Here are some of my favourite quotes, and the reasons I like them.
Mark Twain
(1835 - 1910)
Mark Twain is a reliable source of great - and funny - quotes. Like his most famous books, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and the 'sequel' , Adventures of Huckleberrry Finn, his quotes look at life from the perspective of deep insight combined with humour.
His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
Mr. Clemens had a lot to say on a variety of subjects, including public speaking. And he wasn't just theorising: he was one of the most famous speakers of his day. He travelled across America and even to Europe to speak.
A good (and somewhat humorous) way of using his quotes is to say something like:
''As Samuel Langhorne Clemens famously said... of course we all know him as Mark Twain...''
Mark Twain on speaking in public:
1. ''The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.''
I love this one because pauses are so important for effective presenting. Pauses allow the listener to catch up. They can also be very dramatic. And best of all, they are easy to insert here and there (but again, you need to practice).
2. ''It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.''
This one really nails it. Prepare and practice, two of my favourite things. The real secret of making something look natural is that you have practiced it to the point of near mastery. To the point where you are not simply reciting or speaking from memory, but actually living the talk.
3. ''There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous, and those that are liars.''
Once again, Twain has caught the essence of a classic presentation issue: stage fright. Interestingly, Mark Twain actually coined the word 'stage-fright'. There is also a passage in Tom Sawyer where Tom himself suffers from an incredible bout of this debilitating feeling. Surprisingly, Twain claimed to have only had stage fright once, but his quote seems to contradict that.
I have chosen three of his quotes related to speaking, but he has dozens of others that span topics from life to government to so much more. Even if you don't end up using some of them, they are a delight to read and consider.
Dale Carnegie
(1888 - 1955)
Carnegie's famous book 'How To Win Friends and Influence People' is a true classic. Often quoted, admired, and sometimes made fun of, it remains a favourite of millions around the world. At the end of the day, it is Carnegies deep understanding of human nature - including his own - that makes the book a real timeless treasure.
1. ''You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.''
This quote almost sums up his whole philosophy. For the business world, and especially for presenters and pitchers, it is excellent food for thought.
2. '''There are always three speeches for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.''
This is the presenting experience. Practice is essential, but never the same as doing it live. And the value of doing it live is that you will discover what you want to change or do differently next time. But don't fall into the trap of being overly critical once the presentation is done. (See: Don't Kick Yourself Too Hard for more on this.)
And finally, here's the classic recipe for scripting your presentation or pitch. If you're uncertain how to write a presentation, follow this ancient method:
3. '' Tell the audience what you're going to say. Say it. Then tell them what you've said.''
Essentially, this is a simple presentation structure. Your introduction is the ''what you're going to say''. The body of your presentation is the ''say it''. And your conclusion is the ''tell them what you've said''.
Dale Carnegie has many more inspiring quotes. Take a look at them and enjoy.
Aristotle
(384 - 322 BC)
Aristotle was surely one of the most remarkable individuals that ever lived. He was a true polymath who was interested in - and wrote about - practically every subject, from biology to politics to rhetoric and much more. A student of Plato (not a bad person to have as a teacher), Aristotle went on to become the tutor of Alexander the Great (and an ancient story also implicates Aristotle in Alexander's death).
The width and breadth of Aristotle's knowledge is a wonder to behold. His writing is still relevant and fascinating, but for me (and many others) it is his volume about rhetoric that is the most interesting. Rhetoric is the art of speaking (or writing) effectively, and Aristotle was one of the first and most influential writers on this topic. In fact, his great book, 'the Art of Rhetoric' is a master class on the art of persuasion. There are many who feel that Aristotle pretty much said it all in this book, and that most writing about public speaking ever since is derivative of Aristotle. Certainly many of histories greatest speakers studied Aristotle. His influence on today's world, whether it's in pitching techniques or presentation styles, is everywhere (if not always recognised).
1. ''The secret to humor is surprise.''
Very simple, and direct to the point. Many others have had their say on the key to humor (Mark Twain thought that humor stemmed from sorrow). In any case, if you include surprising statements in your pitch, you will get people's attention, and often get a laugh. And as any student of joke telling knows, the punch line is very often a surprise, and that's why the joke is funny.
2. ''Nature does nothing in vain.''
You might think that this was written by a modern scientist or environmentalist. Aristotle was a keen observer (and writer) about nature and biology.
3. ''It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.''
This is a very valuable concept, and one of the starting points of learning.
And finally:
4. ''There is no great genius without some touch of madness.''
I would be curious to know some of your favourite quotes. Post 'em if you have 'em.
My other favourites are here on this site.
All the best, and happy trails,
Rob
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