What is the most memorable speech that you have ever heard?

Hi Everyone,

Being an American my views probably will be different than those of Brazilians and other nationalities, due to different histories and cultures. Therefore the readers of this post should consider those differences while considering the contents herein.

While the books of major religions such as the Bible, Torah, and Koran are rife with great and memorable speeches, I choose not to include them in my list of most memorable speechs as they are regarded as the words of God, and not of mere mortals.

My short list of most memorable speeches are: The Getteysburg Address by President Abraham Lincoln, The Quit India Speech by Mahatma Gandhi, The Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You, Inaugural Address by President John F. Kennedy, and The I Have a Dream Speech by Dr. Martin Luther King. Each of these speeches are without a doubt memorable in their own right. However In my humble opinion "The I Have a Dream Speech" is the most memorable that I have read.

My reasons for this selection are: the way people of all races were motivated, the clear vision communicated to the nation and the world, the denouncement of violence, the long term relevence of the speech, and Dr. King's knowing refusal to bow to the dangerous political and social climate at the time.

"(...) I have a 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 (...)"

Martin Luther King Jr.

quite memorable as well

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Nelson Mandela, 1994

Absolutely, this one. I almost cried, hope you like it.
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Israel, I got speechless. Thank you very much for sharing this with us!

Pretty touching, indeed.
Thanks!

ailime

I have a dream.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Israel,

WOW! A most moving and memorable speech, especially from a child who is mature beyond her years. I now have a new most memorable speech, one that should be required reading for all people over the age of ten, maybe we should just send children to the UN to represent all of us, and send the adults home.

I'm happy you guys liked the video, thanks!
When I saw it I got so moved, and also felt like I'm nothing, and it made me learn the most important lesson in all my life.
And I agree with you Bill, sometimes children are so much wiser.
Regards,
See you anytime!

Israel,
Nice that you've posted this video.I maybe wouldn't seen it if it wasn't here or it would take longer to discover it.What a billiant child.I might say this can be my most memorable speech too.

I don't know.

But I think it's a very full of datas speech... more datas then explanations

Well Gustavo,
I don't think there are/were explanations to be made, quite the opposite, there are/were explanations to be asked.

Regards,

The straightforward speech the priest gave at my father's funeral. He really gave us a no bullshit yet tender, beautifully short speech with none of that "Ave Maria" mantra priests generally repeat themselves giving.

Laying down the corpse of my father, however, took a bit longer than expected. More than an hour later after the priest left.

Marcio,

My sincere condolences to you and your family.

ailime

ailime, thank you for condolences. (The old man, a firm believer in life after death with whom I lived for 56 continuous years, now lives in a paralel yet invisible world.)

On topic, however. You owe us your most memorable speech if you ever heard of one.

Hi,

This is interesting, specially because is a fake as far as it is possible to research on internet:

- Bill Gates' High School Speech on The Eleven Rules of Life.

He has never said or written that!