Top 10 Famous Speeches

Summary

WatchMojo.com presents the top 10 famous speeches in history, each with a profound impact on their audiences. From Alexander the Great's motivational address to his troops, to Hitler's declaration of war on the USA, these speeches have shaped the course of history. Notable speeches include Pericles' Funeral Oration, Patrick Henry's 'Give me liberty or give me death' at the Second Virginia Convention, JFK's inaugural address, and Mahatma Gandhi's call for nonviolent resistance. The list also features iconic speeches by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, each reflecting resilience, vision, and the power of oratory.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The video discusses the top 10 famous speeches in history, emphasizing their power to inspire and influence people.
• 🏰 Alexander the Great's speech before the campaign into India highlights his ability to command loyalty and motivate his army to continue fighting.
• 🗣️ Adolf Hitler's declaration of war on the USA in 1941 showcased his oratory skills and ability to rally support for his actions.
• 🏛️ Pericles' funeral oration after the Peloponnesian War aimed to honor the fallen and motivate Athenians to continue the fight.
• ✊ Patrick Henry's 'Give me liberty or give me death' speech at the Second Virginia Convention was a pivotal moment in rallying support for the American Revolution.
• 🇺🇸 John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961 emphasized the importance of resilience and nationalism, with the famous line 'Ask not what your country can do for you...'
• 🌳 Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India speech in 1942 called for nonviolent resistance against British rule, influencing the Indian independence movement.
• 🗣️ Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural address in 1933 provided hope and reassurance during the Great Depression with the famous line 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself'.
• 🏰 Winston Churchill's 'We Shall Fight on the Beaches' speech during the Battle of France in 1940 was a rallying cry for British resistance against Nazi Germany.
• 🌈 Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963 was a powerful call for an end to racism and racial equality in America.
• 📜 Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in 1863 is one of the most famous speeches in American history, emphasizing the principles of freedom, liberty, and equality.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is the countdown of the top 10 famous speeches in history, highlighting their significance and impact on people.

Who is the narrator of the video script?

The narrator is not explicitly named in the script, but it is implied to be a presenter from watchmojo.com.

What criteria were used to select the speeches for the list?

The criteria for selecting the speeches include formal speeches delivered to an audience, excluding impromptu quotes and religious sermons.

Which historical figure's speech is listed as number 10 on the countdown?

The speech by Alexander the Great, motivating his men to continue their campaign into India, is listed as number 10.

What was the context of Adolf Hitler's speech that made it to the list?

Adolf Hitler's speech was given on December 11th, 1941, when Germany declared war on the United States, following the United States' declaration of war on Germany.

What is the significance of Pericles' Funeral Oration?

Pericles' Funeral Oration was a speech given at a public funeral for Athenian men killed in the Peloponnesian War, aiming to motivate Athenians to continue fighting.

What famous phrase is associated with Patrick Henry's speech at the Second Virginia Convention?

The famous phrase associated with Patrick Henry's speech is 'Give me liberty or give me death.'

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Top 10 Famous Speeches in History

This paragraph introduces a countdown of the top 10 famous speeches in history, highlighting their power to inspire and influence millions. It sets the stage for a discussion of formal speeches delivered to audiences, excluding impromptu quotes and religious sermons. The list aims to cover speeches that have shaped history and had a significant impact on their listeners.

05:00

🏰 Alexander the Great's Campaign into India

The paragraph discusses Alexander the Great's speech to his army during the campaign into India. Despite his legendary ability to command loyalty, his men were weary after years of fighting and refused to advance further. Alexander's rousing speech, ending with a promise to make those who stayed the envy of those who returned, aimed to motivate his troops to continue their conquests.

10:01

🌐 Hitler's Declaration of War on the USA

This section covers Adolf Hitler's speech on December 11th, 1941, when Germany declared war on the United States. Hitler, known for his oratory skills, used this opportunity to summarize Germany's military successes and justify the declaration of war. The speech is noted for its impact on involving America fully in both the European and Pacific theaters of World War II.

15:01

🏛️ Pericles' Funeral Oration

The paragraph highlights Pericles' funeral oration, a speech given at a public funeral for Athenian men killed in the Peloponnesian War against Sparta. Pericles, a significant figure in Classical Greece, used his speech to praise Athens and motivate its citizens to continue fighting, ensuring the fallen did not die in vain. His rhetoric aimed to inspire Athenians to persevere in the face of a seemingly endless war.

🔥 Patrick Henry's 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death'

This paragraph recounts Patrick Henry's impassioned speech at the second Virginia convention in 1775, where he uttered the famous words 'Give me liberty or give me death.'

Keywords

💡Speeches

Speeches are formal addresses delivered to an audience, often intended to inspire, persuade, or inform. In the context of the video, speeches are the central theme, with the video focusing on historical speeches that have had a significant impact on society. The script mentions various speeches, such as Alexander the Great's motivational speech to his army and Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, illustrating the power of oratory to influence and inspire.

💡Inspire

To inspire means to motivate or encourage someone to do something, often by instilling a strong emotion or vision. The video discusses how speeches have the power to inspire millions, as seen in Patrick Henry's 'Give me liberty or give me death' speech, which rallied support for the American Revolution, demonstrating the inspirational role of oratory in historical contexts.

💡Motivate

Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. The video emphasizes the motivational aspect of speeches, particularly how leaders like Alexander the Great used speeches to rally their troops and continue military campaigns, showcasing the motivational power of words in achieving collective goals.

💡Influence

Influence refers to the capacity to have an effect on someone or something. The video highlights how speeches have historically influenced millions of people's thoughts and actions. For instance, John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, with the famous line 'ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,' is noted for its influence on the American spirit and civic engagement.

💡Historical Context

Historical context provides the setting in which events, decisions, and cultural developments are situated. The video script discusses speeches within their historical contexts, such as Adolf Hitler's declaration of war on the USA, which is set against the backdrop of World War II, illustrating how speeches are deeply intertwined with the historical moments they address.

💡Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speaking or writing, often using figures of speech. The video mentions Pericles' funeral oration, where he used rhetoric to motivate Athenians to continue fighting in the Peloponnesian War. This example from the script highlights the use of rhetoric as a tool for leaders to sway public opinion and maintain morale.

💡Revolution

A revolution is a fundamental change in political, social, or economic order. The video references the American Revolution and the Quit India movement, both of which were propelled by speeches that called for change. Patrick Henry's speech at the Virginia Convention and Mahatma Gandhi's call for nonviolent resistance are examples of how speeches can catalyze revolutionary movements.

💡Nonviolent Resistance

Nonviolent resistance is a method of political protest in which people deliberately resist oppression through nonviolent means. The video discusses Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India speech, where he advocated for nonviolent resistance against British rule, showing how speeches can promote peaceful yet powerful methods of social change.

💡War

War is a state of armed conflict between different nations or states. The video script mentions several speeches that were delivered in the context of war, such as Winston Churchill's 'We shall fight on the beaches' speech during World War II, highlighting the role of speeches in rallying a nation during times of conflict.

💡Freedom

Freedom refers to the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance. The video includes speeches that championed freedom, like Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, which called for an end to racial segregation and the realization of equal rights for all, demonstrating the centrality of freedom in many influential speeches.

💡Equality

Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities. The video's discussion of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address emphasizes the concept of equality as a foundational principle of the United States, showing how speeches can reinforce societal values and aspirations for a more equitable society.

Highlights

Words have the power to inspire, motivate, and influence millions.

Top 10 famous speeches in history are being counted down.

Alexander the Great's campaign into India speech motivated his army to continue conquering.

Adolf Hitler's speech declaring war on the USA in 1941 highlighted Germany's military successes.

Pericles' funeral oration praised Athenians and motivated them to continue fighting in the Peloponnesian War.

Patrick Henry's 'Give me liberty or give me death' speech was a call to arms for the American Revolution.

John F. Kennedy's inaugural address emphasized resilience and nationalism in the face of global challenges.

Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India speech advocated for nonviolent resistance against British occupation.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural address promised to wage war against the Great Depression.

Winston Churchill's 'We shall fight on the beaches' speech prepared the British for war after France's defeat.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech called for an end to racism and racial equality in America.

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address redefined the purpose of the Civil War and the principles of the nation.

The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history.

Lincoln's speech was a moving plea to continue fighting for freedom, liberty, and equality.

The impact of the Gettysburg Address has been transformative and enduring in US history.

Transcripts

[Music]

words have the power to inspire motivate

and influence millions of people which

is exactly what these speeches did and I

still believe that these problems can be

solved welcome to watchmojo.com and

today we're counting down our picks for

the top 10 famous speeches in history we

make speeches for each other and those

English liberal magazines that may grant

us a few lines for this list we're

looking at formal speeches delivered to

an audience and are not including

impromptu quotes such as Neil

Armstrong's that's one small step for

man

one for man or sermons from religious

figures such as Jesus Christ ye are the

salt of the earth but if the salt has

lost his Savor wherewith shall it be

salted

number 10 campaign into India Alexander

the Great his conquests hinged on his

Army's use of advanced technology but

they also depended on Alexander's

legendary ability to command the Loyalty

of thousands of men one of the greatest

conquerors the world has ever seen by

335 BC Alexander the Great controlled

all of Greece Egypt and the Persian

Empire I don't think Alexander saw any

military engagement as anything other

than an opportunity to build his own

heroic stature Alexander wanted more

than that however and set his sights on

India unfortunately after nearly 10

years of fighting his army had no

interest in traveling further east and

threatened Mutiny they rebelled against

him they refused to go further and he

had to turn around Alexander having

studied under Aristotle gave a rousing

speech to motivate his men to continue

to fight ending it by stating I will

make those who stay the Envy of those

who return and all your great victories

fade it will always be remembered you

left your king in Asia for I will go on

with my

Asians number nine Germany declares war

on the USA Adolf

[Applause]

Hitler

St hey we didn't say all of these guys

were good guys a fantastic orator with

the ability to inspire Millions to carry

out his

plans one of Hitler's greatest speeches

came on December 11th 1941 when Germany

declared war on the United States after

summarizing Germany's military successes

in the previous year Hitler turned his

attention to the United States He

stressed that Germany had had done

nothing wrong to America at any point in

[Music]

history out of retaliation the United

States declared war on Germany later

that day making sure America was fully

involved in both the European and

Pacific Theaters of the war

number eight funeral oration Pericles

it's probably not a more important

figure in the history of Classical

Greece than Pericles what do you say to

a city that has seen fathers husbands

and Sons die in a war that has no end in

sight that was the task facing Pericles

when he gave a speech at a public

funeral for all Athenian men who had

been killed in the pelian war against

Sparta pericles's expectation was that

after a year or two but no more than

three the Spartans would realize that

they could not win the war because the

Athenians would never give them the

Infantry battle they needed in order to

win and they had no other device

available rather than mourn the dead

Pericles enthusiastically praised Athens

and its citizens he used his rhetoric

ability to motivate all Athenians to

continue to fight to ensure these men

did not die in vain the state thus

offers a valuable prize as the Garland

of victory in this race of Valor for the

reward both of those who have fallen and

their survivors and where the rewards

for merit are greatest there are found

the best citizens is it any wonder the

historian thiddies called him the first

citizen of Athens but for all his power

and sway Perles did not rule the

city for Athens was a democracy number

seven

second Virginia convention Patrick Henry

I know not what course others may take

but as for me Give me liberty or give me

death Give me liberty or give me death

these famous words that would forever be

associated with the American Revolution

were spoken by Patrick Henry at the

second Virginia convention in

1775 we must fight i p sir we must fight

Virginia was one of of the most

important colonies in the new world and

without its help the revolution had

little chance of succeeding there is no

retreat but in submission and slavery

our chains are forged their cranking may

be heard on the plains of Boston the war

is inevitable and let it come I repeat

sir Let It Come Henry's speech was so

powerful that the entire convention

which contained the likes of George

Washington and Thomas Jefferson is said

to have sat in silence for several

minutes afterward Patrick Henry was more

responsible for getting the revolution

underway than any other founding father

number six inaugural address John F

Kennedy 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 after

two world wars a conflict in Korea a

crippling depression and relations with

the Soviet Union reaching a boiling

point the United States needed a reason

to feel optimistic but most threatening

of all he sees nearly 1,600 American

strategic bombers and 200

intercontinental ballistic missiles

which can strike the Soviet Union from

the US enter John F Kennedy do you want

a man for president Who season through

and through at only 43 JFK was the

youngest president to ever be elected

and he gave one of the most memorable

inauguration addresses of all time and

let every other power know that this

hemisphere intends to remain the master

of its own

house stressing the importance of

resiliency and nationalism he famously

stated and so my fellow

Americans ask not what your country can

do for you ask what you can do for your

[Applause]

country number five quit India mahat

mandhi until we stand in the fields with

the millions that toil each day under

the hot sun we will not represent

India nor will we ever be able to

challenge the

British as one nation many passionate

speeches have been given by someone

speaking up for an oppressed people but

rarely have they advoc ated for passive

resistance this salt comes from the

Indian Ocean let every Indian claim it

as his

right and so once more the man of

nonviolence has challenged the might of

the British Empire mahat mandhi did

exactly that in 1942 when he called for

nonviolent resistance to British

occupation and inspired the quit India

movement

declaring here is a mantra a short one

that I give you it is do or die we shall

either free India or die in the attempt

calling himself a friend of Britain he

declared that he was attempting to save

the British from their mistakes while

the quit India movement was ultimately a

failure the British government did

eventually Grant India Independence

nonviolent revolution had freed

India in the 50 years since it has

transformed the world as as Martin

Luther King later said Christ gave me

the message Gandhi gave me the method

number four inaugural address Franklin

Delano Roosevelt one has to imagine

millions of people clustered around

their radio sets and towns all across

the country they don't know what to

expect of this new President JFK surely

delivered one of the greatest inaugural

addresses in history but decades earlier

Franklin Delano Roosevelt began his

lengthy career as president

with this iconic speech they only know

the rules of a generation of

self-seekers they have no vision and

when there is no vision the people

perish at the time America was in the

middle of the worst depression in

history and had essentially run Herbert

Hoover out of office and I am convinced

that you will again give that support to

leadership in these critical days FDR

was able to win over the hearts and

Minds of a discouraged American

population with a passionate and

confident speech promising to wage war

against the economic crisis facing the

country of course having a strong

opening line always helps let me assert

my firm belief that the only thing we

have to fear is fear itself number three

we shall fight on the beaches Winston

Churchill if we had kept together after

the last war if we had taken common

measures for our safety this renewal of

the curse need never have fallen upon it

one of three key speeches given by

Churchill during the Battle of France

this rousing address was delivered under

less than ideal circumstances and if you

look at uh what Churchill achieved every

day it is absolutely mind-boggling he

was running on a different kind of

petrol the English prime minister was

forced to not only warn the English

people about the potential for France's

catastrophic defeat but also also to

prepare them for war on their home soil

less than a month earlier Churchill had

declared that the Allies would be

victorious with this looking less and

less likely by the day Churchill

resoundingly stated that the British

would never surrender to Germany we

shall Never

Surrender instead he memorably said they

would fight them in France on the seas

in the air in the streets and on the

beaches fighting in the seas and oceans

we shall fight with growing confidence

and growing strength in the air we shall

defend our Island whatever the cost may

be number two I have a dream Martin

Luther King Jr America has given the

Negro people a bad check a check which

has come back marked insufficient f one

of the most inspirational speeches of

all time Martin Luther King Jr delivered

this famous call to action to over

250,000 people people on the steps of

the Lincoln Memorial in

1963 and the

destruction the life and of the ongoing

progress of the Negro will be the

destruction of the ongoing progress of

the nation King demanded an end to

racism in America stating that 100 years

after the Emancipation Proclamation

African-Americans were still not

considered equal now is the time to rise

from the dark and desol Valley of

segregation to the sunlit path of racial

Justice perhaps surprisingly the I Have

a Dream line was not in the original

draft it was improvised on the spot by

King after gospel singer mahelia Jackson

yelled out from the crowd urging him to

tell them about the dream I have a

dream my poor little

children will one day live in a nation

where they will not be judged by the

color of that skin but by the content of

that character I have a dream today

before we yield the floor to our top

pick here are a few honorable mentions

hence every discrimination against women

in the Constitutions and laws of the

several States is today null and void

precisely as is everyone against Negroes

I have only one thing to say you turn if

you want

to the ladies not for turning well now

it is time to be off I to die and you to

live but which of us has the happier

Prospect is unknown to anyone but Heaven

if you seek prosperity for the Soviet

Union and Eastern Europe if you seek

liberalization come here to this gate Mr

gorbachov Open this gate

today I can consider myself the luckiest

man on the face of the Earth

[Applause]

Earth number one the Gettysburg Address

Abraham Lincoln I think if I had my

choice of all the moments to be present

added in that war period it would be a

Gettysburg during Lincoln's delivery the

Gettysburg Address is without a doubt

one of the most famous speeches in

American history and then he went on to

to embolden the union cause with some of

the most stirring words ever spoken

taking inspiration from Pericles funeral

oration Lincoln delivered it 4 months

after the Union Army defeated the

Confederacy at the bloody Battle of

Gettysburg Four score and 7even years

ago our fathers brought forth upon this

continent a new

nation conceived in Liberty in less than

3 minutes Lincoln issued a moving plea

for the union to pay tribute to the dead

by continuing to fight for the

principles outlined in the Declaration

of Independence Freedom Liberty and

equality finally the president Hears A

Long thunderous

Applause Now history will take the

measure of the president's remarks

referenced countless times including by

JFK and Martin Luther King Jr the

transformative impact of this speech on

the country has earned it a pro minent

place in the history of the United

States and that government of the People

by the people for the

people shall not perish from the earth

do you agree with our list

on what's your favorite famous speech

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[Music]

men