Everybody needs that motivation , a pep talk, a lift in the sails that together with self-driven thought and action takes us towards the goals we set. But over time and many years of objectivity, wisdom and cynicism, one needs to reboot and reflect even if in the autumn years of life. One way to accomplish is to revisit what great men and women have said that has stood the test of time and invigorates the spirit each time you read.
With that small mission, I picked from my book shelf a less referred item titled ‘World’s Greatest Speeches – Collectable Edition ! I quote from the preface about this Edition ‘Taking you on a journey into the world of rhetoric, this priceless edition encapsulates speeches that have lasted through the ages. From those delivered to make peace to those delivered during wars, from religious orations to political oratory, this edition features iconic personalities such as Pericles, Queen Elizabeth, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emmeline Pankhurst, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama &..’
This book has as nearly ninety speeches that are spread over 600 bound pages and to me should be a great tool not only for aspiring college speakers excelling in debates but every student to understand how extraordinary leaders had the power to sway the mind. It is customary to have favourites even in realm of oratory and I give below my choice of the ten best that stayed with me like it has with rest of the world, though all are great :
- ‘A Tryst With Destiny’ – Jawaharlal Nehru
- ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ – Winston Churchill
- ‘I Have a Dream’ – Martin Luther King
- ‘Inaugural Address’ – John F Kennedy
- ‘Give Me Blood..’ – Subhash Chandra Bose
- ‘The Pleasure of Books’ – William Lyon Phelps
- ‘The Gettysburg Address’ – Abraham Lincoln
Working on Living 