of the pain that Americans had experienced by losing his brother to an assassin. And, you know, that speech in Indianapolis really ends on this note from the Greeks, from Aeschylus, that pain is inevitable. And the question we have to face is, what do we do with that pain? And RFK's plea to that audience was to rise above the hate and try to love, which is what Dr. King had lived - that, in fact, the country is stronger and better the more just and the more fair it is for all.

SIMON: Let me ask you about another speech - Barbara Jordan...

MEACHAM: Yeah.

SIMON: ...Keynote of the 1976 Democratic National Convention. She said the difference between other previous Democratic conventions was right in front of them, a Black woman delivering the keynote speech.

BARBARA JORDAN: I feel that notwithstanding the past that my presence here is one additional bit of evidence that the American dream need not forever be deferred.

SIMON: A very powerful speech - and interestingly, when you hear it nowadays, it was not as political as the standards of a political convention might be.

MEACHAM: It's a powerful document. I urge folks to go read it. It was six days after the bicentennial of the United States, after the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was Monday, July 12, 1976. Barbara Jordan was from a family of Baptist ministers. Her grandfather was hugely important to her. She was the first Black woman in the Texas State Senate. She was the American story. And what she speaks to in that speech is, I am the embodiment of the promise of the declaration when, in fact, we live up to the full implications of that promise.

SIMON: Let me ask you about a Ronald Reagan speech. This one, his farewell address from the Oval Office, 1989 - none of this, your favorite president or I hear they like me. This is what he said.

RONALD REAGAN: I wasn't a great communicator. But I communicated great things. And they didn't spring full bloom from my brow. They came from the heart of a great nation, from our experience, our wisdom, and our belief in the principles that have guided us for two centuries.

SIMON: Now, you struck by the fact that the landscape of the world had changed in so many ways with the collapse of the USSR, which President Reagan noted. He didn't take credit for it. He didn't gloat over it - on the contrary.

MEACHAM: To me, the most remarkable line in that speech - and it tells you everything you need to know about the Republican Party in the 21st century - is President Reagan said that he had always thought of the shining city on a hill, the line from Jesus and John Winthrop that only Ronald Reagan could improve upon.

SIMON: (Laughter).

MEACHAM: They said city upon a hill, he added shining. But he said that he wanted it to be a place where all the lost pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness toward home would find a rest and a refuge. And in 1989, a Republican president could still talk about a big-hearted, big tent conservatism - some people will think that's an oxymoron. But this is a big, complicated country. And can you imagine a world where a single presidential candidate would carry 49 states, which he did in 1984 - you know, at Christmas, they ask him what he wanted for Christmas in 1984. He said Minnesota.

MEACHAM: The first-person pronoun - the point you make, Scott, is exactly right. It wasn't about, I want praise.

SIMON: And equality in great public speeches that you find runs through all of them?

MEACHAM: The capacity to bring the many into conversation with the few. It really is about we, the people, more than I, the person, the speaker. And to be lifted as one, as opposed to one person being elevated above everyone else, I think tends to be a characteristic of oratory that endures because that's - at its best, that's the American message that endures.

SIMON: Jon Meacham - his new podcast, "It Was Said" - thank you so much for being with us.

MEACHAM: Thanks, Scott.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Correction Sept. 12, 2020

In a previous version of this story, we incorrectly said Barbara Jordan was the first black woman in Congress. She was the first black woman representing Texas in Congress.

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10 Modern Presidential Speeches Every American Should Know

By: Allison McNearney

Updated: October 18, 2023 | Original: February 16, 2018

Presidential speeches reveal the United States’ challenges, hopes, dreams and temperature of the nation, as much as they do the wisdom and perspective of the leader speaking them. Even in the age of Twitter, the formal, spoken word from the White House carries great weight and can move, anger or inspire at home and around the world.

Here are the 10 most important modern presidential speeches selected by scholars at the Miller Center —a nonpartisan affiliate of the University of Virginia that specializes in presidential scholarship—and professors from other universities, as well.

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address

When: 1933, during the Great Depression

What Roosevelt Said: “This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself… Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war.”

Why It Was Important: Roosevelt is embarking on something audacious, proposing that the national government has an obligation to provide an economic safety net for its citizens to protect them from the unpredictability of the market. In making a case for bold intervention in markets, he’s also making a case for a stronger executive at the top. But for all the disruptive talk in this speech, Roosevelt delivers reassurance. I think a hallmark of the speeches that we remember the most by presidents from both parties are ones that not only address the circumstances at hand, but also give people some hope.

— Margaret O’Mara, professor of history, University of Washington

2. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Fireside Chat 'On Banking'

When: March 1933

What Roosevelt Said: “My friends, I want to talk for a few minutes with the people of the United States about banking…confidence and courage are the essentials of success in carrying out our plan. You people must have faith. You must not be stampeded by rumors or guesses. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system, and it is up to you to support and make it work. It is your problem, my friends. Your problem no less than it is mine. Together, we cannot fail.”

Why It Was Important: Beginning with the simple phrase, “My friends,” the stage was set for the personalization of the presidency that continued throughout FDR’s administration. Roosevelt received an outpouring of support from the public and used the power of media to connect with his constituents. Recognizing publicity as essential to policymaking, he crafted a very intricate public relations plan for all of his New Deal legislation. The media allowed him to present a very carefully crafted message that was unfiltered and unchallenged by the press. Many newspapers were critical of his New Deal programs, so turning to radio and motion pictures allowed him to present his version of a particular policy directly to the people. Today, we see parallels in the use of Twitter to bypass opponents and critics of the administration to appeal directly to the American people. And that all started with FDR and his first fireside chat.

— Kathryn Cramer Brownell, Assistant Professor of History, Purdue University

3. Dwight Eisenhower’s 'Atoms for Peace' Speech to the United Nations

What Eisenhower Said: “I feel impelled to speak today in a language that, in a sense, is new. One which I, who have spent so much of my life in the military profession, would have preferred never to use: That new language is the language of atomic warfare…Against the dark background of the atomic bomb, the United States does not wish merely to present strength, but also the desire and the hope for peace. To the makers of these fateful decisions, the United States pledges before you, and therefore before the world, its determination to help solve the fearful atomic dilemma. To devote its entire heart and mind to find the way by which the miraculous inventiveness of man shall not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life.”

Why It Was Important: Eisenhower believed in the political power of nuclear weapons, but in this speech, he talks about their dangers. He speaks about the importance of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and proposes that the U.S. and Soviet Union cooperate to reduce their nuclear stockpiles. Keep in mind that there were just 1,300 nuclear weapons in the world in 1953 compared with more than seven times that number today. But Eisenhower is also a realist. He understands the importance of nuclear deterrence and he reminds his audience that his proposal comes from a position of American strength, not weakness.

— Todd Sechser, Professor of Politics, University of Virginia and Senior Fellow, Miller Center

4. Dwight Eisenhower’s Farewell Address

What Eisenhower Said: “Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense. We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportion…In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic process.”

Why It Was Important: That speech gave a name to our modern era. Eisenhower was telling us that we now live in a time when government, the military and the corporate world all have joined together into a powerful alliance that shapes the basic democratic functioning of the country. Eisenhower understood that Americans wanted both security and liberty, and it’s a fundamental paradox of the American experiment. In order to have security, we need to have a large defense establishment. But he asks, who is going to be the guardian of our freedoms in a world where we have to have a permanent arms industry? What he was saying in the speech is that we have to learn how to live with it, and control it, rather than having it control us.

— Will Hitchcock, Randolph P. Compton Professor at the Miller Center and professor of history, University of Virginia

5. Lyndon B. Johnson’s 'Great Society' Speech at the University of Michigan

When: May 22, 1964

What Johnson Said: “For a century, we labored to settle and to subdue a continent. For half a century, we called upon unbounded invention and untiring industry to create an order of plenty for all of our people. The challenge of the next half-century is whether we have the wisdom to use that wealth to enrich and elevate our national life, and to advance the quality of our American civilization. Your imagination and your initiative and your indignation will determine whether we build a society where progress is the servant of our needs, or a society where old values and new visions are buried under unbridled growth. For, in your time, we have the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward to the Great Society. “

Why It Was Important: LBJ called on all Americans to move upward to a Great Society in which wealth is used for more than personal enrichment and is instead used to improve communities, protect the natural world, and allow all Americans, regardless of race or class, to fully develop their innate talents and abilities. The message of Johnson’s speech resonates today because we have lost not only that self-confidence and that idealism but also the vision to recognize that prosperity can be used for something greater than the self.

— Guian McKee, Associate Professor of Presidential Studies, the Miller Center

6. John F. Kennedy’s Address on the Space Effort

When: September 1962

What Kennedy Said: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the Industrial Revolution, the first waves of modern invention and the first wave of nuclear power. And this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space, we mean to be a part of it, we mean to lead it.”

Why It Was Important: We were in a new age of technology and space exploration. President Kennedy made Americans feel that there was nothing that we couldn’t do, no challenge we couldn’t conquer. It was before Vietnam, before Watergate, before the deaths of our heroes like Jack and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King —when we had a sense in this country that if we all joined together we could fulfill our loftiest goals.

— Barbara Perry, Director of Presidential Studies, the Miller Center

7. Ronald Reagan’s Speech Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of D-Day

When: June 6, 1984

What Reagan Said: “The rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers at the edge of the cliffs shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades, and the American rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs they began to seize back the continent of Europe… (to veterans) You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and Democracy is worth dying for because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.

Why It’s Important: That day in June of 1984, before  Band of Brothers  and  Saving Private Ryan  ever came to be, President Reagan paid tribute to the heroism of those we now call the Greatest Generation, the men and women who liberated Europe and ensured freedom for generations to come.  But for the first time, he also tied resistance to totalitarianism in World War II to opposition to the Soviet Union during the Cold War . President Reagan’s words at the end of that speech, again in the second person, to our Allies that “we were with you then, and we are with you now,” when he called upon the West to “renew our commitment to each other, to our freedom, and to the alliance that protects it” kept the coalition in place that later defeated the Soviet Union and ended the Cold War. The “boys of Pointe du Hoc” saved the world, and, in many ways, they did so more than once.

— Mary Kate Cary, Senior Fellow, the Miller Center

8. Ronald Reagan’s Address on the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

When: January 1986

What Reagan Said: “The future doesn’t belong to the faint-hearted but to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them…The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye, and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.”

Why It Was Important: In our current era of political divisiveness, we tend to think of presidents as partisan leaders. But the president’s role as “comforter in chief” is one of the most important functions. The great presidents are distinguished by their ability to set aside partisanship in times of tragedy to speak words that comfort a nation and remind us that, despite our differences, we are all, in the end, Americans.

— Chris Lu, Senior Fellow, the Miller Center

9. George W. Bush’s 'Get On Board' Speech

When: After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks

What Bush Said: “When they struck they wanted to create an atmosphere of fear, and one of the great goals of this war is…to tell the traveling public: Get on board. Do your business around the country. Fly and enjoy America’s great destination spots. Get down to Disney World in Florida. Take your families and enjoy life the way we want it to be enjoyed.”

Why It Was Important: In short, Bush was saying don’t let the terrorists deter you from spending—the economy needs you. More specifically, Bush’s remarks demonstrated the importance that consumption had come to play in the economy by the twenty-first century. He was carrying out what had become an essential responsibility of the 21st-century president. Even as Bush modeled what it meant to be a strong commander in chief, he juggled another role that had become almost as important: “consumer in chief.”

— Brian Balogh, Dorothy Compton Professor of History, the Miller Center

10. Barack Obama’s 'A More Perfect Union' Speech

What Obama Said: “Contrary to the claim of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve to think as to believe we can get beyond our racial divisions on a single election cycle or with a single candidate, particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own. But I have asserted a firm conviction, a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people, that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice. We have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union…What we know, what we have seen, is that America can change. That is the true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope, the audacity to hope, for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.”

Why It Was Important: Conventional wisdom wouldn’t recommend a speech on race. But Obama ran to the challenge, not away from it. Uniquely positioned to do so, he welcomed listeners to places many have never experienced—a predominantly black church, a cringe-worthy conversation with a beloved relative of a different race, the kitchen tables of white Americans who feel resentful and left behind—and he recounted Americans often divergent perspectives. He asked us to be honest about our past while connecting it to the structural barriers faced by African Americans and other people of color today…Direct, honest, but nuanced, Obama believed that most Americans were ready to hear the truth and make a choice, to move beyond racial stalemate, face our challenges, and act accordingly.

 — Melody Barnes, a Senior Fellow, the Miller Center

The American Presidency with Bill Clinton

Explore the history of the U.S. presidency across six themed episodes: race, extremism, the struggle for rights, presidential vision and global power. 

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50 Speeches That Made the Modern World

A celebration of the most influential and thought-provoking speeches that have shaped the world we live in. With comprehensive, chronological coverage of speeches from the 20th and 21st centuries, taken from all corners of the globe, entries all feature photo headshots of the speakers plus an introduction explaining the background behind every speech and biographical details of each of the speakers as well as analysis of each speech throughout including buzzwords, memorable phrases and marginal notes.

A collection of 50 of the most significant speeches from around the globe that demonstrably changed the modern world and analysis into the impact they had.

Throughout history, great speeches have produced great change. From inciting violence and asserting control to restoring peace and securing freedom, nothing has the raw emotional power of a speech delivered at the right moment, in the right place, with the right content, and the right delivery.

50 Speeches That Made The Modern World is a celebration of the most influential and thought-provoking speeches that have shaped the world we live in. With comprehensive, chronological coverage of speeches from the 20th and 21st centuries, taken from all corners of the globe, it covers Emmeline Pankhurst’s patiently reasoned condemnation of men’s failure to improve ordinary women’s lives in 1908 through speeches by Vladimir Lenin, Mahatma Gandhi, David Ben-Gurion, Albert Einstein, Fidel Castro, Nikita Khrushchev, Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Benazir Bhutto, Osama Bin Laden and Aung San Suu Kyi, right up to the most compelling oratory surrounding the 2016 US Presidential elections.

Through the rallying propaganda speeches during World War II to the cautious rhetoric of the Cold War period, through challenging the status quo on issues of race, gender and politics to public addresses to the masses on the issues of AIDS and terrorism, through apologies, complaints, warmongering, scaremongering and passionate pleas, this book delivers the most important speeches of the modern era and why they still remain so significant.

Speeches are printed in full and chronologically arranged in a smart, open design. Featuring photo headshots of the speakers, each speech has an introduction explaining the background behind every speech and biographical details of each of the speakers as well as analysis of each speech throughout including buzzwords, memorable phrases and marginal notes.

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Revealing the World's Most Famous Speeches

Discover the world's most popular speeches from the 21st century. find out how our linguist experts ranked and revealed the secrets behind a good speech..

Speeches can unite the world, there’s no doubt about it. Be they delivered by activists, educators, a political leader, or the world’s best entertainers—one clear message by an individual has the power to connect so many.

Here at Babbel, we know a thing or two about how words and language can connect people. And that’s why we’ve set out to discover the most popular speeches shaping the world we live in today and take a look at what exactly makes a good speech.

With the help of our expert linguists, we'll discover the most popular speeches given by modern-day legends. Finding out why these speeches resonate with so many, our linguists reveal the secret of delivering a memorable speech.

So, how did we rank the famous speeches?

Looking at the world’s most famous modern-day speeches, we gathered YouTube views, TedTalk views and search data to understand which speeches are truly the most popular.

Comparing speeches across the topics of activism, business, creativity, language learning, LGBT+, Oscars, parenting, and politics, we were able to compare the figures to give an average score. You can see our full findings here .

Top 10 most famous speeches of the 21st century

We looked at some of the most viewed and searched speeches in recent history—be they short or long—to figure out which ones are the most popular.

Looking at YouTube and TedTalk views alongside search volume data, we were able to compile a list of the most popular speeches. How many of the world’s most famous speeches have you watched or listened to?

Were there any surprises? Interestingly, Simon Sinek appears twice on the list—a public speaker whose delivery and messages clearly resonate with many.

While you might not be surprised to see Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio at the top of the list, the reason he’s at the top may surprise you—if you didn’t already know, he’s super into environmentalism.

Using his platform at the Oscars to shine a light on global warming, an issue which affects us all, his speech left us with an unforgettable, and now famous, quote: “Climate change… is the most urgent threat facing our entire species… let us not take this planet for granted—I do not take tonight for granted.”

Our linguistic expert tells us why Leonardo Di Caprio’s speech resonated with so many of us and why it finds itself positioned as the most popular speech in recent years.

Taylor Hermerding (she/her), Editor in Didactics at Babbel, said:

"What Leo does really cleverly is link his award win, which was for his blockbuster hit, The Revenant, to the topic of climate change. He explains that the film is all about “man’s relationship to the natural world” and that during the time of its making - in 2015 - it was the hottest year on record. The film crew actually had to travel to the most southerly tip of the planet just to find snow to film in. Leo’s use of impactful language and intonation, in addition to his quick and controlled speech, allows him to deliver all of his points both purposefully and with a sense of urgency. It’s hard not to be moved by his words and jump on board with his climate change message. This speech was viewed by 43 million viewers (and counting)."

Top 10 speeches on learning a language

Of course, we also looked at the most popular speeches on learning a language. By speaking another language, we open ourselves up to learning about new cultures and understanding others.

While we know how rewarding learning a new language is, we all still need motivation to get there. So, who are the thought leaders inspiring us to learn a new language?

Looking at the most popular speeches for learning a language, we noticed search interest was relatively low and excluded that metric from the evaluation. However, the views speak for themselves. The YouTube views on some videos are so popular that it ranks top spot!

Revealing the secrets behind a good speech

So we now know what the most popular speeches from the 21st century are, but what topics grab the most attention? And who delivered them?

From our findings of ranked famous speeches we found out:

The professions with the most viewed speeches are writers, artists and poets

The great creatives of the world—our writers, artists and poets—deliver the most popular speeches.

The USA has the most watched speeches

Thought leaders in business, culture and politics—speakers from the USA take the trophy for the most popular public speakers in the English language.

Speeches related to the topic of business are the most popular

Our work day isn’t over at 5pm—it seems we love to think about how to improve our business and be the best at what we do, no matter the time of day.

Female public speakers are listened to the most often

The world is listening to famous speeches by women most often, as compared to their male and nonbinary counterparts.

With the scores now on the doors, were there any surprises? Did you expect an Oscars speech to be the most watched speech in recent history?

The truth is that famous speeches start a conversation, or contribute to one, and allow us to connect with each other and potentially even change the world.

Your checklist to deliver a memorable speech

The world’s most popular speeches give us insight into what messages resonate, and crucially how those messages are delivered. But how could you deliver a memorable speech of your own?

Our expert linguists reveal the speech techniques and strategies used, and which you could try when writing and delivering your next speech.

Embrace emotion - The most powerful speeches are delivered from the heart. Take Matthew McConaughey’s 2014 Oscar acceptance speech, where he is seen to be overcome with emotion, with visibly watery eyes. Don’t be afraid to tear up a bit if the occasion calls for it, like a best friend’s wedding speech for example—it’s a great way to show someone you love them.

Tell a story - Take the audience on a journey with you, telling the story as naturally as possible.The story can be personal, but it doesn’t need to be. It should, however, be engaging and clear.

Slow down your speech - Barack Obama is a great example of a speaker who slows his speech, allowing space and time for the audience to follow the speech and absorb the message. If you’re nervous, it’s natural to want to speed up your speech, but as the old saying goes—practice makes perfect. Rehearse at home and practice by timing or recording yourself.

Use research - Depending on what your speech is about, of course, another important factor of public speaking is researching well and presenting original thought.

Keep it simple - in an age of diminishing concentration , speeches which are delivered clearly help the audience to stay engaged. To stay on track, consider what the one message you want your audience to take away actually is.

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Leo’s use of impactful language and intonation, in addition to his quick and controlled speech

Taylor Hermerding (she/her), Editor in Didactics at Babbel

Leo also uses body language and hand movements to deliver his most prominent points, which become more exaggerated as he talks passionately about the threat facing our “entire species”. This, plus again the fast pace at which he delivers his speech, captures the audience’s attention. His choice of vocabulary is also notedly elevated and emotional, with phrases like ‘politics of greed’ and “Let us not take the world for granted, I do not take this night for granted” which resonated hugely with his Hollywood co-stars and viewers worldwide. DiCaprio also inserts short breaths into his sentences when stopping to thank certain people, or to levy emphasis in places, in this holy grail of unforgettable speeches.

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26 Inspiring Famous Speeches: What Makes Them Great? 😇

I like building and growing simple yet powerful products for the world and the worldwide web.

Published Date : November 19, 2021

Reading Time :

Presenting a speech is a great way to make a mark on an audience. However, it’s not always so simple. Throughout time, famous speeches have always captured our hearts and minds, and many famous people have used their skills to inspire others with their words.

“ Speech is power: Speech is to persuade, convert, and compel.”

The quote was popularized by Ralph Waldo Emerson , an American poet and essayist. A speech is compelling if written and done right.

His quote wonderfully encapsulates the impact of a well-crafted speech . There is no shortage of legendary speeches that have indelibly impacted humanity and history.

Later, I’ll share famous speeches that will make a lasting impression on you. The speeches might amaze you, so if you’re ready, read on!

Moreover, as a special treat, I’ll give some tips and tricks on delivering famous speeches. Maybe one day, you’ll end up on one of our lists!

Key Traits of Famous Speeches

Great rhetoric isn’t the only aspect of famous speeches. You’ll need the correct time, a compelling message, structure, and key elements. 

How to Become an Effective Public Speaker

What do Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Mother Teresa have in common? Why did their speeches become so powerful and famous?

The key characteristics of these famous speeches will help you deliver an impactful speech . Thus, here are some of the main attributes of a great public speaker:

What Not to Do When Giving Famous Speeches?

Many things could go wrong with a speech , but the best way to prevent them is to rehearse. You should practice at least ten times before finalizing. Generally, a simple, straightforward speech that keeps your audience awake and engaged will make any event memorable.

Here are some of the things you avoid doing during a speech .

1. Not rehearsing

The most effective presenters practice. Furthermore, rehearsing optimizes your audience’s perception of you and helps achieve the desired outcome of a presentation.

2. Dumping too much data

Sometimes, when we address an audience, we concentrate almost entirely on Logos or the reasoning part of the speech . 

We tend to talk too long when we rely too heavily on statistics and data. We also completely ignore the most important element of all: the listeners.

3. No pauses

Numerous individuals make the mistake of rushing through their speeches. They tend to talk fast, like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. However, a good speech needs pauses and stops. You will appear more confident when you intentionally use pauses as a rhetorical device.

4. More or little humor

Adding humor to your speech can be a tricky one. Knowing how much humor you can put in is difficult, especially if you don’t know your audience.

However, you don’t want your presentation to be boring. A good rule of thumb is to be yourself, with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure.

5. Reading instead of talking

Do not read your speech off your slides or a piece of paper. It makes you unsure what you’re saying, and people tend to get bored. Instead, memorize and talk to the audience, and explain the information you wish to deliver.

Start inspiring people with your speech , and start practicing with Orai

What Makes Famous Speeches Famous?

What constitutes a famous speech ? Mostly, it’s a sense of humor or a strong call to action. In most cases, it’s simply the speaker’s presence and energy that the audience finds attractive.

Whatever the case, famous speeches all have a few things in common. They have a story that connects with their audience. Moreover, famous speeches have a strong beginning and a strong ending and aren’t drawn out.

Top 10 Most Influential Famous Speeches in History

There are more than a handful of famous speeches in history. But the ones below are the best of the best because they’re:

• Highly compelling
• Revolutionary

1. William Wilberforce – Abolition Speech

In May 1789, William Wilberforce gave one of the most famous speeches in history. He had the chance to talk about the slave trade. Wilberforce’s speech about why the trade needed to be stopped lasted three hours. He added that such an act was morally repugnant. Although he made his case, it was not until 1807 that the Slave Trade Act was passed.

2. Abraham Lincoln – ‘The Gettysburg Address’

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln is undeniably one of the most famous speeches in history. At only 272 words and three minutes in length, he touched on three main points:

• The Declaration of Independence’s principles of human equality
• Linked the Civil War sacrifices to the desire for “a new birth of freedom.”
• Preservation of the Union was formed in 1776, and its ideal of self-government

3. Subhas Chandra Bose – ‘Give Me Blood and I Will Give You Freedom’

Subhas Chandra Bose gave one of the most famous speeches in history. His speech immortalized him when he said, ‘Give me blood, and I will give you freedom.’ He was widely regarded and lauded as a patriot and national hero in the face of British colonial forces. Subhas’ unwavering determination resulted in India’s liberation from the British.

4. Patrick Henry – ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death’

Next in the lineup of famous speeches in history is Patrick Henry’s Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death . Henry gave the speech at the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775. He was sure that war was imminent. His speech aimed to persuade his fellow delegates to take a defensive stance against Britain.

5. Nelson Mandela – ‘I Am Prepared To Die’

On April 20th, 1964, Nelson Mandela gave one of the most famous speeches in history. During his trial, he gave a three-hour-long speech outlining his political grievances and explaining his ideas. His speech was considered a monumental move in the history of South African democracy.

The speech remained one of the most influential pieces in the 20th century. Different scholars have analyzed and studied the speech up to this day.

6. Martin Luther King Jr. – ‘I Have A Dream’

Surely, everyone has heard about one of the famous speeches in history by Martin Luther King Jr. His speech to over 250,000 eager civil rights supporters. It was a historic moment in the American Civil Rights Movement, cementing King’s place as one of history’s great orators.

7. Mahatma Gandhi – ‘Quit India’

The second Indian on our list of famous speeches in history and one of the greatest personalities in the world. Mahatma Gandhi made a bold statement that led to the end of British rule in India. What made Gandhi’s speech famous was its nature of being non-violent. It was the embodiment of the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword.”

8. Pope Urban II – ‘Speech at Clermont’

Most famous speeches may not always result in a positive outcome. However, they do demonstrate the power of the well-spoken word. For example, Pope Urban II’s speech at Clermont. It has no official transcript, but it was the catalyst for the first crusade and the thinking behind subsequent ones.

9. Demosthenes – ‘The Third Philippic’

The oldest of the famous speeches in history, Demosthenes delivered a powerful message to Greeks about Philip II of Macedon. He asked his fellow countrymen to raise arms against him, responsible for widespread fighting throughout Ancient Greece.

10. Winston Churchill – ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’

Heralded as the person to successfully lead Britain through the second world war, he’s also known for his famous speeches. One of which is the ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches.’ The speech was the second of three powerful speeches delivered during the Battle of France. This was his attempt to persuade the British people to rise to the occasion and not lose hope.

Famous Speeches by Women

When people contemplate the most famous speeches ever delivered, the list almost typically includes only men. With few, if any, addresses delivered by women. However, women are stealing the limelight and giving clear declamation.

As the great Maxine Waters once said, “ reclaiming my time ,” and yes, women are doing it right now. Here are some of the famous speeches by women:

1. Emmeline Pankhurst – ‘Freedom or Death’

Emmeline Pankhurst gave one of the most famous speeches in the 20th century. The speech was made as a result of the state’s denial of women’s voting rights. Pankhurst also stressed the need for resistance against the American and British governments. She portrayed the suffragist movement’s actions due to gender inequity and the necessity to defend women’s rights as human rights.

2. Oprah Winfrey – ‘Being a Free Woman’

One of the famous speeches by women was delivered by no other than the queen of all media, Oprah Winfrey. In her speech , she spoke about making decisions in the face of criticism. When she was accused of betraying women by voting for Barack Obama, she explained that she was always a free woman with the freedom of expression.

3. Hillary Clinton – ‘Human Rights as Gay Rights’

December 6, 2011, marked one of the great examples of famous speeches by women. Hillary Clinton delivered a speech on International Human Rights Day in Geneva, Switzerland. She stated, “gay rights are human rights.” Her statement came after the Obama administration declared that US government agencies need to consider gay rights.

4. Sojourner Truth – “Ain’t I A Woman?”

Born as Isabella Baumfree, Sojourner Truth was born into slavery and became an anti-slavery speaker after winning her freedom. At the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio, she delivered one of the most famous speeches by women in history. She began, “And how came Jesus into the world? Through God who created him and the woman who bore him.” After that, she dared men by saying, “Man, where was your part?”

5. Greta Thunberg – Climate Action Summit

Undeniably, she is the youngest woman on our list, but her speech was very powerful. Greta Thunberg was sensationalized in 2019 when she urged world leaders to address the effects of climate change. She said, “You all come to us young people for hope. How dare you?” However, people had mixed reactions to her speech at the 2019 Climate Action Summit.

6. Amanda Gorman – The Hill We Climb

Even months after Joe Biden’s inauguration, we are still relishing the great speech given by Amanda Gorman. Gorman’s spoken word poetry brought the language to life, touching on hope, unity, and America’s joint mission. The declaration will go down in history as one of the most famous speeches.

7. Queen Elizabeth I – Speech to the Troops at Tilbury

With the invasion by the Spanish Armada looming, English forces gathered in Tilbury, Essex, near the shore. Queen Elizabeth I was dressed in full military attire with them. She gave a moving speech to her troops. Her pep talk worked, and defeating the Spanish Armada became one of England’s greatest military triumphs.

Short Famous Speeches

Famous speeches come in different lengths. Some are very long, but a few are brief yet equally powerful. Here are a fair few of those famous short speeches:

1. Ronald Reagan – Speech Following the Challenger Disaster

Ronald Reagan, the 40th President, delivered one of the most iconic famous speeches on national television. His public address resulted from the tragic explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle on January 26, 1986.

The space shuttle broke apart barely 73 seconds into its voyage, killing all seven crew members. Its crew included a classroom teacher, who NASA had chosen to be the first non-astronaut to fly into space.

He was an expert in communicating but found himself in a difficult situation. Nonetheless, he persevered. By carefully addressing each segment, his state address met the emotional needs of five different audiences:

• Families of the crew members
• Collective mourners
• School children
• Soviet Union

2. King George VI – Address to Britain

On September 3, 1939, King George VI gave his first address, declaring that the United Kingdom was at war again. People knew that the king had a speech impediment, a stutter . But it didn’t stop him from delivering one of the most impactful and strong short famous speeches ever.

The four hundred-and-seven-word speech persuaded a nation into action. It even sparked the creation of the 2010 blockbuster film The King’s Speech .

3. Richard Nixon – Resignation Speech

Besides delivering one of history’s most famous short speeches, Richard Nixon was the first US president to resign. He delivered his speech live through television from the White House in Washington, DC, on August 9, 1974. With his resignation, he hoped to “hasten the commencement of that process of healing which is sorely required in America.”

4. William Faulkner – Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

William Faulkner earned his keep when he won the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. His acceptance speech entitled “The Writer’s Duty” was meticulously structured to demonstrate his goal effectively. He began his speech by introducing his topic and writing and reminding his audience that writing is time-consuming.

His “work – a life’s labor in the sorrow and sweat of the human soul,” he said. Faulkner then referred to writing as “anguish and struggle.”

Famous speeches in the 21st century

The collection of famous speeches in the 21st century highlights several individuals who have significantly impacted society. These people have impacted various fields and industries, from technology to education and politics. They have introduced new ways of thinking and living.

1. Steve Jobs – Loving What You Do

Steve Jobs presented one of the most famous speeches of the 21st century. It is an inspiring story of his journey divided into three sections: birth, life, and death.

His commencement address at the graduation of the class of 2005 retells the story of his path to success. It includes dropping out of college and being fired from Apple. The whole path freed him from the constraints of success and made him a beginner again.

2. Mark Zuckerberg – ‘Creating Innovation in the Office’

The list of famous speeches in the 21st century would be incomplete without mentioning Mark Zuckerberg. He completely transformed the way people connect and share content on the Internet.

With technology and social media defining much of the twenty-first century, his brief presentation discusses innovation. He contends that change entails more than just developing a new idea. He demonstrates to the audience how these methods are implemented at Facebook’s headquarters and applies this approach to their businesses.

3. Barack Obama – ‘The Audacity of Hope’

The Audacity of Hope is a rare blend of autobiography and policy analysis. It deviates from the boilerplate, frequently ghostwritten memoirs released by many politicians.

Obama describes his unusual childhood and insights into his racially mixed heritage. He also told his experience of living in an exotic location instilled in him. The 44th US President also delves deeply into nearly every major political issue confronting the American voter today.

4. Steve Jobs – ‘The Anatomy of Technology’

One of the most famous speeches from Steve Jobs compares computer technology to the structure of the human body. In his speech , he said that the brain of a computer is its hardware. He added that operating systems must keep up with the brain’s rapid development and growth.

5. Bill Gates – ‘The Future of Innovation’

Bill Gates’ optimistic innovation speech focuses entirely on humanity’s historical success and future progress in the invention. He believes breakthroughs will come from various sources because of the world’s vast intellect and abundance of innovators. These sources will range from the United States to some developing countries.

What literary devices and techniques were used in these speeches?

Powerful speeches often utilize repeated key phrases, like “I have a dream,” to drive home core ideas. Tools like parallelism and alliteration also make them flow beautifully and captivate listeners. References to historical documents further strengthen arguments and connect the past to the present, making the message impactful and persuasive.

What are some top quotes from these influential speeches?

Some of the top quotes from these influential speeches include powerful declarations about equality and justice, reflecting on the nation’s promise to uphold the rights of all its citizens. The speeches address the failure to fulfill this promise and the determination to continue fighting for what is just and right.

What are some speeches that changed the world and their backgrounds?

This excerpt highlights ten influential speeches that have shaped history. From William Wilberforce’s fight against slavery to Nelson Mandela’s call for racial equality, these speeches, delivered with passion and eloquence, inspired movements, ignited revolutions, and continue to resonate today as testaments to the enduring power of words to incite change.

Key Takeaways

“Eloquent speech is not from lip to ear, but rather from heart to heart,” said William Jennings Bryan . Famous speeches have been and always will stand the test of time. That’s how powerful they are.

Words are weapons, but with great orators, they become even more powerful. The individuals who belted the most famous speeches resonate throughout the world. We value their work because their ideas, efforts, and activities have resulted in life-changing occurrences.

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Powerful speaking lessons from 15 of the world's greatest orators

We’ve compiled 15 lessons for speakers from some of the greatest orators in history. Be bold, seize the moment, and inspire with these tips from MLK, FDR, Maya Angelou, and others.

@WSB_Speakers

Lessons for speakers often focus on the same tips. Make eye contact. Speak slowly. Start with an attention-grabbing anecdote. Don't use slides. Rehearse in front of a mirror. But, the world's most captivating speakers share a few things in common that can't be easily outlined in a checklist of best practices. They were willing to s peak out at time others weren't. They also communicated a feeling so powerful that their words have been impossible to forget.

Let’s take a look at 15 examples of speeches so engaging and compelling that we still talk about them today. 

1. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first inaugural address. 

On March 3, 1933, FDR addressed a nation in the throes of economic depression and hardship. The enduring admonition — “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” — still echoes nearly a century later.

Lessons for speakers: Inspire your audience. Roosevelt’s belief that the “nation will endure as it has endured” spoke directly to the hearts of a country ready to have hope again. His words set the tone for an ambitious presidency that would span over 13 years.

2. Maya Angelou at President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration. 

The selection of Maya Angelou to speak at President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration as President of the United States on Jan. 20, 1993, created ripples of excitement before the poet ever took the stage. She would be both the first African American and woman to recite a poem at an American presidential inauguration. “Here on the pulse of this new day, you may have the grace to look up and out and into your sister's eyes, and into your brother's face, your country and say simply, very simply with hope, good morning,” she said. Lessons for speakers: Seize the moment. Angelou’s “On the Pulse of the Morning” was confident and bold, reflecting on a difficult past before shining light on the hope for a bright future ahead.

3. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech.  

Martin Luther King, Jr., addressed more than 250,000 civil rights supporters on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963, and enthralled the world with his dream “... that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” Lessons for speakers: Give your audience a vision to embrace. Less than a year later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was law. Dr. King’s imagery of a utopian, egalitarian future gave many Americans — who on the fence about what civil rights meant — a version of their country they could comfortably accept.

4. Prime Minister Winston Churchill addresses the House of Commons.

On June 4, 1940, as the British Army completed its return to England on a makeshift fleet after emergency evacuation from Dunkirk, Prime Minister Winston Churchill turned a crushing defeat into an inspirational pledge to fight Nazism. “We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be," he said. "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” Lessons for speakers: Use what you’re given. Churchill used the dire circumstances of the day to galvanize the British people rather than frighten them, and simultaneously prepared them for the challenges ahead.

5. Neil Armstrong at the first lunar landing.

Five days after he and fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins launched from Cape Kennedy, Neil Armstrong exited Apollo 11 on July 21, 1969, and the world’s first lunar landing was complete. Armstrong immediately communicated the incredible implications of their successful mission, famously stating: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Armstrong also landed the lunar module on the moon’s surface. His statement, “The Eagle has landed,” became part of the American vernacular, as well. Lessons for speakers: Sometimes simple is good. Armstrong didn’t need flowery prose to encapsulate the gravity of this key moment in space history.

6. Lou Gehrig’s farewell to baseball. 

Nicknamed The Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig — a man whose reticence was almost as famous as his skill on the diamond — gave on July 4, 1939, his farewell address. This, after an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ended his prestigious career. “Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth,” a gracious, emotional Gehrig told the Yankee Stadium crowd. Lessons for speakers: Speak from the heart. Gehrig allowed the Yankee fans to see who he really was after years of avoiding the spotlight. They loved him all the more for it.

7. Ronald Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate.

On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan addressed Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev from West Berlin. Standing in front of the infamous Brandenburg Gate, Reagan argued that the path to world peace began with human liberty. He culminated a memorable speech in the shadow of the Berlin Wall with his passionate demand: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Lessons for speakers: Show the scenery. Reagan stood on the very doorstep of European Communism, in a lonely outpost of freedom deep inside the Iron Curtain — and he was the defiant, two-fisted Gipper that made him one of America’s most popular leaders.

8. Harvey Milk at California Gay Freedom Day Parade.

Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco, in 1977. Milk’s memorable “Give Them Hope” speech — delivered from the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall as part of California Gay Freedom Day on June 25, 1978 — came just months before he was assassinated. Milk implored the crowd to give hope to those that are faced with few options. “I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope," he said.  Lessons for speakers: Being earnest helps. Milk, a gay man at a time in American history when the stakes were legitimately dangerous, knew firsthand about that struggle for hope. His words landed because he faced the precipice, and overcame.

9. Muhammad Ali “I am the greatest” proclamation.

Muhammad Ali was as talented a speaker as he was a boxer — and some think he was the greatest boxer of all time. On many occasions, Ali claimed “I am the greatest” — words that shocked the conservative early-1960s sports scene, especially coming from a brash young African American who refused to play the stolid role expected of black athletes at the time. Ali battled the establishment on all fronts, and served as the advance messenger for the broad cultural changes to come. Lessons for speakers: As another famous athlete later said, “It ain’t bragging if it’s true.” Don’t be afraid to be loud, boisterous, and proud — as long as you can back it up.

10. Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia trial.

On April 20, 1964, South African activist Nelson Mandela spoke from the dock before the opening of his trial on charges of sabotage. Mandela’s words illustrated the stakes of his battle against apartheid — and foreshadowed the courage he showed in his ensuing decades behind bars. “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve," he said. "But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Lessons for speakers: Idealism and human dignity can change hearts, minds and, in the case of Mandela, the course of a nation’s history.

11. Susan B. Anthony demands women’s suffrage.

In 1872, Susan B. Anthony cast an illegal ballot in the presidential election. Following a trail and subsequent guilty verdict delivered on June 19, 1873, Anthony was asked if she wished to make a statement. She promptly offered a speech that would become the most famous words in the American suffragette movement. Anthony proclaimed that the concept of a free United States was based on “... We, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people — women as well as men.” Lessons for speakers: Speak truth to power. Use your moment to tell the truth as you see it, and don’t back down.

12. Frederick Douglass on the Fourth of July. 

On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became the preeminent African-American political figure of the Civil War era, was invited to speak at an Independence Day celebration in Rochester, N.Y. He came not to praise the holiday. “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” Lessons for speakers: Injustice needs to be named. Douglass could have easily shared platitudes about freedom after his experience of servitude; instead, he called out the hypocrisy that he witnessed every day.

13. Sojourner Truth at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention.

Sojourner Truth, renowned African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist, gave her most notable address extemporaneously on May 29, 1851, at a women’s rights convention in Akron, Ohio. “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!" she said. "And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.” Lessons for speakers: Straightforward talk can drive home a point with powerful impact. Truth was not a trained orator, but her words — and the truth of those words — resonated.

14. Malala Yousafzai addresses the United Nations. 

Malala Yousafzai spoke at the United Nations headquarters in New York as part of Youth Takeover Day on July 12, 2013 — her sixteenth birthday. The teen had been shot by the Taliban on her school bus following a campaign for girls' rights in Pakistan. She miraculously survived, and has been a powerful voice for women worldwide ever since. “ They thought that the bullets would silence us,” Yousafzai told her audience. “But they failed. And then, out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.” Lessons for speakers: Defiance in the face of injustice is a powerful tactic. Yousafzai did not allow circumstances to stop her — rather, she used those wrongs to build a powerful platform.

15. Dolores Huerta speaks to farm workers following a 300-mile march.  

Dolores Huerta is a legendary activist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She’s been a powerful voice for the rights of women, workers, and immigrants — and remains active today. Huerta signified the end of a 300-mile march to Sacramento, Calif., in 1966 with powerful words calling for change on behalf of workers and immigrants across the country, declaring “... the day has ended when the farm worker will let himself be used as a pawn by employers, government, and others who would exploit them for their own ends.” Lessons for speakers: Be the voice for others. When you have the privilege of speaking to an audience, use those moments to honestly convey the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of those who you speak for.

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10 Famous Speeches To Ignite The Feminist Fire Within You

Be inspired by the words of these powerful women

Throughout history, so many of the people to make us stop and take note with their famous speeches have been women. From the women's suffrage movement in the 1800s and feminism's second wave in the 1970s to the global Women's March in 2017, the words and actions of famous figures such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Virginia Woolf, Maya Angelou and Gloria Steinhem (to name just a few) have transformed society.

It might explain then why the theme of International Women's Day 2021 was #ChooseToChallenge. We can learn so much from the powerful actions and inspiring words of the women who came before us – but, also, there's still so much work we have to do. It's our duty to carry on their work, challenging and changing and speaking up for equality .

And so here, we've rounded up the most famous speeches from a new era of women, who are continuing the task of transforming opinions, breaking boundaries and inspiring us all to keep choosing to challenge. Listen, learn and take note.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Will Not Accept Your Apology

After Florida Representative Ted Yoho reportedly called Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 'a f*cking b*tch' on the steps of the Capitol in July 2020, he tried to excuse his behaviour by saying he has a wife and daughters. In response, AOC (as she's commonly referred to) took to the House floor with what has since been hailed 'the most important feminist speech of a generation' – fluently and passionately detailing why his 'apology' was, simply, not good enough.

Quotes of note:

'I am someone's daughter too. My father, thankfully, is not alive to see how Mr Yoho treated his daughter. My mother got to see Mr. Yoho's disrespect on the floor of this House towards me on television, and I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.

'What I believe is that having a daughter does not make a man decent. Having a wife does not make a decent man. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man, and when a decent man messes up, as we all are bound to do, he tries his best and does apologise.'

Natalie Portman On Dismantling The Patriarchy

From her smart quip of 'here are all the male nominees' at the 2018 Golden Globes , calling out the women directors snubbed for the category, to her rousing 'f*ck up and thrive, sisters' speech at the ELLE Women In Hollywood event in 2019, Portman consistently calls out inequality in the film industry. And the actor's address at Variety's Women of Power event in 2019 was no different. In what is now referred to as 'Natalie Portman's Step-by-Step Guide to Toppling the Patriarchy', she made a strong case for all the ways in which we, as individuals, can make a difference.

'Be embarrassed if everyone in your workplace looks like you. Pay attention to physical ability, age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and make sure you've got all kinds of experiences represented.

'Stop the rhetoric that a woman is crazy or difficult. If a man says a woman is crazy or difficult, ask him: What bad thing did you do to her? It's code that he is trying to discredit her reputation. Make efforts to hire people who've had their reputations smeared in retaliation.'

Michelle Obama On The Inequality Of Failure

Let's be honest: there are so many Michelle Obama speeches to choose from – the former FLOTUS is renowned for her passion for equality and her ability to uplift others with her words. But in a poignant keynote conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross at the United State of Women Summit in 2018, Obama spoke openly about the often-overlooked inequality of failure, and the disparities in repercussions for men and women.

Quote of note:

'I wish that girls could fail as bad as men do and be OK. Because let me tell you, watching men fail up, it is frustrating. It's frustrating to see a lot of men blow it and win. And we hold ourselves to these crazy, crazy standards.

'Start with what you can control. You start there. Because thinking about changing your workplace and changing the way the world thinks – that's big; that's daunting. And then you shrink from that. So start with what you can control. And that's you, first. And those questions start within. First, we must ask ourselves, "Are we using our voices? And when are we not? When are we playing it safe?" And at least be cognisant of that and understand, "These are the times that I shrunk away from doing more than I could, and let me think about why that was."'

Gina Martin On Misogyny, The Power Of Anger And How She Changed The Law

As she tells us in this refreshing TEDx talk from 2020, Gina Martin is not the kind of woman you'd expect to change the law. And yet, she did. The activist discusses the moment in 2017 when a stranger took a picture of her crotch at a festival without her consent – and how, after years of relentless campaigning, she succeeded in making upskirting a criminal offence. Martin makes it clear that anyone can make a change, no matter who they are or where they're from. And that's a lesson we all need to hear.

'Anger is a very normal response to having your human rights compromised. That's important to say. We have to stop using it to delegitimise people, with "angry feminist" or "angry Black woman" – all of these stereotypes. People are allowed to be angry about this stuff. And we have to hold space for them there. We have to realise it's not about us.

'Think about where you hold privilege – it might be in your job, as a parent, as a teacher, or just in the colour of your skin – and start this work now. Stop laughing at the jokes, buy the book, go to the event, diversify your social feeds, ask the questions. Sympathy is soothing, but it doesn't go far enough. Action does. And listen, you'll get things wrong. We all do, I've had some clangers. But it's not about perfection, it's about progress, it's about doing it because it's the right thing to do. We are so done with waiting for society to "change things" for us. We literally are society.'

Lady Gaga On Reclaiming Your Power

When Lady Gaga accepted her ELLE Women In Hollywood award in 2018, her career appeared to be at an all-time high, with Oscar buzz for her role in A Star Is Born , and her song 'Shallow' at number one in the US. But, as she explained, what people perceive a woman, especially in Hollywood, isn't always the reality.

Gaga may have made this moving speech several years ago, but it feels particularly poignant to revisit it during a period in which violence towards women is a more devastating and pressing topic than ever. In it, Gaga recounts how being sexually assaulted caused her to 'shut down' and 'hide'. She explores the debilitating effect of shame on her mental health and also the power of kindness and support in overcoming it.

Importantly, Gaga explains that she eventually found her power within herself – and how, once she took it back, she was able to use it to move beyond the prescribed expectations society puts upon women.

'What does it really mean to be a woman in Hollywood? We are not just objects to entertain the world. We are not simply images to bring smiles or grimaces to people's faces. We are not members of a giant beauty pageant meant to be pit against one another for the pleasure of the public. We women in Hollywood, we are voices. We have deep thoughts and ideas and beliefs and values about the world and we have the power to speak and be heard and fight back when we are silenced.'

'I decided today I wanted to take the power back. Today I wear the pants... I had a revelation that I had to be empowered to be myself today more than ever. To resist the standards of Hollywood, whatever that means. To resist the standards of dressing to impress. To use what really matters: my voice.'

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie On Redefining Feminism

You may not have knowingly heard to author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's speech before, but there's a good chance you will have listened to her words without realising – Beyoncé actually weaved a key part of Adichie's feminist manifesto into her track '***Flawless'. In her speech, Adichie reflects on the gender disparities still evident our society, with a focus on those in her native Africa, and dissects the meaning of 'feminist' – both the connotations and myths it carries – and how she came to define the term for herself.

'We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller, we say to girls, "You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful, otherwise you would threaten the man." ...But what if we question the premise itself? Why should a woman's success be a threat to a man?

'I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be. Gender is not an easy conversation to have. For both men and women, to bring up gender is sometimes to encounter almost immediate resistance... Some of the men here might be thinking, "OK, all of this is interesting, but I don't think like that." And that is part of the problem – that many men do not actively think about gender or notice gender is part of the problem.'

Kamala Harris On Setting A New Standard For The Next Generation

On November 7 2020, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivered her first national address after Joe Biden 's position as President was secured. As the first woman to hold the position and the first person of colour to do so, Harris' presence alone was enough to break boundaries. But then came her words. In the speech, she reflected on triumph of democracy and credited the work of the women who came before us, plus that of 'a new generation of women in... who cast their ballots and continued the fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard'.

'While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last, because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before, but know that we will applaud you every step of the way.'

Amanda Gorman On Finding Your Voice

If you didn't know Amanda Gorman before this year, you'll definitely know her now, thanks to her reading at US President Joe Biden's swearing-in ceremony. The United States' first-ever youth poet laureate's powerful, rhythmic poem 'The Hill We Climb' made the world stop and listen, highlighting the many inequalities in our society and reminding us that we need to work together to overcome them.

While 2021 was the year that catapulted Gorman into the spotlight, it wasn't the first time she'd spoken out about the world around her. In her 2018 TED Talk, she discusses the power of speech, learning to find her voice and how 'poetry is actually at the centre of our most political questions about what it means to be a democracy'.

'I had a moment of realisation, where I thought, "If I choose not to speak out of fear, then there's no one that my silence is standing for."'

'When someone asks me to write a poem that's not political, what they're really asking me is to not ask charged and challenging questions in my poetic work. And that does not work, because poetry is always at the pulse of the most dangerous and most daring questions that a nation or a world might face.'

'If I choose, not out of fear, but out of courage, to speak, then there's something unique that my words can become... It might feel like every story has been told before, but the truth is, no one's ever told my story in the way I would tell it.'

Frances McDormand Demands Inclusion In Hollywood

It's one thing to make a great acceptance speech at the Oscars. But to share that honour with your fellow nominees and use it as a platform to highlight where your industry needs to do better? That's a whole other story, and one told by McDormand in a speech that got everybody on their feet as she accepted the Oscar for Best Actress at the 2018 Academy Awards.

'I want to get some perspective. If I may be so honoured to have all the female nominees in every category stand with me in this room tonight, the actors... the filmmakers, the producers, the directors, the writers, the cinematographers, the composers, the songwriters, the designers... We all have stories to tell and projects we need financed. Don't talk to us about it at the parties tonight. Invite us into your office in a couple days, or you can come to ours, whatever suits you best, and we'll tell you all about them. I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: "inclusion rider".'

Meghan Markle On Realising The Magnitude Of Individual Action

Long before she made headlines as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle had already made the world take notice. At the UN Women Conference back in 2015, she spoke about 'accidentally' becoming a female advocate when at just 11 years old, when she convinced a dish soap company to change their sexist tagline from 'Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans' to 'People all over America…' instead. Here, she discusses the power of individual action, and why we need to remind women that 'their involvement matters'.

'It is just imperative: women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there, and in some cases, where this is not available, well then, you know what, they need to create their own table. We need a global understanding that we cannot implement change effectively without women's political participation.

'It is said that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such vision – because it isn't enough to simply talk about equality. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to simply believe in it. One must work at it. Let us work at it. Together. Starting now.

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Top 10 Activism Speeches of the 21ST Century (so far) Revealed

Most powerful talks by social + environmental activists to get inspired.

If you thought a single person can’t make a difference, we’re here to prove you actually can. Here’s a selection of the most uplifting activism speeches of this century so far that stand right next to your basic human & environmental rights!

“How dare you?” – The words of a teenage girl that shook the world when she condemned world leaders for their disregard of the younger generations and kickstarted people to have conversations about the climate crisis that they might once have ignored.   

But why was Greta Thunberg’s speech so captivating? Is it because her generation, Gen Z, are emerging as the sustainability generation ? Or did she shock her elders into considering the future of our planet with her passion? Or perhaps, is she simply a great public speaker?   

With activists making up just 3.01% of the world’s most popular speeches, Babbel wants to draw attention to the speeches made to change the world. And it’s not just Greta Thunberg the world is listening to when it comes to activism. Back in 2016, when Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his Oscar, he used his platform to shine a light on global warming. Unless you didn’t already know, he’s super into environmentalism.

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Despite activism speeches making up such a small percentage of Babbel’s results, this certainly does not take away from the gravitas that they hold. These speeches lifted hearts in dark times, gave courage to the weary, drew attention to that which otherwise might be ignored and even changed the course of history. These masterfully constructed, passion-filled speeches potentially make impacts on millions, if not billions of people. The ranked findings are part of data analysis carried out by language experts to unearth the most popular speeches given by modern-day legends.  

The top ten most popular activism speeches of the 21 st century (so far), are:

1. Amanda Gorman ‘The Hill We Climb’ (2021)

Amanda Gorman, the US’ first Youth Poet Laureate, has featured at the top of the leaderboard of the 21st century’s most popular activism speeches . Gorman recited her poem, ‘The Hill We Climb’, at President Joe Biden’s Inauguration in January of this year.   

Despite only delivering the speech mere months ago, Gorman’s powerful recital of her original poem ranks first on Babbel’s list of activism speeches. The Los Angeles-born poet and activist made history when she became the youngest person ever to perform at a presidential inauguration.   

Gorman captured hearts and minds as she called the US public “diverse and beautiful”. Her poem poignantly celebrates that the US is not a “perfect union”. She notes that the metaphorical climb of the “hill” of justice that the country must take isn’t easy. Gorman acknowledges that it is a painful process but is one that must be done for a better future for all.

2. Greta Thunberg ‘How Dare You’ (2019)

Second on the leaderboard is Swedish teenage activist, Greta Thunberg , who, in 2019, grabbed the world’s attention when she condemned world leaders for their disregard of younger generations and kickstarted people to have conversations about the climate crisis that they might have once ignored.  

Thunberg stole the show when she took centre stage at the UN Climate Change COP24 Conference in New York. At the time of her speech, Thunberg was only 16 years old, but she’s gone on to champion various environmental issues, as well as heading her very own climate organisation, Fridays for Future . Here are some original posters in the year of Greta .   

3. Megan Phelps-Roper ‘I grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church. Here’s why I left’ (2017)

In this 2017 speech, Megan Phelps-Roper describes what it was like to grow up in America’s most controversial church: Westboro Baptist Church. The church, which has appeared in numerous television programmes and documentaries, is known for its homophobic, transphobic and hate speech pickets.   

In the speech, she shares her experiences of extreme polarisation. She shares her personal experience of finding solace from Twitter in particular. She shares ways in which others who might be facing the same challenges she once was can engage in conversations with ‘outsiders’ to widen their understanding of the wider world and potentially leave the version of reality they are in. 

4. Justin Baldoni ‘Why I’m done trying to be ‘man enough’’ (2018)

Justin Baldoni might have won our hearts as Rafael on Jane the Virgin , but in 2018 he did it again with his TEDtalk ‘Why I’m done trying to be ‘man enough’’. In his speech, Baldoni tells the audience how he wants to start a dialogue with men about redefining their masculinity, breaking down the toxic masculinity norms that riddle society.  

Boys will be boys: a phrase once used all the time, is now slowly but surely becoming less of an appropriate justification to how boys, and men, behave. In his personal and endearing talk, Baldoni shares his efforts to escape the boundaries of who the world tells him he should be as a man and, in doing so, aids in breaking down centuries-old norms for a future where men can express their emotions without stigma.  

5. Emma Watson ‘HeForShe’ (2014)

Emma Watson offers a lot more than just being top of her class at Hogwarts. Back in 2014, Watson co-hosted a special event for the UN’s HeForShe campaign. In her speech as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Watson expresses her concern about the need for gender equality and how we must change long-held stereotypes.

Watson cleverly creates a strong emotional connection to her audience and calls on everyone in the fight for equality – not just those affected by inequality. She shows that if gender equality is ever to be achieved, then we as a collective society must break down the harmful and destructive stereotypes of masculinity and the behavioural expectations of boys and men. This is a topic which still resonates seven years later, showing this change certainly isn’t something that will happen overnight.   

6. Malala Yousafzai ‘United Nations Youth Assembly’ (2013)

Malala Yousafzai, who became famous for her childhood activism against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s restrictions on education for girls, and when she survived a gunshot to the head in 2012 and survived, also features in our list. Malala’s speech at the United Nation’s Youth Assembly in 2013 captivated listeners across the globe when she made her first public statement since the attack.   

Since then, Malala has gone on to become a household name in her fight for girls and women’s rights across the globe. She also holds the title of the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.  

7. Baratunde Thurston ‘How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time’ (2019)

A phenomenon we have seen play out for centuries, but even more so on social media, is that of white Americans calling law enforcement on Black Americans who have committed ‘crimes’. These ‘crimes’ often being eating, walking, or as Baratunde Thurston puts it in his TEDtalk, “living while Black”. 

One of the most infamous examples of this is ‘ Central Park Karen ’: who went viral for calling the police on an innocent Black man, resulting in her being fired from her job. Thurston explores this phenomenon in a thought-provoking way and uses humour to share the power of language and how this can change these situations into an experience of healing for those affected, rather than an upsetting one. He also challenges others to level up in the fight against racism. 

8. Stacey Abrams ‘3 questions to aks yourself about everything you do’ (2018)

Stacey Abrams made history in 2018 when she became the first Black woman in the history of the USA to be nominated by a major party for governor, becoming the Georgia House Democratic Leader.  

Her TEDtalk from the same year explores how you should respond to setbacks in life and how these will ultimately define your character. She shares her own life lessons, in particular the ones she learned from her campaign in the lead up to earning her place as governor for Georgia. She tells the audience that to achieve your desired outcome, whatever you do in life, you must “be aggressive about your ambition”.  

Abrams’ electrifying speech undoubtedly leaves her audience, and those who view to this day, with a sense of urgency and inspiration to achieve everything they set out to – even that which they might perceive to be their wildest of dreams.  

9. John Boyega ‘George Floyd protest’ (2020)

The BLM protests that happened in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by US law enforcement caused outrage in every corner of the globe and many celebrities used their platform and voice to share their experiences and outrage with their audiences.  

John Boyega is best known for his role as Finn in Star Wars, but last year he became one of the voices championing the BLM movement, thanks to his powerful speech at Hyde Park. Boyega expressed his outrage at the institutional and outright racism that goes on within society. His speech resonated with millions, showing that some of the best speeches truly are unscripted.  

To learn more about the Black Lives Matter movement, see here .

10. Gina Martin ‘They told me to change my clothes. I changed the law instead.’ (2020)

Gina Martin is a British political activist and author. Last year, Martin took to the stage to tell her experience of assault and how she took that experience to create a petition which ultimately changed the law.  

Back in 2017, a man placed a phone between Martin’s legs, took inappropriate images and proceeded to share these images with his peers. Martin tells the audience how angered she was by a lack of response from authorities, so she took to social media to share her experience and petition.  

Martin’s petition ultimately led to her becoming a leading figure in the fight against sexual misconduct and assault that led to successfully adding upskirting to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 .  

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Thanks a lot for sharing such an inspiring list of speeches. I am now binge watching each one of them! There is a spelling mistake in your 8th title

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40 famous persuasive speeches you need to hear.

Written by Kai Xin Koh

Across eras of calamity and peace in our world’s history, a great many leaders, writers, politicians, theorists, scientists, activists and other revolutionaries have unveiled powerful rousing speeches in their bids for change. In reviewing the plethora of orators across tides of social, political and economic change, we found some truly rousing speeches that brought the world to their feet or to a startling, necessary halt. We’ve chosen 40 of the most impactful speeches we managed to find from agents of change all over the world – a diversity of political campaigns, genders, positionalities and periods of history. You’re sure to find at least a few speeches in this list which will capture you with the sheer power of their words and meaning!

1. I have a dream by MLK

“I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification – one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning “My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father’s died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!”

Unsurprisingly, Martin Luther King’s speech comes up top as the most inspiring speech of all time, especially given the harrowing conditions of African Americans in America at the time. In the post-abolition era when slavery was outlawed constitutionally, African Americans experienced an intense period of backlash from white supremacists who supported slavery where various institutional means were sought to subordinate African American people to positions similar to that of the slavery era. This later came to be known as the times of Jim Crow and segregation, which Martin Luther King powerfully voiced his vision for a day when racial discrimination would be a mere figment, where equality would reign.

2. Tilbury Speech by Queen Elizabeth I

“My loving people, We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.”

While at war with Spain, Queen Elizabeth I was most renowned for her noble speech rallying the English troops against their comparatively formidable opponent. Using brilliant rhetorical devices like metonymy, meronymy, and other potent metaphors, she voiced her deeply-held commitment as a leader to the battle against the Spanish Armada – convincing the English army to keep holding their ground and upholding the sacrifice of war for the good of their people. Eventually against all odds, she led England to victory despite their underdog status in the conflict with her confident and masterful oratory.

3. Woodrow Wilson, address to Congress (April 2, 1917)

“The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them. Just because we fight without rancor and without selfish object, seeking nothing for ourselves but what we shall wish to share with all free peoples, we shall, I feel confident, conduct our operations as belligerents without passion and ourselves observe with proud punctilio the principles of right and of fair play we profess to be fighting for. … It will be all the easier for us to conduct ourselves as belligerents in a high spirit of right and fairness because we act without animus, not in enmity toward a people or with the desire to bring any injury or disadvantage upon them, but only in armed opposition to an irresponsible government which has thrown aside all considerations of humanity and of right and is running amuck. We are, let me say again, the sincere friends of the German people, and shall desire nothing so much as the early reestablishment of intimate relations of mutual advantage between us—however hard it may be for them, for the time being, to believe that this is spoken from our hearts. We have borne with their present government through all these bitter months because of that friendship—exercising a patience and forbearance which would otherwise have been impossible. We shall, happily, still have an opportunity to prove that friendship in our daily attitude and actions toward the millions of men and women of German birth and native sympathy who live among us and share our life, and we shall be proud to prove it toward all who are in fact loyal to their neighbors and to the government in the hour of test. They are, most of them, as true and loyal Americans as if they had never known any other fealty or allegiance. They will be prompt to stand with us in rebuking and restraining the few who may be of a different mind and purpose. If there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm hand of stern repression; but, if it lifts its head at all, it will lift it only here and there and without countenance except from a lawless and malignant few. It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the Congress, which I have performed in thus addressing you. There are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.”

On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson of the USA delivered his address to Congress, calling for declaration of war against what was at the time, a belligerent and aggressive Germany in WWI. Despite his isolationism and anti-war position earlier in his tenure as president, he convinced Congress that America had a moral duty to the world to step out of their neutral observer status into an active role of world leadership and stewardship in order to liberate attacked nations from their German aggressors. The idealistic values he preached in his speech left an indelible imprint upon the American spirit and self-conception, forming the moral basis for the country’s people and aspirational visions to this very day.

4. Ain’t I A Woman by Sojourner Truth

“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman? … If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.”

Hailing from a background of slavery and oppression, Sojourner Truth was one of the most revolutionary advocates for women’s human rights in the 1800s. In spite of the New York Anti-Slavery Law of 1827, her slavemaster refused to free her. As such, she fled, became an itinerant preacher and leading figure in the anti-slavery movement. By the 1850s, she became involved in the women’s rights movement as well. At the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio, she delivered her illuminating, forceful speech against discrimination of women and African Americans in the post-Civil War era, entrenching her status as one of the most revolutionary abolitionists and women’s rights activists across history.

5. The Gettsyburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

“Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

President Abraham Lincoln had left the most lasting legacy upon American history for good reason, as one of the presidents with the moral courage to denounce slavery for the national atrocity it was. However, more difficult than standing up for the anti-slavery cause was the task of unifying the country post-abolition despite the looming shadows of a time when white Americans could own and subjugate slaves with impunity over the thousands of Americans who stood for liberation of African Americans from discrimination. He urged Americans to remember their common roots, heritage and the importance of “charity for all”, to ensure a “just and lasting peace” among within the country despite throes of racial division and self-determination.

6. Woman’s Rights to the Suffrage by Susan B Anthony

“For any State to make sex a qualification that must ever result in the disfranchisement of one entire half of the people is to pass a bill of attainder, or an ex post facto law, and is therefore a violation of the supreme law of the land. By it the blessings of liberty are for ever withheld from women and their female posterity. To them this government has no just powers derived from the consent of the governed. To them this government is not a democracy. It is not a republic. It is an odious aristocracy; a hateful oligarchy of sex; the most hateful aristocracy ever established on the face of the globe; an oligarchy of wealth, where the right govern the poor. An oligarchy of learning, where the educated govern the ignorant, or even an oligarchy of race, where the Saxon rules the African, might be endured; but this oligarchy of sex, which makes father, brothers, husband, sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and daughters of every household–which ordains all men sovereigns, all women subjects, carries dissension, discord and rebellion into every home of the nation. Webster, Worcester and Bouvier all define a citizen to be a person in the United States, entitled to vote and hold office. The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not. Being persons, then, women are citizens; and no State has a right to make any law, or to enforce any old law, that shall abridge their privileges or immunities. Hence, every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several States is today null and void, precisely as in every one against Negroes.”

Susan B. Anthony was a pivotal leader in the women’s suffrage movement who helped to found the National Woman Suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and fight for the constitutional right for women to vote. She courageously and relentlessly advocated for women’s rights, giving speeches all over the USA to convince people of women’s human rights to choice and the ballot. She is most well known for her act of righteous rebellion in 1872 when she voted in the presidential election illegally, for which she was arrested and tried unsuccessfully. She refused to pay the $100 fine in a bid to reject the demands of the American system she denounced as a ‘hateful oligarchy of sex’, sparking change with her righteous oratory and inspiring many others in the women’s suffrage movement within and beyond America.

7. Vladimir Lenin’s Speech at an International Meeting in Berne, February 8, 1916

“It may sound incredible, especially to Swiss comrades, but it is nevertheless true that in Russia, also, not only bloody tsarism, not only the capitalists, but also a section of the so-called or ex-Socialists say that Russia is fighting a “war of defence,” that Russia is only fighting against German invasion. The whole world knows, however, that for decades tsarism has been oppressing more than a hundred million people belonging to other nationalities in Russia; that for decades Russia has been pursuing a predatory policy towards China, Persia, Armenia and Galicia. Neither Russia, nor Germany, nor any other Great Power has the right to claim that it is waging a “war of defence”; all the Great Powers are waging an imperialist, capitalist war, a predatory war, a war for the oppression of small and foreign nations, a war for the sake of the profits of the capitalists, who are coining golden profits amounting to billions out of the appalling sufferings of the masses, out of the blood of the proletariat. … This again shows you, comrades, that in all countries of the world real preparations are being made to rally the forces of the working class. The horrors of war and the sufferings of the people are incredible. But we must not, and we have no reason whatever, to view the future with despair. The millions of victims who will fall in the war, and as a consequence of the war, will not fall in vain. The millions who are starving, the millions who are sacrificing their lives in the trenches, are not only suffering, they are also gathering strength, are pondering over the real cause of the war, are becoming more determined and are acquiring a clearer revolutionary understanding. Rising discontent of the masses, growing ferment, strikes, demonstrations, protests against the war—all this is taking place in all countries of the world. And this is the guarantee that the European War will be followed by the proletarian revolution against capitalism”

Vladimir Lenin remains to this day one of the most lauded communist revolutionaries in the world who brought the dangers of imperialism and capitalism to light with his rousing speeches condemning capitalist structures of power which inevitably enslave people to lives of misery and class stratification. In his genuine passion for the rights of the working class, he urged fellow comrades to turn the “imperialist war” into a “civil” or class war of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. He encouraged the development of new revolutionary socialist organisations, solidarity across places in society so people could unite against their capitalist overlords, and criticised nationalism for its divisive effect on the socialist movement. In this speech especially, he lambasts “bloody Tsarism” for its oppression of millions of people of other nationalities in Russia, calling for the working class people to revolt against the Tsarist authority for the proletariat revolution to succeed and liberate them from class oppression.

8. I Have A Dream Speech by Mary Wollstonecraft

“If, I say, for I would not impress by declamation when Reason offers her sober light, if they be really capable of acting like rational creatures, let them not be treated like slaves; or, like the brutes who are dependent on the reason of man, when they associate with him; but cultivate their minds, give them the salutary, sublime curb of principle, and let them attain conscious dignity by feeling themselves only dependent on God. Teach them, in common with man, to submit to necessity, instead of giving, to render them more pleasing, a sex to morals. Further, should experience prove that they cannot attain the same degree of strength of mind, perseverance, and fortitude, let their virtues be the same in kind, though they may vainly struggle for the same degree; and the superiority of man will be equally clear, if not clearer; and truth, as it is a simple principle, which admits of no modification, would be common to both. Nay, the order of society as it is at present regulated would not be inverted, for woman would then only have the rank that reason assigned her, and arts could not be practised to bring the balance even, much less to turn it.”

In her vindication of the rights of women, Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the pioneers of the feminist movement back in 1792 who not only theorised and advocated revolutionarily, but gave speeches that voiced these challenges against a dominantly sexist society intent on classifying women as irrational less-than-human creatures to be enslaved as they were. In this landmark speech, she pronounces her ‘dream’ of a day when women would be treated as the rational, deserving humans they are, who are equal to man in strength and capability. With this speech setting an effective precedent for her call to equalize women before the law, she also went on to champion the provision of equal educational opportunities to women and girls, and persuasively argued against the patriarchal gender norms which prevented women from finding their own lot in life through their being locked into traditional institutions of marriage and motherhood against their will.

9. First Inaugural Speech by Franklin D Roosevelt

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. … More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment. Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. There are many ways in which it can be helped, but it can never be helped merely by talking about it. We must act and act quickly. … I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken Nation in the midst of a stricken world may require. These measures, or such other measures as the Congress may build out of its experience and wisdom, I shall seek, within my constitutional authority, to bring to speedy adoption. But in the event that the Congress shall fail to take one of these two courses, and in the event that the national emergency is still critical, I shall not evade the clear course of duty that will then confront me. I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis — broad Executive power to wage a war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe.”

Roosevelt’s famous inaugural speech was delivered in the midst of a period of immense tension and strain under the Great Depression, where he highlighted the need for ‘quick action’ by Congress to prepare for government expansion in his pursuit of reforms to lift the American people out of devastating poverty. In a landslide victory, he certainly consolidated the hopes and will of the American people through this compelling speech.

10. The Hypocrisy of American Slavery by Frederick Douglass

“What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mock; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy – a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour. Go search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.”

On 4 July 1852, Frederick Douglass gave this speech in Rochester, New York, highlighting the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while slavery continues. He exposed the ‘revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy’ of slavery which had gone unabolished amidst the comparatively obscene celebration of independence and liberty with his potent speech and passion for the anti-abolition cause. After escaping from slavery, he went on to become a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York with his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. To this day, his fierce activism and devotion to exposing virulent racism for what it was has left a lasting legacy upon pro-Black social movements and the overall sociopolitical landscape of America.

11. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries? Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.”

With her iconic poem Still I Rise , Maya Angelou is well-known for uplifting fellow African American women through her empowering novels and poetry and her work as a civil rights activist. Every bit as lyrical on the page, her recitation of Still I Rise continues to give poetry audiences shivers all over the world, inspiring women of colour everywhere to keep the good faith in striving for equality and peace, while radically believing in and empowering themselves to be agents of change. A dramatic reading of the poem will easily showcase the self-belief, strength and punch that it packs in the last stanza on the power of resisting marginalization.

12. Their Finest Hour by Winston Churchill

“What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour.””

In the darkest shadows cast by war, few leaders have been able to step up to the mantle and effectively unify millions of citizens for truly sacrificial causes. Winston Churchill was the extraordinary exception – lifting 1940 Britain out of the darkness with his hopeful, convicted rhetoric to galvanise the English amidst bleak, dreary days of war and loss. Through Britain’s standalone position in WWII against the Nazis, he left his legacy by unifying the nation under shared sacrifices of the army and commemorating their courage.

13. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

“Life for both sexes – and I looked at them (through a restaurant window while waiting for my lunch to be served), shouldering their way along the pavement – is arduous, difficult, a perpetual struggle. It calls for gigantic courage and strength. More than anything, perhaps, creatures of illusion as we are, it calls for confidence in oneself. Without self-confidence we are babes in the cradle. And how can we generate this imponderable quality, which is yet so invaluable, most quickly? By thinking that other people are inferior to oneself. By feeling that one has some innate superiority – it may be wealth, or rank, a straight nose, or the portrait of a grandfather by Romney – for there is no end to the pathetic devices of the human imagination – over other people. Hence the enormous importance to a patriarch who has to conquer, who has to rule, of feeling that great numbers of people, half the human race indeed, are by nature inferior to himself. It must indeed be one of the great sources of his power….Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size. Without that power probably the earth would still be swamp and jungle. The glories of all our wars would be on the remains of mutton bones and bartering flints for sheepskins or whatever simple ornament took our unsophisticated taste. Supermen and Fingers of Destiny would never have existed. The Czar and the Kaiser would never have worn their crowns or lost them. Whatever may be their use in civilised societies, mirrors are essential to all violent and heroic action. That is why Napoleon and Mussolini both insist so emphatically upon the inferiority of women, for if they were not inferior, they would cease to enlarge. That serves to explain in part the necessity that women so often are to men. And it serves to explain how restless they are under her criticism; how impossible it is for her to say to them this book is bad, this picture is feeble, or whatever it may be, without giving far more pain and rousing far more anger than a man would do who gave the same criticism. For if she begins to tell the truth, the figure in the looking-glass shrinks; his fitness in life is diminished. How is he to go on giving judgment, civilising natives, making laws, writing books, dressing up and speechifying at banquets, unless he can see himself at breakfast and at dinner at least twice the size he really is?”

In this transformational speech , Virginia Woolf pronounces her vision that ‘a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction’. She calls out the years in which women have been deprived of their own space for individual development through being chained to traditional arrangements or men’s prescriptions – demanding ‘gigantic courage’ and ‘confidence in oneself’ to brave through the onerous struggle of creating change for women’s rights. With her steadfast, stolid rhetoric and radical theorization, she paved the way for many women’s rights activists and writers to forge their own paths against patriarchal authority.

14. Inaugural Address by John F Kennedy

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility–I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it–and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

For what is probably the most historically groundbreaking use of parallelism in speech across American history, President JFK placed the weighty task of ‘asking what one can do for their country’ onto the shoulders of each American citizen. Using an air of firmness in his rhetoric by declaring his commitment to his countrymen, he urges each American to do the same for the broader, noble ideal of freedom for all. With his crucial interrogation of a citizen’s moral duty to his nation, President JFK truly made history.

15. Atoms for Peace Speech by Dwight Eisenhower

“To pause there would be to confirm the hopeless finality of a belief that two atomic colossi are doomed malevolently to eye each other indefinitely across a trembling world. To stop there would be to accept helplessly the probability of civilization destroyed, the annihilation of the irreplaceable heritage of mankind handed down to us from generation to generation, and the condemnation of mankind to begin all over again the age-old struggle upward from savagery towards decency, and right, and justice. Surely no sane member of the human race could discover victory in such desolation. Could anyone wish his name to be coupled by history with such human degradation and destruction?Occasional pages of history do record the faces of the “great destroyers”, but the whole book of history reveals mankind’s never-ending quest for peace and mankind’s God-given capacity to build. It is with the book of history, and not with isolated pages, that the United States will ever wish to be identified. My country wants to be constructive,not destructive. It wants agreements, not wars, among nations. It wants itself to live in freedom and in the confidence that the peoples of every other nation enjoy equally the right of choosing their own way of life. So my country’s purpose is to help us to move out of the dark chamber of horrors into the light, to find a way by which the minds of men, the hopes of men, the souls of men everywhere, can move forward towards peace and happiness and well-being.”

On a possibility as frightful and tense as nuclear war, President Eisenhower managed to convey the gravity of the world’s plight in his measured and persuasive speech centred on the greater good of mankind. Using rhetorical devices such as the three-part paratactical syntax which most world leaders are fond of for ingraining their words in the minds of their audience, he centers the discourse of the atomic bomb on those affected by such a world-changing decision in ‘the minds, hopes and souls of men everywhere’ – effectively putting the vivid image of millions of people’s fates at stake in the minds of his audience. Being able to make a topic as heavy and fraught with moral conflict as this as eloquent as he did, Eisenhower definitely ranks among some of the most skilled orators to date.

16. The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action by Audre Lorde

“I was going to die, if not sooner then later, whether or not I had ever spoken myself. My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you. But for every real word spoken, for every attempt I had ever made to speak those truths for which I am still seeking, I had made contact with other women while we examined the words to fit a world in which we all believed, bridging our differences. What are the words you do not have yet? What do you need to say? What are the tyrannies you swallow day by day and attempt to make your own, until you will sicken and die of them, still in silence? Perhaps for some of you here today, I am the face of one of your fears. Because I am a woman, because I am black, because I am myself, a black woman warrior poet doing my work, come to ask you, are you doing yours?”

Revolutionary writer, feminist and civil rights activist Audre Lorde first delivered this phenomenal speech at Lesbian and Literature panel of the Modern Language Association’s December 28, 1977 meeting, which went on to feature permanently in her writings for its sheer wisdom and truth. Her powerful writing and speech about living on the margins of society has enlightened millions of people discriminated across various intersections, confronting them with the reality that they must speak – since their ‘silence will not protect’ them from further marginalization. Through her illuminating words and oratory, she has reminded marginalized persons of the importance of their selfhood and the radical capacity for change they have in a world blighted by prejudice and division.

17. 1965 Cambridge Union Hall Speech by James Baldwin

“What is dangerous here is the turning away from – the turning away from – anything any white American says. The reason for the political hesitation, in spite of the Johnson landslide is that one has been betrayed by American politicians for so long. And I am a grown man and perhaps I can be reasoned with. I certainly hope I can be. But I don’t know, and neither does Martin Luther King, none of us know how to deal with those other people whom the white world has so long ignored, who don’t believe anything the white world says and don’t entirely believe anything I or Martin is saying. And one can’t blame them. You watch what has happened to them in less than twenty years.”

Baldwin’s invitation to the Cambridge Union Hall is best remembered for foregrounding the unflinching differences in white and African Americans’ ‘system of reality’ in everyday life. Raising uncomfortable truths about the insidious nature of racism post-civil war, he provides several nuggets of thought-provoking wisdom on the state of relations between the oppressed and their oppressors, and what is necessary to mediate such relations and destroy the exploitative thread of racist hatred. With great frankness, he admits to not having all the answers but provides hard-hitting wisdom on engagement to guide activists through confounding times nonetheless.

18. I Am Prepared to Die by Nelson Mandela

“Above all, My Lord, we want equal political rights, because without them our disabilities will be permanent. I know this sounds revolutionary to the whites in this country, because the majority of voters will be Africans. This makes the white man fear democracy. But this fear cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the only solution which will guarantee racial harmony and freedom for all. It is not true that the enfranchisement of all will result in racial domination. Political division, based on colour, is entirely artificial and, when it disappears, so will the domination of one colour group by another. The ANC has spent half a century fighting against racialism. When it triumphs as it certainly must, it will not change that policy. This then is what the ANC is fighting. Our struggle is a truly national one. It is a struggle of the African people, inspired by our own suffering and our own experience. It is a struggle for the right to live. During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Apartheid is still considered one of these most devastating events of world history, and it would not have ended without the crucial effort and words of Nelson Mandela during his courageous political leadership. In this heartbreaking speech , he voices his utter devotion to the fight against institutionalised racism in African society – an ideal for which he was ‘prepared to die for’. Mandela continues to remind us today of his moral conviction in leading, wherein the world would likely to be a better place if all politicians had the same resolve and genuine commitment to human rights and the abolition of oppression as he did.

19. Critique on British Imperialism by General Aung San

“Do they form their observations by seeing the attendances at not very many cinemas and theatres of Rangoon? Do they judge this question of money circulation by paying a stray visit to a local bazaar? Do they know that cinemas and theatres are not true indicators, at least in Burma, of the people’s conditions? Do they know that there are many in this country who cannot think of going to these places by having to struggle for their bare existence from day to day? Do they know that those who nowadays patronise or frequent cinemas and theatres which exist only in Rangoon and a few big towns, belong generally to middle and upper classes and the very few of the many poor who can attend at all are doing so as a desperate form of relaxation just to make them forget their unsupportable existences for the while whatever may be the tomorrow that awaits them?”

Under British colonial rule, one of the most legendary nationalist leaders emerged from the ranks of the thousands of Burmese to boldly lead them towards independence, out of the exploitation and control under the British. General Aung San’s speech criticising British social, political and economic control of Burma continues to be scathing, articulate, and relevant – especially given his necessary goal of uniting the Burmese natives against their common oppressor. He successfully galvanised his people against the British, taking endless risks through nationalist speeches and demonstrations which gradually bore fruit in Burma’s independence.

20. Nobel Lecture by Mother Teresa

“I believe that we are not real social workers. We may be doing social work in the eyes of the people, but we are really contemplatives in the heart of the world. For we are touching the Body Of Christ 24 hours. We have 24 hours in this presence, and so you and I. You too try to bring that presence of God in your family, for the family that prays together stays together. And I think that we in our family don’t need bombs and guns, to destroy to bring peace–just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home. And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world. There is so much suffering, so much hatred, so much misery, and we with our prayer, with our sacrifice are beginning at home. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. It is to God Almighty–how much we do it does not matter, because He is infinite, but how much love we put in that action. How much we do to Him in the person that we are serving.”

In contemporary culture, most people understand Mother Teresa to be the epitome of compassion and kindness. However, if one were to look closer at her speeches from the past, one would discover not merely her altruistic contributions, but her keen heart for social justice and the downtrodden. She wisely and gracefully remarks that ‘love begins at home’ from the individual actions of each person within their private lives, which accumulate into a life of goodness and charity. For this, her speeches served not just consolatory value or momentary relevance, as they still inform the present on how we can live lives worth living.

21. June 9 Speech to Martial Law Units by Deng Xiaoping

“This army still maintains the traditions of our old Red Army. What they crossed this time was in the true sense of the expression a political barrier, a threshold of life and death. This was not easy. This shows that the People’s Army is truly a great wall of iron and steel of the party and state. This shows that no matter how heavy our losses, the army, under the leadership of the party, will always remain the defender of the country, the defender of socialism, and the defender of the public interest. They are a most lovable people. At the same time, we should never forget how cruel our enemies are. We should have not one bit of forgiveness for them. The fact that this incident broke out as it did is very worthy of our pondering. It prompts us cool-headedly to consider the past and the future. Perhaps this bad thing will enable us to go ahead with reform and the open policy at a steadier and better — even a faster — pace, more speedily correct our mistakes, and better develop our strong points.”

Mere days before the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising, Chinese Communist Party leader Deng Xiaoping sat with six party elders (senior officials) and the three remaining members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the paramount decision-making body in China’s government. The meeting was organised to discuss the best course of action for restoring social and political order to China, given the sweeping economic reforms that had taken place in the past decade that inevitably resulted in some social resistance from the populace. Deng then gave this astute and well-regarded speech, outlining the political complexities in shutting down student protests given the context of reforms encouraging economic liberalization already taking place, as aligned with the students’ desires. It may not be the most rousing or inflammatory of speeches, but it was certainly persuasive in voicing the importance of taking a strong stand for the economic reforms Deng was implementing to benefit Chinese citizens in the long run. Today, China is an economic superpower, far from its war-torn developing country status before Deng’s leadership – thanks to his foresight in ensuring political stability would allow China to enjoy the fruits of the massive changes they adapted to.

22. Freedom or Death by Emmeline Pankhurst

“You won your freedom in America when you had the revolution, by bloodshed, by sacrificing human life. You won the civil war by the sacrifice of human life when you decided to emancipate the negro. You have left it to women in your land, the men of all civilised countries have left it to women, to work out their own salvation. That is the way in which we women of England are doing. Human life for us is sacred, but we say if any life is to be sacrificed it shall be ours; we won’t do it ourselves, but we will put the enemy in the position where they will have to choose between giving us freedom or giving us death. Now whether you approve of us or whether you do not, you must see that we have brought the question of women’s suffrage into a position where it is of first rate importance, where it can be ignored no longer. Even the most hardened politician will hesitate to take upon himself directly the responsibility of sacrificing the lives of women of undoubted honour, of undoubted earnestness of purpose. That is the political situation as I lay it before you today.”

In 1913 after Suffragette Emily Davison stepped in front of King George V’s horse at the Epsom Derby and suffered fatal injuries, Emmeline Pankhurst delivered her speech to Connecticut as a call to action for people to support the suffragette movement. Her fortitude in delivering such a sobering speech on the state of women’s rights is worth remembering for its invaluable impact and contributions to the rights we enjoy in today’s world.

23. Quit India by Mahatma Gandhi

“We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery. Every true Congressman or woman will join the struggle with an inflexible determination not to remain alive to see the country in bondage and slavery. Let that be your pledge. Keep jails out of your consideration. If the Government keep me free, I will not put on the Government the strain of maintaining a large number of prisoners at a time, when it is in trouble. Let every man and woman live every moment of his or her life hereafter in the consciousness that he or she eats or lives for achieving freedom and will die, if need be, to attain that goal. Take a pledge, with God and your own conscience as witness, that you will no longer rest till freedom is achieved and will be prepared to lay down your lives in the attempt to achieve it. He who loses his life will gain it; he who will seek to save it shall lose it. Freedom is not for the coward or the faint-hearted.”

Naturally, the revolutionary activist Gandhi had to appear in this list for his impassioned anti-colonial speeches which rallied Indians towards independence. Famous for leading non-violent demonstrations, his speeches were a key element in gathering Indians of all backgrounds together for the common cause of eliminating their colonial masters. His speeches were resolute, eloquent, and courageous, inspiring the hope and admiration of many not just within India, but around the world.

24. 1974 National Book Award Speech by Adrienne Rich, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde

“The statement I am going to read was prepared by three of the women nominated for the National Book Award for poetry, with the agreement that it would be read by whichever of us, if any, was chosen.We, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Alice Walker, together accept this award in the name of all the women whose voices have gone and still go unheard in a patriarchal world, and in the name of those who, like us, have been tolerated as token women in this culture, often at great cost and in great pain. We believe that we can enrich ourselves more in supporting and giving to each other than by competing against each other; and that poetry—if it is poetry—exists in a realm beyond ranking and comparison. We symbolically join together here in refusing the terms of patriarchal competition and declaring that we will share this prize among us, to be used as best we can for women. We appreciate the good faith of the judges for this award, but none of us could accept this money for herself, nor could she let go unquestioned the terms on which poets are given or denied honor and livelihood in this world, especially when they are women. We dedicate this occasion to the struggle for self-determination of all women, of every color, identification, or derived class: the poet, the housewife, the lesbian, the mathematician, the mother, the dishwasher, the pregnant teen-ager, the teacher, the grandmother, the prostitute, the philosopher, the waitress, the women who will understand what we are doing here and those who will not understand yet; the silent women whose voices have been denied us, the articulate women who have given us strength to do our work.”

Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, and Alice Walker wrote this joint speech to be delivered by Adrienne Rich at the 1974 National Book Awards, based on their suspicions that the first few African American lesbian women to be nominated for the awards would be snubbed in favour of a white woman nominee. Their suspicions were confirmed, and Adrienne Rich delivered this socially significant speech in solidarity with her fellow nominees, upholding the voices of the ‘silent women whose voices have been denied’.

25. Speech to 20th Congress of the CPSU by Nikita Khruschev

“Considering the question of the cult of an individual, we must first of all show everyone what harm this caused to the interests of our Party. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin had always stressed the Party’s role and significance in the direction of the socialist government of workers and peasants; he saw in this the chief precondition for a successful building of socialism in our country. Pointing to the great responsibility of the Bolshevik Party, as ruling Party of the Soviet state, Lenin called for the most meticulous observance of all norms of Party life; he called for the realization of the principles of collegiality in the direction of the Party and the state. Collegiality of leadership flows from the very nature of our Party, a Party built on the principles of democratic centralism. “This means,” said Lenin, “that all Party matters are accomplished by all Party members – directly or through representatives – who, without any exceptions, are subject to the same rules; in addition, all administrative members, all directing collegia, all holders of Party positions are elective, they must account for their activities and are recallable.””

This speech is possibly the most famed Russian speech for its status as a ‘secret’ speech delivered only to the CPSU at the time, which was eventually revealed to the public. Given the unchallenged political legacy and cult of personality which Stalin left in the Soviet Union, Nikita Khruschev’s speech condemning the authoritarian means Stalin had resorted to to consolidate power as un-socialist was an important mark in Russian history.

26. The Struggle for Human Rights by Eleanor Roosevelt

“It is my belief, and I am sure it is also yours, that the struggle for democracy and freedom is a critical struggle, for their preservation is essential to the great objective of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security. Among free men the end cannot justify the means. We know the patterns of totalitarianism — the single political party, the control of schools, press, radio, the arts, the sciences, and the church to support autocratic authority; these are the age-old patterns against which men have struggled for three thousand years. These are the signs of reaction, retreat, and retrogression. The United Nations must hold fast to the heritage of freedom won by the struggle of its people; it must help us to pass it on to generations to come. The development of the ideal of freedom and its translation into the everyday life of the people in great areas of the earth is the product of the efforts of many peoples. It is the fruit of a long tradition of vigorous thinking and courageous action. No one race and on one people can claim to have done all the work to achieve greater dignity for human beings and great freedom to develop human personality. In each generation and in each country there must be a continuation of the struggle and new steps forward must be taken since this is preeminently a field in which to stand still is to retreat.”

Eleanor Roosevelt has been among the most well-loved First Ladies for good reason – her eloquence and gravitas in delivering every speech convinced everyone of her suitability for the oval office. In this determined and articulate speech , she outlines the fundamental values that form the bedrock of democracy, urging the rest of the world to uphold human rights regardless of national ideology and interests.

27. The Ballot or The Bullet by Malcolm X

“And in this manner, the organizations will increase in number and in quantity and in quality, and by August, it is then our intention to have a black nationalist convention which will consist of delegates from all over the country who are interested in the political, economic and social philosophy of black nationalism. After these delegates convene, we will hold a seminar; we will hold discussions; we will listen to everyone. We want to hear new ideas and new solutions and new answers. And at that time, if we see fit then to form a black nationalist party, we’ll form a black nationalist party. If it’s necessary to form a black nationalist army, we’ll form a black nationalist army. It’ll be the ballot or the bullet. It’ll be liberty or it’ll be death.”

Inarguably, the revolutionary impact Malcolm X’s fearless oratory had was substantial in his time as a radical anti-racist civil rights activist. His speeches’ emancipatory potential put forth his ‘theory of rhetorical action’ where he urges Black Americans to employ both the ballot and the bullet, strategically without being dependent on the other should the conditions of oppression change. A crucial leader in the fight for civil rights, he opened the eyes of thousands of Black Americans, politicising and convincing them of the necessity of fighting for their democratic rights against white supremacists.

28. Living the Revolution by Gloria Steinem

“The challenge to all of us, and to you men and women who are graduating today, is to live a revolution, not to die for one. There has been too much killing, and the weapons are now far too terrible. This revolution has to change consciousness, to upset the injustice of our current hierarchy by refusing to honor it, and to live a life that enforces a new social justice. Because the truth is none of us can be liberated if other groups are not.”

In an unexpected commencement speech delivered at Vassar College in 1970, Gloria Steinem boldly makes a call to action on behalf of marginalized groups in need of liberation to newly graduated students. She proclaimed it the year of Women’s Liberation and forcefully highlighted the need for a social revolution to ‘upset the injustice of the current hierarchy’ in favour of human rights – echoing the hard-hitting motto on social justice, ‘until all of us are free, none of us are free’.

29. The Last Words of Harvey Milk by Harvey Milk

“I cannot prevent some people from feeling angry and frustrated and mad in response to my death, but I hope they will take the frustration and madness and instead of demonstrating or anything of that type, I would hope that they would take the power and I would hope that five, ten, one hundred, a thousand would rise. I would like to see every gay lawyer, every gay architect come out, stand up and let the world know. That would do more to end prejudice overnight than anybody could imagine. I urge them to do that, urge them to come out. Only that way will we start to achieve our rights. … All I ask is for the movement to continue, and if a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door…”

As the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, Harvey Milk’s entire political candidature was in itself a radical statement against the homophobic status quo at the time. Given the dangerous times he was in as an openly gay man, he anticipated that he would be assassinated eventually in his political career. As such, these are some of his last words which show the utter devotion he had to campaigning against homophobia while representing the American people, voicing his heartbreaking wish for the bullet that would eventually kill him to ‘destroy every closet door’.

30. Black Power Address at UC Berkeley by Stokely Carmichael

“Now we are now engaged in a psychological struggle in this country, and that is whether or not black people will have the right to use the words they want to use without white people giving their sanction to it; and that we maintain, whether they like it or not, we gonna use the word “Black Power” — and let them address themselves to that; but that we are not going to wait for white people to sanction Black Power. We’re tired waiting; every time black people move in this country, they’re forced to defend their position before they move. It’s time that the people who are supposed to be defending their position do that. That’s white people. They ought to start defending themselves as to why they have oppressed and exploited us.”

A forceful and impressive orator, Stokely Carmichael was among those at the forefront of the civil rights movement, who was a vigorous socialist organizer as well. He led the Black Power movement wherein he gave this urgent, influential speech that propelled Black Americans forward in their fight for constitutional rights in the 1960s.

31. Speech on Vietnam by Lyndon Johnson

“The true peace-keepers are those men who stand out there on the DMZ at this very hour, taking the worst that the enemy can give. The true peace-keepers are the soldiers who are breaking the terrorist’s grip around the villages of Vietnam—the civilians who are bringing medical care and food and education to people who have already suffered a generation of war. And so I report to you that we are going to continue to press forward. Two things we must do. Two things we shall do. First, we must not mislead the enemy. Let him not think that debate and dissent will produce wavering and withdrawal. For I can assure you they won’t. Let him not think that protests will produce surrender. Because they won’t. Let him not think that he will wait us out. For he won’t. Second, we will provide all that our brave men require to do the job that must be done. And that job is going to be done. These gallant men have our prayers-have our thanks—have our heart-felt praise—and our deepest gratitude. Let the world know that the keepers of peace will endure through every trial—and that with the full backing of their countrymen, they are going to prevail.”

During some of the most harrowing periods of human history, the Vietnam War, American soldiers were getting soundly defeated by the Vietnamese in guerrilla warfare. President Lyndon Johnson then issued this dignified, consolatory speech to encourage patriotism and support for the soldiers putting their lives on the line for the nation.

32. A Whisper of AIDS by Mary Fisher

“We may take refuge in our stereotypes, but we cannot hide there long, because HIV asks only one thing of those it attacks. Are you human? And this is the right question. Are you human? Because people with HIV have not entered some alien state of being. They are human. They have not earned cruelty, and they do not deserve meanness. They don’t benefit from being isolated or treated as outcasts. Each of them is exactly what God made: a person; not evil, deserving of our judgment; not victims, longing for our pity ­­ people, ready for  support and worthy of compassion. We must be consistent if we are to be believed. We cannot love justice and ignore prejudice, love our children and fear to teach them. Whatever our role as parent or policymaker, we must act as eloquently as we speak ­­ else we have no integrity. My call to the nation is a plea for awareness. If you believe you are safe, you are in danger. Because I was not hemophiliac, I was not at risk. Because I was not gay, I was not at risk. Because I did not inject drugs, I was not at risk. The lesson history teaches is this: If you believe you are safe, you are at risk. If you do not see this killer stalking your children, look again. There is no family or community, no race or religion, no place left in America that is safe. Until we genuinely embrace this message, we are a nation at risk.”

Back when AIDS research was still undeveloped, the stigma of contracting HIV was even more immense than it is today. A celebrated artist, author and speaker, Mary Fisher became an outspoken activist for those with HIV/AIDS, persuading people to extend compassion to the population with HIV instead of stigmatizing them – as injustice has a way of coming around to people eventually. Her bold act of speaking out for the community regardless of the way they contracted the disease, their sexual orientation or social group, was an influential move in advancing the human rights of those with HIV and spreading awareness on the discrimination they face.

33. Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

“The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit, born of an intellectual conviction of the need for change in those mental attitudes and values which shape the course of a nation’s development. A revolution which aims merely at changing official policies and institutions with a view to an improvement in material conditions has little chance of genuine success. Without a revolution of the spirit, the forces which produced the iniquities of the old order would continue to be operative, posing a constant threat to the process of reform and regeneration. It is not enough merely to call for freedom, democracy and human rights. There has to be a united determination to persevere in the struggle, to make sacrifices in the name of enduring truths, to resist the corrupting influences of desire, ill will, ignorance and fear. Saints, it has been said, are the sinners who go on trying. So free men are the oppressed who go on trying and who in the process make themselves fit to bear the responsibilities and to uphold the disciplines which will maintain a free society. Among the basic freedoms to which men aspire that their lives might be full and uncramped, freedom from fear stands out as both a means and an end. A people who would build a nation in which strong, democratic institutions are firmly established as a guarantee against state-induced power must first learn to liberate their own minds from apathy and fear.”

Famous for her resoluteness and fortitude in campaigning for democracy in Burma despite being put under house arrest by the military government, Aung San Suu Kyi’s speeches have been widely touted as inspirational. In this renowned speech of hers, she delivers a potent message to Burmese to ‘liberate their minds from apathy and fear’ in the struggle for freedom and human rights in the country. To this day, she continues to tirelessly champion the welfare and freedom of Burmese in a state still overcome by vestiges of authoritarian rule.

34. This Is Water by David Foster Wallace

“Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom all to be lords of our tiny skull-sized kingdoms, alone at the centre of all creation. This kind of freedom has much to recommend it. But of course there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about much in the great outside world of wanting and achieving…. The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day. That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing.”

Esteemed writer David Foster Wallace gave a remarkably casual yet wise commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005 on the importance of learning to think beyond attaining a formal education. He encouraged hundreds of students to develop freedom of thought, a heart of sacrificial care for those in need of justice, and a consciousness that would serve them in discerning the right choices to make within a status quo that is easy to fall in line with. His captivating speech on what it meant to truly be ‘educated’ tugged at the hearts of many young and critical minds striving to achieve their dreams and change the world.

35. Questioning the Universe by Stephen Hawking

“This brings me to the last of the big questions: the future of the human race. If we are the only intelligent beings in the galaxy, we should make sure we survive and continue. But we are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill. But our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instincts that were of survival advantage in the past. It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand or million. Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain inward-looking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space. The answers to these big questions show that we have made remarkable progress in the last hundred years. But if we want to continue beyond the next hundred years, our future is in space. That is why I am in favor of manned — or should I say, personned — space flight.”

Extraordinary theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking was a considerable influence upon modern physics and scientific research at large, inspiring people regardless of physical ability to aspire towards expanding knowledge in the world. In his speech on Questioning the Universe, he speaks of the emerging currents and issues in the scientific world like that of outer space, raising and answering big questions that have stumped great thinkers for years.

36. 2008 Democratic National Convention Speech by Michelle Obama

“I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history — knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. All of them driven by the same conviction that drove my dad to get up an hour early each day to painstakingly dress himself for work. The same conviction that drives the men and women I’ve met all across this country: People who work the day shift, kiss their kids goodnight, and head out for the night shift — without disappointment, without regret — that goodnight kiss a reminder of everything they’re working for. The military families who say grace each night with an empty seat at the table. The servicemen and women who love this country so much, they leave those they love most to defend it. The young people across America serving our communities — teaching children, cleaning up neighborhoods, caring for the least among us each and every day. People like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters — and sons — can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher. People like Joe Biden, who’s never forgotten where he came from and never stopped fighting for folks who work long hours and face long odds and need someone on their side again. All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do — that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be. That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack’s journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope. That is why I love this country.”

Ever the favourite modern First Lady of America, Michelle Obama has delivered an abundance of iconic speeches in her political capacity, never forgetting to foreground the indomitable human spirit embodied in American citizens’ everyday lives and efforts towards a better world. The Obamas might just have been the most articulate couple of rhetoricians of their time, making waves as the first African American president and First Lady while introducing important policies in their period of governance.

37. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

“I’m not talking about blind optimism here — the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don’t think about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about something more substantial. It’s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker’s son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. Hope — Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.”

Now published into a book, Barack Obama’s heart-capturing personal story of transformational hope was first delivered as a speech on the merits of patriotic optimism and determination put to the mission of concrete change. He has come to be known as one of the most favoured and inspiring presidents in American history, and arguably the most skilled orators ever.

38. “Be Your Own Story” by Toni Morrison

“But I’m not going to talk anymore about the future because I’m hesitant to describe or predict because I’m not even certain that it exists. That is to say, I’m not certain that somehow, perhaps, a burgeoning ménage a trois of political interests, corporate interests and military interests will not prevail and literally annihilate an inhabitable, humane future. Because I don’t think we can any longer rely on separation of powers, free speech, religious tolerance or unchallengeable civil liberties as a matter of course. That is, not while finite humans in the flux of time make decisions of infinite damage. Not while finite humans make infinite claims of virtue and unassailable power that are beyond their competence, if not their reach. So, no happy talk about the future. … Because the past is already in debt to the mismanaged present. And besides, contrary to what you may have heard or learned, the past is not done and it is not over, it’s still in process, which is another way of saying that when it’s critiqued, analyzed, it yields new information about itself. The past is already changing as it is being reexamined, as it is being listened to for deeper resonances. Actually it can be more liberating than any imagined future if you are willing to identify its evasions, its distortions, its lies, and are willing to unleash its secrets.”

Venerated author and professor Toni Morrison delivered an impressively articulate speech at Wellesley College in 2004 to new graduates, bucking the trend by discussing the importance of the past in informing current and future ways of living. With her brilliance and eloquence, she blew the crowd away and renewed in them the capacity for reflection upon using the past as a talisman to guide oneself along the journey of life.

39. Nobel Speech by Malala Yousafzai

“Dear brothers and sisters, the so-called world of adults may understand it, but we children don’t. Why is it that countries which we call “strong” are so powerful in creating wars but so weak in bringing peace? Why is it that giving guns is so easy but giving books is so hard? Why is it that making tanks is so easy, but building schools is so difficult? As we are living in the modern age, the 21st century and we all believe that nothing is impossible. We can reach the moon and maybe soon will land on Mars. Then, in this, the 21st century, we must be determined that our dream of quality education for all will also come true. So let us bring equality, justice and peace for all. Not just the politicians and the world leaders, we all need to contribute. Me. You. It is our duty. So we must work … and not wait. I call upon my fellow children to stand up around the world. Dear sisters and brothers, let us become the first generation to decide to be the last. The empty classrooms, the lost childhoods, wasted potential-let these things end with us.”

At a mere 16 years of age, Malala Yousafzai gave a speech on the severity of the state of human rights across the world, and wowed the world with her passion for justice at her tender age. She displayed tenacity and fearlessness speaking about her survival of an assassination attempt for her activism for gender equality in the field of education. A model of courage to us all, her speech remains an essential one in the fight for human rights in the 21st century.

40. Final Commencement Speech by Michelle Obama

“If you are a person of faith, know that religious diversity is a great American tradition, too. In fact, that’s why people first came to this country — to worship freely. And whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh — these religions are teaching our young people about justice, and compassion, and honesty. So I want our young people to continue to learn and practice those values with pride. You see, our glorious diversity — our diversities of faiths and colors and creeds — that is not a threat to who we are, it makes us who we are. So the young people here and the young people out there: Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter, or like you don’t have a place in our American story — because you do. And you have a right to be exactly who you are. But I also want to be very clear: This right isn’t just handed to you. No, this right has to be earned every single day. You cannot take your freedoms for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms. … It is our fundamental belief in the power of hope that has allowed us to rise above the voices of doubt and division, of anger and fear that we have faced in our own lives and in the life of this country. Our hope that if we work hard enough and believe in ourselves, then we can be whatever we dream, regardless of the limitations that others may place on us. The hope that when people see us for who we truly are, maybe, just maybe they, too, will be inspired to rise to their best possible selves.”

Finally, we have yet another speech by Michelle Obama given in her final remarks as First Lady – a tear-inducing event for many Americans and even people around the world. In this emotional end to her political tenure, she gives an empowering, hopeful, expressive speech to young Americans, exhorting them to take hold of its future in all their diversity and work hard at being their best possible selves.

Amidst the bleak era of our current time with Trump as president of the USA, not only Michelle Obama, but all 40 of these amazing speeches can serve as sources of inspiration and hope to everyone – regardless of their identity or ambitions. After hearing these speeches, which one’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Article Written By: Kai Xin Koh

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Gender equality and women's empowerment central to sustainable development -- Lakshmi Puri Remarks by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri during a Panel Discussion organized by ActionAid on "The future she wants? Equity, economic policies and moving beyond 'a dollar a day'" in New York on 24 September, 2013.

"Education is one of the greatest game-changers for women and girls"- Lakshmi Puri  Remarks by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at the Open Society Foundation on the "Right to education in the post-2015 development agenda" in New York on 24 September, 2013.

UN Women Executive Director shares vision for women empowerment, gender equality at Clinton Global Initiative Remarks by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the Clinton Global Initiative Girls and Women Track Strategy Session, New York, 23 September, 2013.

UN Women Executive Director stresses solidarity, pledges support to Equal Futures Partnership Remarks by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, at Equal Futures Partnership event in New York on 23 September, 2013.

The Knowledge Gateway: "A one-stop digital service platform and a global community for women to become economic citizens" Remarks by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the Launch of the Knowledge Gateway for women's economic empowerment, New York, 23 September 2013. [ en français ]

UN Women Deputy Executive Director highlights need to mainstream gender in the disability agenda UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri statement for roundtable on “International and regional cooperation and partnerships for disability inclusive development” at the High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development, New York, 23 September.

“I add my lantern to the millions of lights for peace lit in the hearts and minds of women everywhere” – Lakshmi Puri Remarks by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at the “First Shinnyo lantern floating for peace” event, New York, 22 September 2013.

ICT as a powerful means to advance women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality Remarks of Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director, at the UN Broadband Commission Working Group on Gender, New York, 20 September 2013.

Women’s empowerment and the post-2015 development agenda: Achieving equality in the workplace, marketplace and community Opening Remarks by John Hendra, Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme, UN Women, at UN Global Compact event, New York, 19 September 2013.

Empowering Women to Lead the Way to a Low-Emission and High-Resilient Future Remarks by Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, at a side event organized by the UNFCCC, UN Global Compact and Rockefeller Foundation, New York, 19 September 2013.

Related speeches and statements:

ECOSOC Substantive Session 2013: Mainstreaming a gender perspective into the UN system Speech by Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women and Assistant Secretary-General, at the ECOSOC Substantive Session of 2013, 24 July 2013, Geneva

Findings of the Global Thematic Consultation on "Addressing Inequalities" Remarks by Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women and Assistant Secretary-General, speaking at a side-event organized by the Government of Denmark to present key findings from the Global Thematic Consultation on “Addressing Inequalities,” 8 July 2013, New York.

UN General Assembly Thematic Debate on Inequality Speech by Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women, at the UN General Assembly Thematic Debate on Inequality, 8 July 2013, New York

“The Right to Equality in Post-2015” Speech by John Hendra, Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme, UN Women at FOKUS and United Nations Association of Norway (UNA), Oslo, 13 June 2013.

“Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want – How a Post-2015 agenda can address the human rights challenges of the 21st century” Remarks during the panel discussion: “Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want – How a Post-2015 agenda can address the human rights challenges of the 21st century – Recommendations emerging from a Global Conversation,” delivered by Dan Seymour, Deputy Director, Programme Division, on behalf of Deputy Executive Director John Hendra, on 21 May 2013.

Statement at the first session of the meeting of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals Statement by Ms. Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, at the first session of the meeting of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals. New York, 15 March 2013.

“Putting gender equality at the center of the post-2015 development agenda”: speech by John Hendra at the emerging issue panel “Putting gender equality at the center of the post-2015 development agenda”, Speech by John Hendra, Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme, UN Women, at the panel on an emerging issue: Key gender equality issues to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework, 7 March 2013  Towards an inclusive and gendered post-2015 agenda UN Women Deputy Executive Director John Hendra participated in a panel on the “Key gender equality issues to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework” on 7 March during the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57). The objective of the panel was to solicit the views of CSW Member States and civil society on key issues in the post-2015 agenda.

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25 iconic speeches you'll want to watch on repeat

We've compiled a list of the most moving, inspirational and unforgettable public addresses. Be prepared to laugh, cry and gasp. Here are the most iconic speeches of all time.

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From Martin Luther King to Margaret Thatcher, prepare to be moved by the most iconic speeches of all time...

1. Martin Luther King, I Have A Dream , 1963

2. Margaret Thatcher, The Lady's Not For Turning, 1980

3. Angelina Jolie , World Refugee Day, 2009

4. Winston Churchill, We Shall Fight On The Beaches, 1940

5. Barack Obama, The Audacity Of Hope, 2004

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6. President Kennedy's Inaugural Address, 1961

7. Cuba Gooding Jr, Oscars Acceptance, 1997

8. Ronald Reagan, Brandenburg Gate, 1987

9. Elizabeth Gilbert, Your Creative Genius, 2009

10. Michelle Obama at Oxford University, 2011

The First Lady gave an inspirational speech telling a group of London schoolgirls they can achieve anything and when they do, to use that power to help others. *Melts*

11. Earl Spencer, Princess Diana 's Funeral, 1997

12. Nelson Mandela, Release From Prison, 1990

13. Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, 2005

14. J. K. Rowling , Harvard Commencement Address, 2011

J. K. Rowling gave a speech entitled The Fringe Benefits Of Failure And The Importance Of Imagination

15. Hillary Clinton, Women In The World, 2012

16. Maya Angelou, On the Pulse of Morning, 1993

17. Malala Yousafzai, Worldwide Access To Education, 2013

Her bravery stunned the world, and this speech marked her 16th birthday. Malala urged all assembled to 'fund new teachers, schools, books and recommit to getting every girl and boy in school by December 2015'.

18. Sir Ken Robinson, Do Schools Kill Creativity?, 2006

19. Stephen Hawking, Questioning The Universe, 2008

20. Oprah Winfrey , Stanford Address, 2008

21. The Queen's Speech, 1957

Although the footage seems quaint now, at the time, it was groundbreaking. She said: 'I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct'. Her speech included the historic quote: 'I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands.'

22. Sheryl Sandberg, Why We have Too Many Female Leaders, 2010

COO of Facebook Sheryl looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions and advises women on how to get to the top.

23. Baz Luhrmann, Everybody's Free, 1999

Baz's speech is our only speech that's spoken over a score music. Narrated by the actor Lee Perry, the song reached number one in the UK and features witty advice like 'Be kind to your knees – you'll miss them when they're gone.' So true.

24. Scarlett Johansson, DNC Speech, 2012 

25. Sally Field, Oscars Acceptance, 1985

Famously gushing, and also misinterpreted, Sally Field's emotional speech saw her utter the lines 'I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!'. She was parodying a line from her role in Norma Rae for which she had one the Oscar, but it went over many people's heads and the line has been satirised in many speeches since.

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By Francesca Rice

Angelina Jolie is being honoured with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Oscar for her incredible charity work. This 2009 speech she gave on World Refugee Day shows exactly why she deserves the award. And a dozen more.

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Great speeches of the 20th century

JFK's speechwriter Ted Sorensen: 'Speeches are great when they reflect great decisions'

Ted Sorensen, one of President John F Kennedy's key advisers, discusses the art of writing speeches

The most hunted person of the modern age

Mourning the people's princess.

Weapons for squalid and trivial ends

This speech was delivered to the House of Commons on December 5 1956.

Weapons for squalid and trivial ends - part 1

The greatest commons performance, weapons for squalid and trivial ends - part 2, shakespeare's sister.

Versions of this speech were delivered by Woolf at Girton and Newnham colleges, University of Cambridge, on October 20 & 26 1928.

An impassioned call to action

Kate Mosse: Woolf's speech was a brilliant interweaving of personal experience, imaginative musing and political clarity.

A Tryst with Destiny

This speech was delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru to the Constituent Assembly of India in New Delhi on August 14 1947.

Great speeches: Jawaharlal Nehru Noble words

Nehru's sentences were finely made and memorable

Great speeches: Margaret Thatcher The lady's not for turning

Edited text: This speech was delivered to the Conservative party conference in Brighton on October 10 1980.

Great speeches: Margaret Thatcher Strength in the face of adversity

The flame of French resistance

These speeches were delivered by Charles de Gaulle and broadcast by the BBC on June 18, 19 and 22 1940.

Rallying call

I have a dream

This speech was delivered by Martin Luther King on August 28 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington.

Great speeches: Martin Luther King Great speeches: Its brilliance was in its simplicity

Introduction to Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech

Great speeches of the 20th century: Emmeline Pankhurst's Freedom or death

This is an edited version of a speech delivered by Emmeline Pankhurst in Hartford, Connecticut on November 13 1913.

Freedom or death - part 1

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Great Speeches: Oratory

• Great Orators
• Murphy Library Resources

Oratory Websites

• 10 Keys to Writing a Speech from Forbes.com
• 10 Steps for Delivering a Great Speech
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Nelson Mandela

Online Speeches

• The 35 Greatest Speeches in History from The Art of Manliness
• 55 Speeches by Influential People of the 21st Century from TrendHunter.com
• Famous Speeches in History from History.com
• Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World A non-profit project, sponsored by Sweet Briar College
• Great Speeches Collection from The History Place
• Great Speeches of the 20th Century from The Guardian newspaper
• History & Politics Out Loud Audio of politically significant speeches, mainly 20th century
• List of Speeches Includes those that have gained notability in English or in English translation
• Top 10 Greatest Speeches from Time Magazine
• Top 10 Most Powerful Orators Of The 20th Century from TechnoCrazed.com
• Top 100 Speeches of the Twentieth Century from American Rhetoric
• Vital Speeches International Available online.
• Vital Speeches of the Day Available online.
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• Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024 2:18 PM
• URL: https://libguides.uwlax.edu/speeches

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The Newest Tech Start-Up Billionaire? Donald Trump.

Trump media, which went public this week, attracted a frenzy of interest on its first day of trading..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

[THEME MUSIC]

Over the past few years, Donald Trump’s social media company Truth Social was dismissed as a money-losing boondoggle. Today, Matthew Goldstein on how over the past few days, it somehow became a publicly traded company worth billions of dollars.

It’s Thursday, March 28.

Matthew, thank you for coming on “The Daily”-

Thank you for having me.

— your debut.

Do you go by Matt?

I go by Matt. I go by Matt.

Matt. You’re a Matthew —

Because my mother likes me using — when I first started out, my mom says, I named you Matthew. You should use Matthew for your by-line. Because I initially did use Matt, and then she —

She caught it?

This is literally the tale of the —

Yeah, right.

The Jewish mother.

Yes, yes, the way all journalism sort of starts. Why did you go into journalism to begin with, though?

Right, you could have been a doctor. Here we are. At least use my name. OK, so, Matt, I wonder if we could start by having you tell us the current market value of this new publicly traded company, Donald Trump’s social media business.

OK, so as we sit here —

11:26 AM on Wednesday.

— on Wednesday, it’s trading right now for around $65 a share. If you work that out, it’s worth about $8 billion.

That’s huge.

That is huge. I think it’s bigger than “The New York Times,” actually.

I think “The New York Times” is like around $7 billion.

It’s bigger than a lot of companies, which is crazy when you think about it.

Yeah. And what is Donald Trump’s personal stake in that, and what is that now worth?

OK, so he owns 79 million shares. So roughly doing the math, and this changes, it somewheres around $5.6 billion. It’s been going up sometimes as high as even $6 billion.

That’s extraordinary.

That is extraordinary. Because if you believe what Forbes had said last fall, he was worth about $2.6 billion. So he’s more than doubled his net worth in basically the last few days with Trump Media.

Wow. And not a moment too soon, right? Because as we’ve talked about on the show, Trump owes about every last cent of cash he has — I think it’s an estimated $500 million or so — to various courts, and this would be very auspicious timing to suddenly have an extra $5 billion in his life.

It’s a critical lifeline for him right now. There of course, are limitations to how he can tap that money, but I think also it should not be understated, it’s a huge bragging point for him, which he likes to go out and talk about being the most successful businessman on the planet.

He can say, look, I built a company that’s worth $7 billion overnight. Where have you done that, Joe Biden?

Or where have you done that pretty much almost anyone other than a very select, rarefied group of tech startups?

Absolutely.

So tell us the story of how this company, which I think a lot of people candidly dismissed from the beginning as Trump’s little kind of renegade corner of the internet somehow became this, a real financial behemoth in a way. What is that story?

So you have to go back to January 2021. Trump is kicked off of what was then Twitter after the January 6 riots at the Capitol.

And not just Twitter, right? Facebook, Instagram.

Yeah, he was kicked off everything, but Twitter was really where he had lived, as we all knew.

Right. Tens of millions of followers.

Tens of millions. So Trump is at this low point. He’s out of the White House. He’s sort of down there at Mar-a-Lago. And all of a sudden, a blast from the past.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

He gets approached by these two guys who had been contestants on his old reality show, “The Apprentice.”

and their names are Andy Litinsky and Wes Moss.

I’m no dummy.

No, I know.

They’re not particularly notable or famous people. I don’t know if the word is “star” is on the show.

To be perfectly honest, I want to see Mr. Trump as much as possible.

Litinsky was a really young guy.

I toast to the men dominating the women.

Wes Moss came out as almost like a frat boy type of character.

Andy, you’re fired. Wes, you’re fired also.

And they weren’t particularly successful, but they go to Trump.

And what exactly is their pitch to him?

Their pitch is basically, forget about Twitter. Forget about all these other platforms. Create your own platform. Create your own social media company. It will be great. You won’t be censored. You can say whatever you want. All your followers will come here. We’ll make a lot of money. We’ll be huge.

What was Trump’s response?

Well, he’s intrigued, but he never really totally commits to anything. At that point, Trump is sort of taking a back seat on it. He’s basically agreeing to lend his name if nothing else.

They sign an agreement that they’re going to go out and pitch the deal. And “The Apprentice” guys know that they’re going to need a lot of money to get this company off the ground. But they’re not going to be able to turn to traditional Wall Street sources because Trump at this point —

Is kind of toxic.

Yeah, he’s a toxic guy. So the solution for “The Apprentice” guys to raise this money was to do something called a SPAC, which is these companies that have come into vogue during the pandemic. They’re basically shell companies that go public, raise hundreds of million from investors. And essentially their sole purpose is to go out and look for another company to buy.

It’s basically money in a bank account that’s just sitting there to be transferred over to the private company that you buy. So for the private company that ends up merging, it’s a great deal because they get tons of cash where they had nothing the day before. And the other advantage of a deal with a SPAC is that beyond the cash, the private company becomes a public company, and that gives it the ability to sell stock to investors and go out and raise more money that way.

And then through that merger, eventually the two companies coming together, the company that Trump is going to be ostensibly heading, that social media company would get everything the SPAC had raised from investors. So all that cash is going to come flooding into the company “The Apprentice” guys envision.

So if I’m understanding this plan correctly, “The Apprentice” guys envision a plan where they go off, they find a SPAC that has raised a bunch of money, and eventually it will merge with the Trump social media company they envision building. And when that marriage is consummated, their work will be over and they will hopefully have a lot of money.

Basically, that’s exactly what their goal was. Yeah. So “The Apprentice” guys are out there in the market looking for a SPAC. But given the lack of really any kind of business plan, they don’t go to the top flight guys out there. They end up at the bottom of the barrel.

And so they end up with essentially a very no name sounding SPAC called Digital World Acquisition Corporation. Digital World has its IPO in September of 2021, raises $300 million. Lo and behold, like a month after, a press release comes out late at night. Donald Trump and Trump Media are merging with Digital World Acquisition Corp

I remember people pinging me, is this a joke? Because most people I’m sure had never heard of Digital World. And even more people had no idea that Trump was even doing a social media company. Because while all this is going on and they’re trying to put a deal together, the social media platform that will become Truth Social hasn’t even launched, and it won’t do so for months later.

But there’s trouble right away. The Securities Exchange Commission comes in and announces it’s opened an investigation into how this deal came together, looking into whether Digital World violated securities laws by engaging in merger talks ahead of time, which technically isn’t kosher in the way SPACs are supposed to work. But this investigation just drags on and on and on, and it’s going to delay everything.

So this is turning out to be a pretty big mess.

Very big mess. It looks like this deal’s never going to happen. And finally, when they launch Truth Social in early 2022, it’s a little bit of a joke. It’s like this sort of very early version of Twitter when it’s sort of clunky.

How clunky? You were on it?

Yeah, I actually think I was one of the first people to get in, which I thought was sort of funny because I said I was from “The New York Times.” They actually verified me.

There was very little traffic. It was almost like you’d post something and you could literally hear the crickets.

Trump never posted for three months.

Trump never posted on Truth Social the site that exists for his —

And I remember writing a story and you couldn’t get an answer from them, why is he not posting?

Perhaps because he has his own doubts.

And also wasn’t a place — no one was there. I mean, they had a few million users. There’s a few million dollars in advertising on Truth Social, a lot of them the equivalent of almost late night TV advertising that you would see. It’s losing tons of money, which is in fairness, it’s not unusual for a startup company to lose money, but it was not clear where it was ever going to make money and where the money was going to come in.

And we’re looking at this thing, is it even going to happen? Your deal is in trouble because of regulators. And also the company is in trouble because there’s just nothing there. So everyone, I think for the most part, sort of counts this thing out. For them it was a desperate situation.

And then last summer, a bunch of things started to go right all of a sudden for Trump Media. And it really started to raise the prospects that this deal actually could happen.

We’ll be right back.

So Matt, how is it that things start to turn around for this real mess of a social media company that Donald Trump has founded?

OK, so the single biggest thing was last summer, the SEC settles its investigation with Digital World, with the SPAC that it was merging with. And that basically at that point clears the gates for them to start to really move forward with the merger.

What kind of settlement was it?

They had to pay $18 million, and they had to rewrite all their disclosures to make it consistent to reveal all the early talks they had had with Trump Media.

The other thing is Elon Musk buys Twitter, now X. And one of the first things he does is he says, Trump, you can come back. Start posting again. We want you. We love you. Everyone thinks Trump’s going to do that. But then he stays.

He continues the post on Truth Social, and it’s clear he’s sticking with his own platform. And if anything, he starts ramping up his postings on Truth Social, and they become increasingly, as we with the way Trump is, bombastic, inflammatory, attacking all the judges and all the cases going on, the prosecutors, political opponents. And he’s been doing it with increasing frequency.

And this is a key ingredient of last summer’s turnaround, because it’s clear at this point Trump is sticking with Truth Social. He’s not going anywhere. He’s leaning into it, and it’s become his platform.

But we shouldn’t lose sight that may be the most important thing is the loyalty of shareholders. And I’m not talking about big hedge funds, big institutions, wealthy people. I’m talking about ordinary Trump supporters, many of them who are posters on Truth Social and happen to be stockholders of this cash-rich SPAC that’s eventually going to merge with Trump Media. And they’re the ones who have kept this thing going to some degree.

As investors.

As investors. Because there were many points where the SPAC deal itself could have just failed. But they really want to make sure this company succeeds. It’s almost like a religious kind of thing for some of them. And I can tell you, one guy has been very vocal is actually sort of a Christian minister.

Good evening, DWAC stock.

He has his own streaming video show on Rumble, which he called DWAC Live, named after the shares.

Lord we ask in the name of Jesus, that you help the executives finish this strong and that you protect them from all the forces that would try to stop the merger and —

They talk about the stock and the merger, and it’s got his own following.

Just all show up at Mar-a-Lago, knock on the door and be like, hey, President Trump, we’d like to come party with you because we all own little bits of your company and we love you. Let’s just check on the price one more time before we head out for the night.

So in some way, Trump really owes a lot to his small shareholders who made this possible. Because if it wasn’t for them, there would be no merger.

And when they talk to you about why they have bought shares in this business, in this SPAC, even when it’s at its least successful and most imperiled, how do they talk about why it’s worth their hard earned money?

First of all, they view they’re building something. And they’ve all believed that, right or wrong, whatever you may think about it, that Truth Social is free from censorship, that it allows Trump and others to say what they want. And they really believe that as the founding principles, they’re the original owners essentially going to be of this company, and they’re helping it flourish and build.

So this has become a real personal thing for a lot of them, more so than I think I’ve ever seen with any other publicly traded company before.

So the folks who are investing in this SPAC, anticipating it will eventually get together with Truth Social, and who, as you have just said, sustained this through its darkest chapter, they aren’t really there because they see this as a highly profitable business. You just said, Matt, that it was losing money.

They’re doing it as a statement and I guess a measure of their fervor for Trump, for the movement he represents. Buying the stock is a way for them to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to MAGA.

Right, right. For them, this is about supporting Trump and supporting this company, which they view as critically important n keeping its message out there alive.

So, Matt, I think that more or less brings us to this week, when this turnaround you’re describing results in this crazy takeoff of the stock price. But just walk us through the mechanics of it.

What happened was there’s the shareholder vote. And the way it works is Digital World shareholders have to vote to approve the merger with Trump Media. It was at this point it was a foregone conclusion. But it’s a vote, so you never know what’s going to happen, though. And they get the vote on Friday. It’s overwhelming. I think it was 29 million shares voted in favor, and 200,000 voted against. I mean, you just don’t see that.

A landslide.

A landslide. Yes, like an electoral landslide. So the deal goes through. On Monday, the deal is actually closed, and we have our first day of trading on Tuesday of this week.

Ticker symbol DJT.

Donald John Donald.

Donald J Trump.

Former President Donald Trump’s newly merged social media company has begun trading, and shares are soaring.

It opens for trading at around $40 something a share.

More than 6.5 million shares in Trump Media had changed hands by 9:50 this morning.

They have to actually halt trading briefly because the volume, the level of trading is off the charts in the stock.

And currently you take a look at where shares are, they’re up about 40 percent.

At one point, it reaches $70 a share.

This is the highest profile SPAC we’ve seen in quite a while.

Really, I’d say ever, Katie. I mean —

And on the end of trading on Tuesday, it closes around $60 or so. And that’s how we get this $7, $8 billion valuation for the company and the paper gain of $5.6 billion —

But for now, quote, unquote, “DJT” is the mother of all meme stocks, with the stock up 32 percent up, as much as 58 percent today, hard to disagree.

I just want to make sure I understand why this company is now valued so highly. And I guess what I’m really getting at is, is there an actual business case for it, given what folks in your calling would describe as the fundamentals of the business? Or is this just a measure of these Trump-supporting investors’ deep affinity for him? Is this basically a bubble, or is there maybe a true financial justification that can be laid out here?

OK, so if we go pure fundamentals, it’s crazy. This company is not a $7 or $8 billion company. It had $3.3 million in revenues for the first nine months of last year. It lost about $49 million.

Yeah, that is not the makings of an $8 billion valuation company.

No, no, no. I mean, the one good thing it got going, it got $300 million in cash from this merger. Not for Trump, for the company. So that’s good. They can use that cash to go out and buy something, bring in more people, hire influencers on Truth Social.

But even then, they have 10 million downloads of Truth Social. I mean, Twitter is what, like hundreds of millions of users? I’m sorry, X has hundreds millions of users. Where’s it going to go for that kind of growth to justify that?

But this is what Wall Street is. I mean, we call them our meme stocks. They’re fantasy stocks. They take on a life of their own. We had this during the pandemic with GameStop and AMC. The shares run up to ridiculous levels, driven largely by retail investors.

And just to remind people, those were stocks where retail investors were buying shares it felt like because they wanted to send a message, largely anti-establishment message, they were mad at a hedge fund that had shorted it in one case, I remember. They wanted to make a point. They wanted to stick it to the man.

Right. And also it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It becomes a mania. Then others see this and get in because you feel like if you keep buying, it’s never going to fall. It’s never going to go down. And that can work for a while, but eventually gravity will always take hold at some part.

I’m not saying that Trump Media is going to collapse. But at some point, something will happen that will trigger the stock to sell off.

Right, it’s fragile.

It’s fragile, right. It’s not sustainable at this level. But when it’s happening, it’s hard for me or anyone to give you a rational reason, and that’s why there’s this old thing, irrational exuberance. It’s not necessarily unusual. It’s just that it’s unusual because you have a very loyal investor base to him personally that is driving a lot of these surges in the stock.

I’m really curious how Trump’s position in this presidential campaign factors into what you just described. Because it feels like this irrational exuberance has to be linked somewhat to the reality that he is the now lead candidate in the polls for re-election. But I’m curious what investors think about that, how they think his chances of becoming president with the financial health and future promise of this company.

It’s definitely, I think, going to be a barometer, actually, of Trump and his political fortunes. I mean just by way of example, the SPAC stock started to soar this year when Trump was on the verge of locking up the nomination. It was around the time DeSantis dropped out in New Hampshire.

The stock surged like 60 percent, 70 percent overnight. It was really because people were like, hey, Trump is going to be the nominee, and we’re going to be going forward.

But can you just explain that? What does one have to do with the other?

In theory, it doesn’t have anything to do with it. But it’s like a proxy for him.

It’s also the idea that as long as Trump is still politically viable, Trump Media is viable. Truth Social is viable.

And presumably a president 2.0 Trump is the best possible situation for this stock price.

If he wins, I think it probably will be a high watermark for the stock. And I would just think given the dynamic with the election right now, it’s hard to see the stock not continuing to rise at least until November.

OK. I want to turn now to Trump’s access to this very valuable stock at a time when, as we all know, he seems to need money. How and when could he tap into this money?

OK. So at the moment, he actually can’t.

He can’t. There’s what’s called a lockup, a restriction. It’s not just for him. It’s for any major shareholders. They can’t sell for six months. It’s actually not unusual in these kind of circumstances.

The logic is you don’t want important people to the company, important shareholders, to bolt as soon as the deal goes through.

But there are other ways you can get around that. One way is for the board. It’s a seven member board. They’re all loyalists, for the most part. They could allow him to sell shares early. I personally think that’s unlikely because it shows a lack of faith. Just like if he had jumped from Truth Social onto Twitter, this would be the same kind of message being sent.

What they could do is allow him to pledge those shares, meaning he can go out and get a loan, use it as collateral. The shares don’t get sold, but you’re giving them to some other like a bank or probably more likely a hedge fund. So that would be a way for him to monetize his stock without actually selling it.

So if Trump really wanted to, he could find a way working through this board of loyalists to tap into this money pretty quickly if he so chose to.

If he asked the board to do it, I think there’s probably a good chance the board would do it. But if he doesn’t really need the money that desperately, I think he probably won’t. And I think the board would be reluctant because it doesn’t really help anyone to have lots of stock coming out into the market. That only will probably depress the price of the shares.

And it doesn’t help to have the face of the company, the man whose initials are on the ticker, selling the stock because that suggests he doesn’t have a tremendous amount of faith in the business. And that might trigger a sell off, which would undermine the value of the rest of his stock. It’s a pretty bad cycle to start.

It’s a bad — right, that’s like the event that starts to send the sell off. And even at that point, even your most loyal shareholders may say, well, I don’t want to be left the last one holding the bag.

Right. I want to step way back for just a minute and think about the larger meaning of what has happened with Truth Social. I mean, I’ve covered a lot of Trump’s businesses through the years, investigated them when he was a candidate in 2016. And it really strikes me that of all the businesses he’s been in, real estate, casinos, Trump University, selling Trump steaks, Trump wine, whatever, those made money.

This, in some ways, feels like the least sound business of all, and yet it has made him the richest by far. That’s a little bit weird to wrap your head around. What does that tell you about the nature of Trump and these investors who believe in this?

It is weird. I’m not a politics reporter, but from a business perspective, this has given me a little bit better insight into his seemingly unending kind of popularity and support. There’s the old adage on Wall Street, never fall in love with a stock. But the reality is a lot of his shareholders here are in love with the stock. They have fallen in love with it, and they’re in love with him to a large extent.

And when you have that sort of mix there, it allows a stock to soar to unreal levels that we’re seeing now. And who knows where it goes from here? But for the moment, it’s clearly working for Mr. Trump.

Well, Matt, thank you very much.

When the stock market closed on Wednesday afternoon, shares of Trump’s new media company reached $66 a share, up 14 percent from the previous day. As of this morning, the company is worth $9.4 billion.

Here’s what else you need to know today. Authorities said that the six missing workers who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed are now presumed dead. The workers were members of a construction crew who were repairing masonry and potholes when a massive container ship plowed into the bridge on Tuesday morning.

This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure.

Experts say that rebuilding the bridge, which carried 30,000 vehicles a day, will probably take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, a reality acknowledged by the Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

So the path to normalcy will not be easy. It will not be quick. It will not be inexpensive. But we will rebuild together.

And the first ever congestion pricing system in the United States crossed a major milestone on Wednesday when New York officially approved tolls for cars driving through the busiest sections of Manhattan. The system, modeled on those in London and Singapore, is designed to significantly reduce traffic and air pollution. The tolls, $15 for most passenger cars and as much as $36 for large trucks, are expected to raise $1 billion a year for mass transportation.

The new system could still be blocked by several lawsuits seeking to derail it. But if those cases fail, the tolls will begin in mid-June.

Today’s episode was produced by Will Reid, Mary Wilson, and Asthaa Chaturvedi. It was edited by Lexie Diao, contains original music by Marion Lozano and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

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• March 28, 2024   •   33:40 The Newest Tech Start-Up Billionaire? Donald Trump.
• March 27, 2024   •   28:06 Democrats’ Plan to Save the Republican House Speaker
• March 26, 2024   •   29:13 The United States vs. the iPhone
• March 25, 2024   •   25:59 A Terrorist Attack in Russia
• March 24, 2024   •   21:39 The Sunday Read: ‘My Goldendoodle Spent a Week at Some Luxury Dog ‘Hotels.’ I Tagged Along.’
• March 22, 2024   •   35:30 Chuck Schumer on His Campaign to Oust Israel’s Leader
• March 21, 2024   •   27:18 The Caitlin Clark Phenomenon
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Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Matthew Goldstein

Produced by Will Reid ,  Mary Wilson and Asthaa Chaturvedi

Edited by Lexie Diao

Original music by Marion Lozano and Dan Powell

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Over the past few years, Donald Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, has been dismissed as a money-losing boondoggle.

This week, that all changed. Matthew Goldstein, a New York Times business reporter, explains how its parent venture, Truth Media, became a publicly traded company worth billions of dollars.

On today’s episode

Matthew Goldstein , a New York Times business reporter.

Background reading

What to know about Trump Media’s high-flying stock debut .

Ethics experts say the publicly traded company could present a new way for foreign actors or others to influence Mr. Trump , if he is elected president.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

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The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Matthew Goldstein covers Wall Street and white-collar crime and housing issues. More about Matthew Goldstein

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