Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent.
Dionysius Of Halicarnassus
Talk low, talk slow, and don't talk too much.
John Wayne
Is this about public speaking? Um ... no, probably not. It was his advice on acting. And it probably worked well for him, in his settings. It's certainly not something that would work for a speaker - all of the time. But used some of the time, it is a powerful tool. Deliberately speaking slowly in the midst of enthusiastic speed is powerful. Simplicity is powerful. Keeping to time is vital. And in those terms this is golden advice for public speakers.
'Of those who say nothing, few are silent.'
Thomas Neiel
Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.
Dorothy Sarnoff
“Vague and mysterious forms of speech, and abuse of language, have so long passed for mysteries of science; and hard or misapplied words with little or no meaning have, by prescription, such a right to be mistaken for deep learning and height of specu”
John Locke
The will to win is important. But the will to prepare is vital.
— Joe Paterno
I saw this quote somewhere else and thought it was good. I'm not American or into sport here in my own country, let alone in other countries, so didn't realise who I was quoting. Thanks for the comment, Richard. In no way do I support Joe, the man, but I have to leave the quote there because it is so true. As I said ... "And sometimes, in public speaking, (as, no doubt, in sport, we need to be reminded of the vital connection!!)"
I have always loved this quote ... I like the thought of words taking on their own energy.
Sometimes I feel they do, and that is when they truly can engage an audience ... or assault the unthinking.
Words ought to be a little wild for they are the assaults of thought on the unthinking.
John Maynard Keynes
Self-expression must pass into communication for its fulfillment.
Pearl S. Buck
... and of course every speech or presentation is communication - hopefully even a conversation.
... but does self-expression need to turn into communication to be fulfilled? Can one express oneself just for the sake of creating something, for learning mastery? What about the value of a journal that no-one ever reads but that is so cathartic, and supportive of personal growth?
Am I missing something?
Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.
Maya Angelou
The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven't thought of yet.
Ann Landers
