persuasive speeches in tv shows

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TV’s Most Inspirational Speeches, Ranked

Kimberly roots, editor-in-chief.

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We’ve combed through some of the small screen’s most inspirational speeches and monologues and gathered the best ones in the gallery below. When you click on it, you’ll see rousing moments from your favorite series — including Game of Thrones ,  Grey’s Anatomy and The Flash —  ranked them from “wow, that was stirring” to “I CAN CONQUER THE WORLD!,” depending on how big a fire you need lit beneath you.

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18. ANNALISE KEATING REIGNS SUPREME

How to Get Away With Murder Season 4, Episode 13

We’ll admit this isn’t the most uplifting speech of the bunch; when it includes depressing nuggets like, “Jim Crow is alive and kicking,” how can it be? Nevertheless, we challenge you to come away from Annalise’s Supreme Court monologue without a lump in your throat, after she so eloquently and passionately fights for racial justice in America.

WATCH IT HERE

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17. LESLIE KNOPE WINS OUR VOTE

Parks and Recreation  Season 4, Episode 20

It’s just a debate to win a measly city council seat, but that incurable optimist Leslie Knope turns it into a rallying cry for the downtrodden, railing against her wealthy opponent Bobby Newport and underlining her endless passion for civic duty: “I love this town. And when you love something… you fight for it.”

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16. NURSES IN SOLIDARITY

ER , Season 9, Episode 6

Maybe it’s just that our appreciation of medical staff (and all other essential workers) is super high at this point in time, but we find Haleh’s unwavering willingness to stand by her co-workers incredibly galvanizing. “Another nurse asks for my support?” she tells Abby, who wonders why she’s signed a controversial petition at County General. “I’ll give it, every time.”

inspirational-speeches-greys-anatomy

15. CRISTINA’S GOODBYE PACKS A PUNCH

Grey’s Anatomy  Season 10, Episode 24

Dr. Yang couldn’t have left her person with better parting words, reminding Meredith that her hubby Derek “is not the sun. You are .” The short but powerful farewell certainly stoked Meredith to professional greatness, so there’s a good chance it’ll serve your purposes, too.

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14. MR. FEENY TEACHES HIS FINAL LESSON

Boy Meets World  Season 7, Episode 23

After nearly a decade of learning at the feet of master educator George Feeny, Cory and the gang are left with four simple words to live by: “Dream. Try. Do good.” Did we sob like babies the first time we watched it? Absolutely. Did we consider getting Mr. Feeny’s mantra tattooed on our lower backs? No comment.

inspirational-speeches-the-flash

13. JOE WEST NEEDS BARRY ALLEN

The Flash Season 1, Episode 9

The superhero thing was still a bit new to Barry Allen in the first midseason finale, so it’s understandable that the fierce and formidable Man in the Yellow Suit had him feeling defeated. But that super-speechifyer, Joe West, would not let his ward succumb to the darkness of fear. “The world may need The Flash, but… I need my Barry Allen.” No, YOU’RE sobbing.

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12. CAPTAIN KIRK… TALKS! ABOUT! RISK!

Star Trek  Season 2, Episode 20

When telepathic aliens confined to glowing orbs ask to (temporarily!) inhabit the bodies of Kirk, Spock and Dr. Ann Mulhall, Bones has a bone to pick with the risk involved. “Risk,” you say? That is Starfleet’s business,” Kirk declares in this rousing monologue helped along by chords of the Trek theme.

inspirational-speeches-24

11. PRESIDENT DAVID PALMER CALMS A FEARFUL NATION

24  Season 2, Episode 24

Palmer is the kind of leader who can make you feel safe and secure in just under 60 seconds. His address to the nation is poised and honest, sparking both patriotism and pride; it’s the perfect elixir after a panicked day.  

inspirational-speeches-madam-secretary

10. NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR OUR (FUTURE) PRESIDENT

Madam Secretary , Season 5, Episode 1

After consulting with three former Secretaries of State in the wake of a terrorist attack, Elizabeth delivers a speech that calls on the American people to reject nationalism and to embody the Founding Fathers’ ideals. “Governments can’t legislate tolerance or eradicate hate,” she says. “That’s why each one of us has to find the beauty in our differences instead of the fear.” 

WATCH IT HERE  

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9. BUTTERS BECOMES THE TEAM CAPTAIN OF KINDNESS

South Park Season 16, Episode 8

When a ridiculous new “sport” takes over the town, Butters conveys the value of sportsmanship and compassion to his mostly miserable teammates. His morale boost helps the kids access their “creamy centers,” and pushes them to be their best (if such a thing even exists in South Park).

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8. COACH TAYLOR ISN’T READY TO QUIT

Friday Night Lights  Season 1, Episode 22

FNL ‘s Coach specialized in motivational speeches that had us ready to run through a wall, and when times are tough (like they are right now), we like to turn to this gem from the Season 1 finale. With the Dillion Panthers down big at halftime, Coach encourages his team to dig deep and play their hardest for the people who still believe in them: “This game is not over. This battle is not over.” 

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7. LYANNA MORMONT BECOMES JON SNOW’S HYPE MAN

Game of Thrones  Season 6, Episode 10

It’s not looking good for Ned’s (alleged) bastard, but then the little Lady of Bear Island deftly shames her countrymen into joining her support for Snow as “King in the North! King in the North!” Is it any wonder men would eventually follow her straight into battle?

inspirational-speeches-mad-men

6. DON DRAPER IS A BOSS

Mad Men Season 5, Episode 9

In spite of his (many) flaws, Jon Hamm’s ad man was unquestionably a wizard with words. Here, he uses his innate charms to get his underlings to put their noses to the grindstone and land the agency’s first big car account. It won’t be easy, he warns, but it will be worth it: “Prepare to swim the English Channel, and then drown in Champagne.” 

inspirational-speeches-scandal

5. OLIVA HANDLES CYRUS

Scandal  Season 4, Episode 9

When Cyrus’ relationship with Michael is leaked to the public and effectively destroyed, the former Chief of Staff falls to pieces. Enter Olivia, who sweeps up those pieces and aggressively jams them back in place by repeatedly calling Cyrus a “little bitch baby” and devouring every last bit of scenery in the room. 

inspirational-speeches-the-daily-show

4. JON STEWART FINDS MEANING IN TRAGEDY

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart  Sept. 20, 2001

“We’ve had an… unendurable pain here, and I wanted to tell you why I grieve, but why I don’t despair,” Stewart tells a live audience during his first show back after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. During the monologue, the choked-up host praises the  efforts of first responders and the way the American public already has drawn together to begin the rebuilding process. “That’s extraordinary,” he notes, “and that’s why we’ve already won.”

inspirational-speeches-buffy-the-vampire-slayer

3. BUFFY UNITES AN ARMY

Buffy the Vampire Slayer  Season 7, Episode 10

With evil incarnate as her foe, Buffy stands strong, instilling courage in her motley crew of wimpy, teenaged potential slayers. She keeps it real, detailing the terrifying danger ahead, but her “They want an apocalypse? Oh, we’ll give them one,” bit would make anyone want to jump off the couch and join the fight. 

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2. SO SAY WE ALL

Battlestar Galactica miniseries

Humanity has been nearly obliterated by an all-out robot attack when William Adama addresses what’s left of his demoralized crew, who have gathered to say farewell to the dead. But then the commander mentions Earth, and how they’re going to find the legendary refuge mentioned in holy texts, and pretty soon everyone’s taking part in a call-and-response that’ll get you going even if you have no damn idea what a Cylon is.

inspirational-speeches-the-west-wing

1. JED BARTLET CELEBRATES ‘AMERICAN HEROES’

The West Wing  Season 4, Episode 2

Bartlet was a master of the stirring stump speech, but this might be his finest moment: In the aftermath of a pipe bombing that killed 44 Americans, the Prez steadies the nation’s collective nerves by honoring those who “ran into the fire” and helped the victims. These words ring especially true today: “We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes, and we reach for the stars.”

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Three words? “Dream. Try. Do good.” – learn to count “Risk,” you say? That is Starefleet’s business,” – learn to spell and use quotes

All fixed, thanks for the catch! –Mgmt.

One of these two “Route 66” episodes (the CBS original; NOT the misfire remake two decades later from NBC) deserves to be in the Top Ten; one or the other very high on an ‘Honorable Mention’ list. And somewhere in this universe, there’s gotta be room for one of Rod Serling’s scripts from his iconic “Twilight Zone” — which one could easily find ten just within that series alone — undeniably one of TV’s finest.

In a first season “Route 66” episode, ‘Don’t Count the Stars’ (April 28, 1961) watching — spellbound — George Maharis, as Buz, light into the alcoholic, horse-racing better, near low-life played by g.s. Dan Duryea, is a masterful piece of writing, acting and staging. It all takes place in a San Diego motel room where Buz encounters this rummy who’s the only hope for a loving, supportive, steady life as a parental figure for his sweet young niece (g.s. Susan Melvin) whose parents are recently deceased. Buz and Tod (Martin Milner), the Corvette convertible traveling duo, are in San Diego this episode. The wide open spaces of San Diego — the big blue ocean, far-reaching agricultural fields, the Del Mar racetrack — are just outside, but In that claustrophobic room — a real motel room as “Route 66” traditionally filmed on location all across the U.S. — Buz makes the irresponsible drunk, having given up on himself, feel about an inch tall after Buz tears into him like a verbal buzz saw. With a table lamp heaved across the room for good measure. Watching it one comes away with: there is NO WAY there could have been a second take on this scene. It’s that raw, that powerful

In this charged, heated scene Maharis gave EVERYTHING he’s got, his Buz character knowing that the child is doomed unless her uncle, her only relative and who does love her, can “pull it together.” And he CAN pull it together — if he’d only have faith in himself, stop drowning in ‘the sauce’ and see how the only thing important in his life is that dear, sweet child (almost) right outside the door. He’s got to try; NOT just give up on himself — for both their sakes.

Robert Duvall guest stars as a junkie in a “Route 66” second season episode, ‘Birdcage on My Foot,’ filmed (in this week’s episode) in Boston (Oct. 13, 1961, CBS). Series star George Maharis’ acting is so powerful opposite the brilliant Duval, the episode was screened at a series retrospective at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Bing Theater in the 1980s. Hundreds in the audience, but “you could hear a pin drop” in the charged, pivotal, elongated scene where Buz talks this junkie Duvall through a mandated, “cold turkey” attempt. Buz (Maharis) and Tod (Martin Milner) had encountered him after he tries to steal their Corvette, their prized Corvette that takes them all over the U.S., on real locations, week after week. At a non-descript Boston police station Buz, Tod (Martin Milner) and their lady friend, a local (g.s.Diana Millay) convince the responding officers to release Duvall in their custody for the weekend. Buz, we later learn, has a personal reason, a very personal reason for making this gigantic, unusual effort in the ugly, initial steps in getting Duvall off ‘the stuff.’ (He encouraged Tod and the girl to stick with their original plans to go sightseeing.) While Duvall thrives with withdrawal sweats on a bed’s mattress tossed on the living room floor, Maharis is as charged and passionate as any human can be. Tod and his lady friend return to see Buz pull out all stops. He shares something with the writhing Duvall that his traveling buddy Tod knew nothing about. With deep emotion, Buz shares how he discovered his father was a user when he was a child. It transformed his childhood; changed his life — he became fatherless. There’s no Pollyanna ending that one weekend works miracles. No. After that challenging 48 hours, the two men drive Duvall to the city’s in-house, live-in drug treatment program. This fascinating story point about Buz’s background was learned by Tod and the audience simultaneously.

Another classic TV episode showing how a character’s memories of her/his childhood have considerable impact on their adult life is Rod Serling writing nostalgically of his childhood and putting his well-chosen thoughts into words in the off-camera narration spoken by Gig Young. Gig Yound as Martin Sloan, the super-busy, big city executive who just chances upon his small home town that he’s put out of his mind due to his ever busy life today when he has car trouble — and just needs to idle a few hours while repairs are done. ” . . . cotton candy, carousels, summer evenings, ‘Mom’ and ‘Pop’ . . . ” — words that most adults can relate to — as the meaningful, typewritten words that Rod Serling shares — when/if they reflect back a few decades. ‘Walking Distance’ — a standout, melancholy, desperate, nostalgic feeling performance by Gig Young, in a speech wherein he voices the words of literary craftsman, Rod Serling.

I first discovered ‘Route 66’ during the TVLand run in the 80’s. I was struck by how even with a dated look, it still felt very contemporary. It can be streamed on Amazon Prime now, and it still holds up all these years later. A true gem.

i want to do a persuasive speech on the tv show the flash.

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The 15 best monologues in tv history.

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While film is considered a director’s medium, television has and always will belong to the writers. Every show you’ve ever loved was concocted by a roomful of creatives bouncing ideas off each other. Every plot, every character arc, and every twist was at one point put down on paper by a talented writer.

One of the flashiest ways a writer can demonstrate their prowess is with a monologue. The monologue can lay bare the motivations of the character, can strengthen a relationship, and sometimes, it can cement the theme of the entire series.

We’ve put together a list honoring the best speeches and monologues in the history of television. As you can imagine, it was hard to narrow it down to just 15. Oftentimes, if a show had one great monologue, then it probably had several great monologues. We limited ourselves to just one monologue per show, because we didn’t want half of the entries to be from The West Wing .

Here are the 15 Greatest Monologues in TV History .

15. "America is Not the Greatest Country" - The Newsroom

Say what you will about the later seasons of The Newsroom , but the show begins masterfully. Aaron Sorkin (who, rest assured, will make more than one appearance on this list) may draw criticisms for injecting too many of his own beliefs into his writing and veering into preachy-ness at times. While this monologue from the pilot certainly had the potential to lean that way, the writing is so sharp and the performance by Jeff Daniels is so impassioned, it’s impossible to not be swept up in it.

Spurred on by the bickering of his fellow political panelists, and hallucinations of a woman from his past, Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) lets his frustration get the better of him and delivers a scathing response to a student’s question of why America is the greatest country on earth. “It’s not. It’s not the greatest country on earth,” Will says to the stunned crowd. He then goes on to deliver a blistering, rapid fire takedown of the student’s question, firing off statistics and insults without pausing to breathe. Midway through his cruel, pessimistic speech, he leans into the past, and waxes nostalgic for the America he remembers. It doesn’t matter whether you agree with the character’s politics or not. This monologue arrests the audience's attention and doesn’t let go. It lays out a sprawling, angry mission statement for the controversial, messy, and ambitious show to come.

14. Alicia Breaks Down - The Good Wife

Sometimes the most shocking monologues in film and television can just come from speaking completely and totally honestly. In day to day life, we spend so much time sidestepping the truth, either to avoid confrontation or judgement or embarrassing ourselves. So to hear a character in a television show say exactly how she is feeling, with an unrelenting, unpleasant, devastating honesty, it reads to us as shocking.

This is the philosophy behind this brutal monologue in The Good Wife . Lucca (Cush Jumbo) approaches Alicia (Juliana Margulies) and invites her to open up about her grief. Once she does, everything pours out of the series' heroine. She describes the death of her husband. She admits she may not even like her kids. She confesses she’s tired of it all, the laundry, the house, the everything. The writing is focused and deeply personal, but also universal. Simple statements like “I’m not built to be an unhappy person” resonate with everyone who has experienced grief. The acting by Margulies is striking and feels deeply authentic.

13. "Bros Before Hoes" - The Office

There is a plethora of great monologues to choose from in the American version of The Office (as well as the original, British version, for that matter). Pam’s assertion of confidence at the end of “Beach Games” is inspiring. Michael’s musings at the end of Women’s Appreciation Day are hilarious. In the end, we chose to go with a short, simple, to-the-camera monologue delivered by Michael Scott. We’re talking about the classic “Bros before hoes” speech.

“Bros before hoes” exemplifies everything that was wonderful about the character of Michael Scott. After getting dumped, an emotional Scott addresses the camera, explaining the philosophy behind the phrase “bros before hoes”. The direct camera interviews are always a great opportunity for Michael to spout what he sees as wise, philosophical thoughts. As often happens though, Michael gets caught up in his initial phrasing, and proceeds to label his former lovers as “hoes” throughout his passionate speech, building to the final, hilarious line, “suddenly, she’s not your hoe no mo.” Steve Carrell is wonderful as always, playing up the emotional truth of the ridiculous monologue. We sympathize with Michael even as we laugh at his misguided attempts at deep relationship advice.

12. Ophelia Brushes Annalise's Hair - How to Get Away With Murder

This chilling, nuanced, and devastating monologue from  How to Get Away with Murder   just about guaranteed Cicely Tyson an Emmy nomination that year. In the episode, Annalise (Viola Davis) is visited by her mother, Ophelia. Old memories and tensions resurface, specifically the fact that Ophelia’s brother raped Annalise as a child, and she’s held a simmering resentment for her mother ever since. This dam of tensions breaks in this jaw-dropping scene, when Ophelia goes to brush her daughter’s hair and tell a story about their old house.

The staging of this monologue is brilliant. Annalise slumps to the floor, taking on a very childlike, vulnerable position as her mother begins to brush her hair. As Ophelia weaves her gripping, awful story, Annalise begins to realize the sacrifice her mother made for her, and the horrible things she did to seek justice for her family. Tyson’s voice quivers with emotion and simmering anger, and the always incredible Viola Davis registers the shock and emotions completely truthfully. The scene gives us chills every time we watch it.

11. "Clear Eyes, Full Heart" - Friday Night Lights

There was no shortage of inspirational Coach Taylor ( Kyle Chandler ) speeches to pick from in Friday Night Lights . Really, it came down to a toss-up between this speech, and the “ We will all fall ” speech from the pilot episode. In the end, we went for this uplifting locker room speech,  but both are certainly worth your time, as is the rest of this wonderful show.

The locker room speech has become almost cliche in modern pop culture, but when written specifically and delivered appropriately, it still has the ability to inspire and uplift audiences. This is exactly what Coach Taylor’s “clear eyes, full heart” speech does. In this scene, Taylor instills in his players the value of perseverance, even when it seems as if everyone has given up on you. This battle is not over, he promises the young athletes. Chandler’s comforting, paternal voice guides us through this powerfully written speech, and inspires us as much as it does the football players in that locker room.

10. "Risk" - Star Trek

Though people love to poke fun and parody William Shatner’s performance as Captain Kirk in Star Trek , we can’t overlook how memorable and iconic he made that character. Throughout the seasons, Shatner revealed a Star Captain who was bold, brash, adventurous and compassionate. Kirk set a new standard for TV protagonists. We loved to join him and the entire Enterprise crew on their voyages to the outer reaches of space.

In this rousing monologue, Kirk lays out one of his underlying philosophies. He extols the benefits of risk. He praises the innovations that have led them to where they are now, and pleads with his crew to continue pushing the boundaries of science and exploration. This monologue encapsulates everything that we love about Kirk as a character. His curiosity and thirst for adventure knows no bounds. He cares about his crew, but he also cares deeply about the human race, and knows that to survive, you have to keep moving forward. Those who let fear of the unknown stop them from exploring grow to be stagnant. That’s a mantra we can get behind!

9. "Maternity Care" - House of Cards

House of Cards provides us with another goldmine of fantastic television monologues. The story of Frank Underwood and his wife ascending to power has captured the attention of millions of Netflix subscribers. There’s a perverse joy in seeing two unscrupulous people connive, manipulate, and cheat their way to the top of the political food chain. Frank has some deliciously villainous speeches, but we wanted to dig a little deeper for this one.

Claire Underwood may not be the face on the Netflix icon for House of Cards , but Robin Wright’s portrayal of the character has made her one of the most compelling parts of this series. This monologue finds her in full on villain mode, with her twisting a metaphorical knife in the back of a former employee. Underwood almost seems to take glee in manipulating the woman and hoisting herself up another rank on the power ladder. The writing, as always, is horrifyingly cruel. Wright has won a Golden Globe and been nominated for several Emmys for her performance, and from this clip alone, it's easy to see why.

8. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" - Scandal

Kerry Washington gets to deliver some of the most intense burns in television history as Olivia Pope on Scandal . Her character is fiery, independent, and ambitious. In one of the most famous speeches on the show, she fires off a numerical takedown of her former lover, Edison Davis (Norm Lewis) after he accuses her of something very serious.

In this scene, Pope returns home to find a very grave Davis in her apartment. She dodges his questions at first, but then he hits her with a whopper of an accusation: she was the President’s mistress. Something snaps in Pope, and she spits back a smoldering retort that would most people a blubbering mess. The writers came up with a particularly juicy format for this monologue, giving her five points to count backwards from. Monologues like this are why Scandal has become one of the most popular television shows of the new millennium.

7. "We Were So Beautiful" - Misfits

Shouting from a rooftop to a group of his peers, waving a gun around, Nathan (Robert Sheehan) makes a passionate ode to youth. “We’re supposed to drink too much! We’re supposed to have bad attitudes!” he screams to the crowd of onlookers. This funny, and also somehow poignant speech, represents a high point in the British series Misfits .

What’s so wonderful about this monologue is the exasperated earnestness that Sheehan delivers it with. He’s not winking at the adults in the audience at all. Not unlike Michael Scott in an earlier entry, he truly believes he’s expounding a deep, universal truth. He’s just doing it using a fairly silly rhetoric. “It breaks my heart; you’re wearing cardigans!” he cries to the teenagers below him. As audience members, we laugh, but we also see ourselves in Nathan. This wiry kid, clawing and screaming and crying for his lost youth is somehow inspiring. And it all culminates with that wonderful line: “WE WERE SO BEAUTIFUL!”

6. The Shepherd's Speech - A Charlie Brown Christmas

The majority of monologues on this list are angry, vicious, and cruel. And that’s okay! We go to television for drama, and anger is dramatic. But there’s another note that great television monologues can hit: hope. Linus’ “shepard's” speech from A Charlie Brown Christmas represents the peak of sincerity for this list. It’s wholesome, heartwarming, and just plain endearing. There’s a reason this fifty year old cartoon is still shown on television every Christmas. It’s message is completely sincere, and entirely universal. And it is all laid out by Linus in this lovely little speech.

After being laughed at and called a failure by every kid in town, and even his dog, Charlie Brown cries out “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” He is fed up and frustrated with the commercial aspect of Christmas (a topic that is still as hot today as it was in 1965). Linus, the source of parental wisdom in the show, replies simply, “well, sure Charlie Brown.” He then takes the stage and tells the Bible story of the shepherds, ending with the line “goodwill toward Man.” He walks off the stage and quietly says, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” Not such a bad message for a children’s cartoon.

5. Bible Lesson - The West Wing

To be honest, we probably could have created an entire list just featuring President Bartlet monologues. One of the most brilliant and memorable characters created by Aaron Sorkin, President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) was warm, practical, and compassionate. And most importantly, he always stood up for what he believed was right. There are plenty of speeches throughout The West Wing that prove this, but our particular favorite is the one we’ve shared above.

In this exhilarating and satisfying monologue, President Bartlet takes a religious pundit to task for her stance on homosexuality. Using specific other examples from the Bible, Barlet makes an informed, educated takedown of her argument, citing specific chapters and verses that are no longer considered relevant in our culture. The pundit sits stone faced as Bartlet absolutely decimates her argument. As a final cherry on top, he reprimands her for remaining seated when the President enters the room. Has there been a cooler TV President? That’s a question for another article  (but the answer is definitely no).

4. Tyrion's Big Moment - Game of Thrones

One of several rallying cries to make this list, Tyrion delivers an exceptionally exciting one during the battle of Blackwater Bay in season two of Game of Thrones . With Stannis’ army pounding at their doors, the mood among the soldiers is understandably bleak. Tyrion, displaying a previously unseen heroism, rallies them by cutting to the truth of the matter.

Don’t fight for your king, he calls. Don’t fight for your kingdom. Fight for your home. The men begin to murmur in agreement. Tyrion, who appears to psych himself up as much as he is psyching up his soldiers, grows louder and more impassioned as the drumming on their door booms louder. “Those are some brave men knocking at our door,” he shouts. “Let’s go kill them.”

Game of Thrones is at it’s best when it is defying expectations and subverting tropes. By undercutting a potentially cliche rallying scene with this blunt, simple, funny coda, this speech provides a brilliant microcosm for the entire show.

3. Chosen - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Leave it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to show you how to deliver an inspirational speech. Speaking to a roomful of disillusioned, defeated women, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) calls them to arms. She asks that they put aside their differences and stand together against a unique threat. She entreats them to not waste time wishing that things were different, but rather spend time choosing the way in which to handle problems. This ability to choose is what gives them power, she argues.

Buffy goes on to stand up for girls all over the world. In a montage, we see girls everywhere making their choices and choosing to stand up. “Make your choice,” Buffy calls out to all the potential slayers out there. “Are you ready to be strong?” It maybe wouldn’t be a bad idea to listen to this speech on Youtube next time you have a big presentation in school, or a project due at work.

2. "Nostalgia" - Mad Men

At the center of Mad Men lies the enigma of Don Draper. The mystery surrounding Draper’s past informs much of the show. Early on, we’re only given glimpses of the former life this brilliant ad man used to lead. In his pitch for a new Kodak camera, Draper gives us a telling glimpse at his philosophy regarding the past.

In his pitch, Draper begins by arguing that “new” isn’t necessarily the biggest selling point for a new product. “Nostalgia” he asserts, can be just as powerful, if not moreso. The word “nostalgia”, in Greek, literally translates to “the pain from an old wound” he tells the hushed room of investors. As he speaks, he flashes old photographs of him with his family on the screen. Draper suggests this product isn’t a wheel -- it’s a carousel. Hamm’s delivery is measured and professional, but we can tell that just below, the surface, pain and emotions are churning like an ocean surf. As the music swells, and the images flash on the screen, it’s hard not to get chills.

1. "I Am the One Who Knocks" - Breaking Bad

Topping our list of greatest TV monologues is this instantly iconic diatribe delivered by Chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, Walter White (Bryan Cranston). If you’ve seen Breaking Bad , you know what monologue this is. Even if you haven’t seen the show, you probably know what monologue this is. The piece was so well written and so well acted, it immediately entered the cultural lexicon as a reference point for television badassery.

Late in season four, Walter is in a fight with his wife, Skyler. She begs him to quit making meth, to turn himself into the police before he gets killed. Skyler doesn’t realize until it’s too late that she has bruised a dangerous man’s sense of self worth. Walt launches into a Shakespearean tirade of a monologue, aggrandizing himself and grooming his ego. If he quits, he says, an entire company goes belly-up overnight. She’s worried about him getting killed? He doesn’t get killed. He is the danger. He is the one who knocks.

What truly propels this speech into television glory is Cranston’s flicker of regret and shame at the end of the monologue. It only lasts for a moment, but we see actual fear cross his face as he realizes what he’s become. That’s some damn good television.

Do you have any beloved TV monologues that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments!

The 30 Best Movie Inspirational Speeches

Cinema's most stirring oratories and spirit-raising team talks.

In times of trouble, you need a little help getting up and going, and film can often provide just that. Cinema has a long and storied history of providing great words of motivation and encouragement, sometimes for the characters' own benefit and occasionally to the audience. Here, we've chosen 30 of the best that should fit almost any occasion - but if you're really pressed for time, here are 40 condensed into a two-minute span { =nofollow}. If you have a little longer, read on!

Also: The 25 Best Movie Bollockings

The Great Dictator

Made at a time when the shadow of World War II was looming over Europe, Charlie Chaplin’s speech here – he’s playing a poor Jewish barber in disguise as a preening dictator and forced to address a Nuremberg-style rally – is a heartfelt plea for sanity and compassion in a time of madness. It’s the perfect antidote to extremism, and uses fiery rhetoric for good. If only we’d be able to pull this switcheroo in real life.

Buy The Great Dictator

Independence Day

Sure, there are cheesemongers with less cheese on offer than you see here and OK, the American jingoism doesn’t work at all for those of us not of a Yank disposition. But Bill Pullman’s slightly sheepish style blends here with steely determination, and he delivers the American St Crispin’s Day speech with conviction. Then, like any US President, he leaps into his fighter jet and flies off to battle aliens.

Buy Independence Day

For those who prefer a little humour in their motivational speeches, try the pitch-black streak in this opener, establishing Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius as a leader of men and a helluva guy. Galloping around the Legions in his cool armour and fur-lined cloak, you might question whether he really needs an entire army to back him up, but you’ll never doubt for a moment that they’d choose to follow him as he unleashes hell.

Buy Gladiator

Any Given Sunday

There’s a lot to be said for a little personal touch to leaven your high-flung rhetoric, and it’s a trick that Al Pacino uses well here, in the first of three American football speeches we’re going to include (hey, we can’t help it if the heavily-padded sport produces some great pep talks). Pacino’s troubled Tony D’Amato unveils his own problems with brutal honesty before using his own failures as a spur to rev on his team to greatness, speaking of team spirit and commitment as someone who has been known to suck at both.

Buy Any Given Sunday

Friday Night Lights

The film has been somewhat overshadowed nowadays by the equally good TV show that followed it, but watch Billy Bob Thornton here and be reminded that Kyle Chandler isn’t the only fundamentally decent man who can inspire a team of small-town boys to great efforts in pursuit of perfection. It’s also worth noting that he puts his emphasis here on excelling and not winning, making it clear that victory isn’t only measured by the scoreboard. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.

Buy Friday Night Lights

It is, and will probably always be, the greatest inspirational speech ever made. It’s endlessly flexible, and works even when not declaimed by the classically trained (see this Renaissance Man version for proof). And it’s by Shakespeare, still the best writer in Hollywood. We have, controversially perhaps, chosen Branagh’s version over Olivier’s because the latter sounds a little shrill to the modern ear, while Branagh convinces us that he could convince his men. This speech, given by the titular monarch to a vastly outnumbered force about to fight the French, obviously works especially well for English people, but by God, Harry and St George, it’s universal in its rousing effect.

Buy Henry V

This is a little-known film in the UK but it’s revered in certain communities in the US. Sean Astin’s Rudy has overcome dyslexia, poor grades and his relatively small stature to win a place on Notre Dame’s famous Fighting Irish American football team. Only problem is that he’s never been off the bench, and with his final game approaching he threatens to quit the team if he isn’t allowed to play – prompting this inspirational speech / telling off from a friend who points out that he’s being whiny and entitled and needs to grow a pair. Soon he’s back on the bench and given a starting position when his entire team threatens not to play unless he’s given a shot.

An honourable mention for Hector’s pep talk but Achilles wins the battle of the inspirational speeches just as he wins their duel (c’mon, that’s not a spoiler; it’s in the 2000 year-old Iliad). This is a short snippet, but then godlike Achilles, the man-killer, is a man of action rather than words. And what he does say – focusing on lions, glory and the manifold abilities of his small, hand-picked group of Myrmidons – would convince a rock to fight any Trojan who dared oppose it.

Animal House

Not every inspirational speech is about trying to inspire his cohorts to kill people or batter them up and down the length of a football field. Some aspire to a higher goal. Some aspire to debauchery, drinking and probably nudity. Some aspire to party like 1999 might have done had it tried harder. Some aspire to a particular kind of grubby, deranged greatness. One such is John Belushi’s Bluto, and this is the greatest night of his life.

Buy Animal House

The Goonies

Come the hour, cometh the man – and in this case the man is a small, asthmatic Sean Astin, inspiring his fellow Goonies to never say die and to keep going in their quest to find treasure and save their community. In his yellow rain slicker and with his voice on the edge of breaking he may not look like a modern Napoleon, but he has the same effect on his exhausted and discouraged troopers. He’s so good you’ll almost forget to laugh at his mentions of One-Eyed Willy. snigger

Buy The Goonies

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Death comes to us all, and Aragorn ain’t going to lie about it. But he still gees up his troops with the assurance that their civilisation will survive the onslaught of the forces of Mordor. Sure, they’re vastly outnumbered and sure, it seems likely that Frodo has failed in his quest to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom (especially if you’re watching the Extended Edition) but Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn ensures that no one will be quitting any time soon. Not this day!

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Bill Murray isn’t usually the guy you turn to for sincere, inspiring words of comfort. He’s more the type to puncture any attempt at same, and probably to fast-talk his opponents into giving up and going for a karaoke session while he’s about it. But after his heart grows two sizes during the course of Scrooged, he makes a plea for kindness and niceness from all mankind. He still does it in a recognisably Murray, manic and scattershot way, but that just makes him all the more compelling. Someone hire this man to play Santa Claus.

Buy Scrooged

Stirring sports speeches are limited to American Football. Miracle On Ice chronicles the based-on-truth tale of how the US Olympic hockey team triumphed over their Russian rivals. Kurt Russell's the speech-giver here, playing coach Herb Brooks. "Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world," he tells them. You'll feel a swell of pride and inspiration too.

Rent Miracle

Deep Blue Sea

“You think water’s fast? You should see ice.” Samuel L. Jackson’s been around the block more than once, and he’s seen the worst of mankind. It’s with the weight of that history behind him that he takes charge and orders his fellow survivors of a marine disaster to start pulling together and quit arguing. His speech also has what is, unquestionably, the greatest punchline on this list. Still, it achieves the desired effect once everyone has quit screaming.

Buy Deep Blue Sea

If in doubt, steal from classical history, something that David Wenham’s Dilios demonstrates with aplomb here. In actual history, the one survivor of the 300 was so shamed by his survival that he executed a suicidal one-man attack on the Persians at this Battle of Plataea, but Wenham seems more in control and also like he has quite a bit of back-up. “The enemy outnumber us a paltry three-to-one,” notes Dilios triumphantly. Why, it was hardly worth the Persians turning up.

Good Will Hunting

Here’s an inspirational speech well-suited to highly-paid sports teams and the enormously talented. Ben Affleck’s argument is, basically, that if you’re lucky enough to get extraordinary chances in your life, it’s your duty to the rest of us schmoes to actually take those chances and run with them as far as you can. If you can get past the shellsuit and the hair, he’s basically Yoda-like in his wisdom.

Buy Good Will Hunting

Most people only remember the last word – “Freedom!” – but the rest of the speech is pretty killer too. Mel Gibson’s William Wallace starts off by puncturing his own legend, and acknowledges the urge to cut and run in the face of a far superior English force. But then he reminds his men what they’d be missing if they do, and soon they’re all back on side and facing down the hated English. By the end of this speech, you’ll all hate the English with them – even if you are one.

Buy Braveheart

Coach Carter

You’d expect the inspiration in this basketball film to come from the titular no-nonsense coach, played by a fiery Samuel L. Jackson. But in fact it’s one of his players who nabs the best lines, as he and the team sit studying to keep their grades as high as their scores. There is a little cheating here: Rick Gonzalez’ Timo actually steals his inspirational speech from Marianne Williamson (it’s sometimes wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela) but he delivers it well so we’re going to allow it.

Buy Coach Carter

While it’s his skills in the ring that he is most lauded for, Rocky Balboa is something of a poet to boot. An incoherent one, certainly; a poet who says “I guess” a lot more often than Wordsworth might like, but a poet nevertheless. His moving words here, as he single-handedly ends the Cold War and ushers in a new era of East-West relations, are just one example. Another is…

Buy Rocky IV

Rocky Balboa

If his last speech was incoherent – in fairness, his rhythm may have been thrown off by the translator – this one verges on incomprehensible when he really gets going. Still, there’s real passion in Rocky’s plea for one last shot and an argument that’s applicable to all sorts of situations of institutional injustice or unfeeling bureaucracy.

Buy Rocky Balboa

Stand And Deliver

Those who've watched him on the modern Battlestar Galactica know that Edward James Olmos is a past master at giving speeches. This is him from a little earlier in his career, playing Jaime Escalante, a real-life teacher who inspired his students to stop dropping out and start taking calculus seriously. Here, he's handing out as pop quiz, so anyone having to home school their kids can take note.

Rent Stand And Deliver

Good Night, And Good Luck

This one is couched particularly at media moguls, but there’s a call for excellence and the highest moral standards here that we would all do well to live by. David Strathairn’s Edward R. Murrow, in a speech lifted directly from Murrow’s actual address to the Radio and Television News Directors Association in 1958, pleads for TV to inform as well as entertain. We feel that if more people saw this speech, Made In Chelsea would be cancelled immediately and reality TV would be banned, so spread the word!

Buy Good Night, And Good Luck

Anyone who has ever flirted with a romantic interest knows the risk of being knocked back, and Jon Favreau's Mike is experiencing a crisis of confidence. Luckily for him, he has Vince Vaughn's Trent to talk him back into the game, and Alex Désert's Charles to remind him that he's so money. He's a bear! And she's a bunny! Everything is going to be fine.

Buy Swingers

Charles Dutton’s second appearance on this list, after Rudy, sees him once again reminding lesser men (and women) to get with the programme, pull the finger out and generally stand up and be counted. But this time they’re facing unstoppable acid-blooded xenomorphs rather than American football players, so he has to be extra-emphatic.

Buy Alien 3

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Remarkably few women get to deliver inspirational speeches in movies – apparently they’re relegated to clapping admiringly from the sidelines. Thank goodness for Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) who is elected King of the Pirates and rouses her troops into action for a last-ditch fight against the Lord Beckett’s overwhelming forces, led by the Flying Dutchman. She may not have quite the lungs of others on the list, but there’s no doubting her conviction as she calls for them to “Hoist the colours!” – the Jolly Roger – and sail out one last time.

Buy Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

The Replacements

One doesn’t expect lengthy speeches from Keanu “Woah” Reeves (although he’s done his share of Shakespeare actually) but he’s rarely more succinct and to the point than in this chat with his fellow Replacements. And in fact there are few speeches more likely to be effective in motivating an exhausted team for one last effort. “Chicks dig scars” could be used by virtually every example here to drive on the listeners.

Buy The Replacements

Bill Murray at it again, and once more an unconventional speech. This time out, he's John Winger, a loser who decides that he and best pal Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) will join the Army. Stuck with a group of oddballs, and, after a night of partying, decides to rally his fellow troops. It works... Sort of. But Murray's typically laconic style works well for the speech itself.

Rent or buy Stripes

The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King

All seems lost for Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin again) and Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as they lie, exhausted, on the slopes of Mount Doom. Frodo’s beyond endurance and raving as the influence of the Ring grows ever stronger on him, and his desperate straits drive Sam to one last push. It’s barely a speech, really – he uses his words better here – but there are few moments more inspirational.

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: Return of The King

The Shawshank Redemption

A quiet moment between Tim Robbins' Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman's Red became one of the more memorable moments in Shawshank , a movie with no shortage of them. And for those who are spending more time inside than perhaps they might be used to, Andy's musing on what he would do if he got out of prison are inspirational in themselves, even before he gets to that iconic line.

Rent The Shawshank Redemption

Avengers: Endgame

Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, is not shy of breaking out speech mode when the moment calls for it. And inspiring the Avengers as they're about to embark on a trip through space and time to retrieve the Infinity Stones certainly seems like that moment. "Whatever it takes," indeed.

Rent Avengers: Endgame

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33 TV Actors Who Gave Award-Worthy Performances With Just A Single Monologue

Anya's speech in "The Body" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer still makes me cry.

BuzzFeed Staff

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which TV monologues are the greatest of all time. Here are just a few of the best responses:

🚨 Warning: There are MASSIVE spoilers ahead! 🚨

1. On The West Wing , when President Bartlet delivered this truly iconic speech in both English and Latin after Mrs. Landingham died.

"President Bartlet's monologue in the church in 'Two Cathedrals' is literally the epitome of 'the best TV monologue.' Yelling at God? In a church? In Latin? The entirety of that scene lives in my mind rent free. It's flawless."

— carrotcakecait

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 22, or you can watch it here .

2. On BoJack Horseman , when BoJack gave a eulogy at his mother's funeral.

"The entire episode is just one long monologue, and it's perfect in every way."

— facebook_10104736673146075

Where you can find the episode-long monologue: Season 5, Episode 6

3. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer , when Anya gave this heartbreaking speech while dealing with Joyce's death.

"She was immortal for so long that someone she cares about dying makes no sense to her. It's not long, but it breaks my heart every time."

— tmwdlm2011

Where you can find the monologue: Season 5, Episode 16, or you can watch it here .

4. On How to Get Away with Murder , when Annalise argued in front of the Supreme Court.

"First thing that came to mind was the Supreme Court speech from Annalise on How to Get Away with Murder . It was so powerful and I get chills every time I watch it."

— carmenbarrios28

Where you can find the monologue: Season 4, Episode 16, or you can watch it here .

5. On Doctor Who , when the Doctor gave this iconic speech about war and how it only creates a cruel world.

"Peter Capaldi's monologue from 'The Zygon Inversion' is a phenomenal scene where he talks about how war is people being cruel to cruel people, thus only creating more cruel people to replace the people they think are cruel. It's just a great scene that makes some insightful points about how the only way to truly make our world better is by being better people and not stooping to the level of the people we’re trying to replace."

— florida97

Where you can find the monologue: Season 9, Episode 8, or you can watch it here .

6. On Jane the Virgin , when Jane rambled about how she was doing after learning that Michael was actually alive .

"Jane's asked one simple question, 'How are you doing?' and it sends her on a seven-minute spiel where she goes through a range of emotions and basically sums up the entire series. It's hilarious, emotional, and I've watched it at least 20 times. This monologue basically solidified Gina Rodriguez as my favorite actor."

— jessieweickert

Where you can find the monologue: Season 5, Episode 1

7. On Grey's Anatomy , when Bailey opened up to Richard about how she was feeling after her miscarriage.

"Dr. Bailey’s monologue after her miscarriage is hands down one of the best monologues I’ve seen on television in years. When she talks about saving everyone, but being unable to save her child, I sob so damn hard."

— hayleyokay

Where you can find the monologue: Season 16, Episode 10, or you can watch it here .

8. Also on Grey's Anatomy , when Cristina gave this speech to Owen about how Burke took pieces of her.

"Cristina Yang just remains one of the best TV characters ever. Sandra Oh is so talented and this monologue proves it."

— aaronweeks101

Where you can find the monologue: Season 6, Episode 13, or you can watch it here .

9. On The Newsroom , when the series literally started with Will's speech about how America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.

"Jeff Daniels' monologue in front of all those students is mesmerizing. This gave me chills when I first heard it and I think it is extremely relevant today."

— alexisg41dc2b075

Where you can find the monologue: Season 1, Episode 1, or you can watch it here .

10. On The Haunting of Hill House , when Nell was in the Red Room and talked to her siblings about time.

"Nell's monologue toward the end of the series gives me chills. It's incredible."

— emilyd41b36b9de

Where you can find the monologue: Episode 10 or you can watch it here .

11. Also on The Haunting of Hill House , when Theo explained to Shirley how she felt nothing after touching Nell's body.

"I felt every part of this speech because that's what depression feels like. I have felt nothing. I have felt everything. When you feel everything, you want to feel nothing. When you feel nothing, all you want to do is feel something. I have ruined so many relationships — friend, family, romantic — because of it. It's crippling. I felt Theo's pain. I've lived her pain. I understood her pain. It was beautifully done. Kate Siegel is extraordinary in this moment."

— caitlynnnt

Where you can find the monologue: Episode 8

12. On The Haunting of Bly Manor , when Jamie talked to Dani about her childhood and moonflowers.

"I think about it at least twice a day. I want to go out and get a moonflower and try to grow it simply because of Jamie. Also, this monologue was a really good chance to peek into who Jamie is as a person. She was a little rough around the edges at first, so Dani and the audience needed the curtains pulled back a bit. Amelia Eve knocked it out of the park."

— jazzminrd9

Where you can find the monologue: Episode 6

13. On Shameless , when Fiona told Monica about how she has raised all of her siblings.

"The monologue when she tells Monica why she can't take Liam away is so amazing. Emmy Rossum is incredible and you really feel her emotions while she's talking."

Where you can find the monologue: Season 1, Episode 9, or you can watch it here .

14. On Fleabag , when Fleabag talked in the confessional to the priest.

"This scene still gives me chills! I remember watching it for the first time and I cried so much at this scene because I was in a terrible place at the time and she basically said everything I was thinking. Sometimes we do want someone to tell us what to do when nothing seems to make sense in our life and to help pick up the pieces."

— andreaabordo16

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 4, or you can watch it here .

15. On Euphoria , when Rue talked to Fez about having her first panic attack after her dad was diagnosed with cancer.

"Rue's speech to Fez in the Euphoria pilot, aka the moment I knew Zendaya was destined for the Emmy."

16. On Game of Thrones , when Tyrion was on trial and gave this memorable speech.

"Peter Dinklage does such a good job at conveying the deep, raw layers and emotions that Tyrion has. You can hear it in every word! From the anger and sadness of neglect and being falsely accused to the frustration of being beaten down by his family for so many years. It’s too good to not mention!"

Where you can find the monologue: Season 4, Episode 6, or you can watch it here .

17. On Orange Is the New Black , when Taystee talked about Poussey's death to reporters outside the prison.

"After Poussey is killed by a guard, the inmates started a riot for justice, fair treatment, and prisoners' rights. Taystee gives this heartbreaking speech to reporters after they show up because of Judy King. Danielle Brooks is so talented."

Where you can find the monologue: Season 5, Episode 5, or you can watch it here .

18. On Friday Night Lights , when Coach Taylor gave this speech to the Panthers during the state championship game.

"To this day, Coach Taylor remains one of the kings of iconic monologues. It's hard to choose the absolute best one, but one that sticks out in my mind is always when he gives the speech in the locker room during the Season 1 finale. The Panthers had been through so much and this was just a perfect moment."

— noradominick

Where you can find the monologue: Season 1, Episode 22, or you can watch it here .

19. On This Is Us , when Kevin returned to his high school's football field and gave play-by-play commentary on his life.

"Kevin's football field monologue, where he gives a play-by-play commentary of his screwed-up life and we get a front row seat to him hitting rock bottom. This scene showcases what a complex character Kevin is. It is easily one of the best scenes of the series and Justin Hartley's acting is on point."

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 8, or you can watch it here .

20. On Killing Eve , when Villanelle was pretending to be Billie and attended an AA meeting.

"Villanelle as Billie in the AA meeting where she describes how she feels nothing and how bored she is. I know she’s acting as Billie to get close to Amber Peel, but it’s a real and vulnerable moment. I think it comes from a place of truth in Villanelle’s life, plus I think that everybody watching can relate to her in some way or another. This is the moment that won Jodie Comer her Emmy Award."

— ebonyjaynek

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 6, or you can watch it here .

21. On Parenthood , when Zeek took Amber to see her wrecked car and told her she can't mess up his dream.

"When Amber gets in a car accident and Zeek takes her to the car and talks about how he dreamt of her and their family, it makes me cry every single time."

— shaunabraun

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 22

22. On Scandal , when Eli met Olivia in the airplane hanger and talked about her relationship with Fitz and how she has to work twice as hard as everyone else.

"Papa Pope and Olivia in the airplane hangar is amazing, especially when he says, 'You have to be twice as good as them to get half of what they have.' Whew, can we just take a minute and just analyze how poignant it was back then and so much more now? This sentiment has been instilled for generations and I always go back to this scene when I want to hear a pep talk. Some would say it’s a dad talking to his daughter about sleeping with a married man, but it’s not that. For any POC, you constantly have to prove your worth, while mediocrity can advance due to privilege. I know every Black home was probably like, 'Oh, they let that fly on prime time?!?' It was nothing but the truth. Although Papa Pope has his quirks, he always spoke the truth."

— simonesaysthis

Where you can find the monologue: Season 3, Episode 1, or you can watch it here .

23. On Sex Education , when Maeve explained that she's really smart, but she has made some wrong decisions.

"The monologue from Maeve on Sex Education is so good. Maybe it's because it hit super close to home for me, but this is a monologue that you can just feel and relate to so closely if high school was not such an easy time for you."

Where you can find the monologue: Season 1, Episode 8

24. On Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life , when Lorelai called Emily and talked about her favorite memory with Richard.

"Here me out: Gilmore Girls is my absolute favorite show, however A Year in the Life was a mess. But Lorelai’s phone call to Emily during the 'Fall' episode is one of my favorite scenes. It’s such a bittersweet moment for both mother and daughter, and a great way to remember Richard. I cry absolutely every damn time."

— meganr404eba5a1

Where you can find the monologue: "Fall," or you can watch it here .

25. On Glee , when Santana completely roasted Kurt after he suggested that she and Brittany were too young to get married.

"On the last season of Glee , when Santana goes on an epic rant to Kurt about himself. It's definitely a true testament to Naya Rivera's sheer talent and brilliance in this role and as an actor."

Where you can find the monologue: Season 6, Episode 3, or you can watch it here .

26. On Misfits , when Nathan gave this impassioned speech about being young and how they should all make mistakes.

"Nathan's speech on the rooftop in Season 1 is so amazing. It's so good and I get chills every time I hear it."

— december29

Where you can find the monologue: Season 1, Episode 6, or you can watch it here .

27. On Sorry for Your Loss , when Leigh left this voicemail about her new eyeliner and how she's still grieving her husband's death.

"The Elizabeth Olsen monologue on Sorry for Your Loss , when she is leaving a voicemail is so amazing. I love it so much and I even use it for every audition I have. I know it’s a small show, but this monologue just hits every range of emotion."

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 4

28. On Black Mirror , when Kelly opened up to Yorkie about loving her husband.

"When Kelly tells Yorkie about her husband and daughter, and why her husband made the choice that he did when he was dying. It's so well delivered and just so heartbreaking. You realize what different places they are coming from because Kelly has lived a long life while Yorkie is finally just getting to live hers. It's a wonderful episode that has made me cry multiple times, and this speech is beautiful."

— ohpineapples

Where you can find the monologue: Season 3, Episode 4

29. On Barry , when Sally said her upcoming piece for class was extremely personal.

"Sarah Goldberg's funny but also just so, so real. She's just spewing words on how she felt about everything going on around her in the show and it's so genuine, funny, and a little heartbreaking. It’s hard to describe, but I absolutely love her monologue."

— genevievelai20

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 7, or you can watch it here .

30. On Teen Wolf , when Stiles talked about drowning and how it's kind of peaceful.

"Dylan O'Brien is so good and doesn't get nearly enough credit."

— toomuchtosay3

Where you can find the monologue: Season 2, Episode 11

31. On Julie and the Phantoms , when Julie talked to her mom before her big performance at the Orpheum.

"In the last episode of Julie and the Phantoms , minutes before her performance at the Orpheum, Julie runs out because she thinks that Luke, Reggie, and Alex are gone for good and she mourns them and tells her late mother that she hopes they’re up there with her. Then, a stranger gives her a dahlia, her mother’s favorite flower, for support. It’s raw and emotional, and this is Madison Reyes’ first professional acting gig and she knocks it out of the park."

— angelazach1308

Where you can find the monologue: Season 1, Episode 9

32. On The Good Place , when Chidi explained to Eleanor how Buddhists describe death right before he left the Good Place.

"Chidi explaining how Buddhists describe death, and that it's like a wave. It made me cry and as someone who often had panic attacks about dying (because it’s a scary concept), it calmed me and I think of it often when I have those panic moments."

— taylors42375c9d6

Where you can find the monologue: Season 4, Episode 13, or you can watch it here .

33. And finally, on Mad Men , when Don pitched the Kodak Carousel at the end of Season 1.

" Mad Men is filled with incredible monologues, but the Kodak Carousel pitch at the end of Season 1 is one of my favorites. It hits you right in the nostalgic feels."

— katies4866f3362

Where you can find the monologue: Season 1, Episode 13, or you can watch it here .

We can't fit everyone on one list, so do you have other TV monologues that are absolutely amazing? Tell us in the comments below!

Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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32 Most Inspiring Speeches In Film History

There's nothing better to fire you up than an inspiring speech.

A lot of great speeches come from sports movies, but that's not the only genre that can make us want to run through walls. Some speeches are so good it has us rooting for the bad guys. Most are by the good guys though, and we'll follow those good guys anywhere. Here is our list of the most inspiring speeches in film history. 

Independence Day - President Witmore

President Thomas J. Whitmore's ( Bill Pullman ) speech in Independence Day has become one of the most iconic film moments of the last 50 years. While the movie can be polarizing, some people can't get enough of it, others hope to never see it again. Still, it's hard to find anyone who truly hates the speech and that moment in the film. If you ever find yourself fighting against annihilation by a bunch of E.T.s, this is the speech for you. 

The Hunt For Red October - Captain Ramius

If you thought you could never get fired up about the Soviet Union picking a fight on the United States during the Cold War, check it out. When Captain Marko Ramius ( Sean Connery ) tells his crew that the salad days of the Cold War are not behind them, and the United States will "tremble again - at the sound of our silence," it makes you want to stand up and fight for communism. At least for a brief moment. 

Any Given Sunday (Coach D'Amato)

It's used at almost every professional football game in America, almost every Sunday, because in Any Given Sunday , Coach D'Amato implores his team and the rest of us to claw for every inch we can. It might not be Pacino's most award-winning role, but that scene... that scene is some of his finest and most enduring work. 

Gladiator (Maximus)

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius." If those words don't immediately fire you up, it's time to check for a pulse. Audiences spend most of Gladiator waiting for Maximus ( Russell Crowe ) to finally get his revenge on that conniving Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ) and finally we get it. Maximus will have his vengeance, in this life or the next.

Friday Night Lights (Coach Gaines)

In Friday Night Lights , Coach Gaines ( Billy Bob Thornton ) tells us how to be perfect. It has nothing to do with the final score, or winning. It's about how we treat each other and ourselves. It's about telling the truth and not letting anyone down. Live in the moment, "with joy in your heart." That's what makes us perfect. The swelling music by Explosions in the Sky only adds to the drama of the moment. 

While he doesn't say "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose," (that comes from the TV show), he does mention his clear eyes and his full heart and afterward, none of us lose. 

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Henry V (Henry V)

It's not just one of the most inspiring speeches in film history, it's one of the most famous speeches in human history. When William Shakespeare wrote the words to the famous St. Crispin's Day Speech in Henry V , he could not have known that it would be used for centuries afterward to inspire men. For we few, we lucky few, we can watch the speech brilliantly delivered by Kenneth Branagh in one of his finest roles , in his film version from 1989. 

Animal House (Bluto)

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" Of course it wasn't! Bluto (John Belushi) does a lot to inspire the brothers of the Delta house in Animal House but nothing more so than his speech after "Wormer dropped the big one" and suspended the fraternity. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, the men of Delta are inspired to have the best time of their lives, and Wormer? He's a dead man! Marmalard? Dead! Niedermeyer...

Gone With The Wind (Scarlett O'Hara)

Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is not the most sympathetic movie character of all time. In fact, she ranks close to the bottom in that category, but you can't deny the power of her speech just before the end of the first part of the movie. Her family's plantation, Tara, is in shambles, her mother is dead, and her father has lost his mind. When all hope is lost, she promises herself she will fix it, and she will "never be hungry again."

Barbie (Gloria)

It's truly a show-stopping moment in Barbie when Gloria ( America Ferrera ) lays out what it's like to be a woman in today's world. The entire essence of the movie's message is summed up in that brilliant speech. It makes everyone want to jump up on their feet and applaud. It's a moment that will forever live in cinema history. 

Good Will Hunting (Sean Maguire)

It's not just the words that matter. It takes a special actor to deliver a speech like Sean Maguire's in Good Will Hunting . Thankfully there was the great Robin Williams. In a speech that is meant to devastate and inspire Will (Matt Damon), Williams tells him everything he is doing wrong but manages to show him how he can fix it, and open up an entirely new world for himself. It's cutting and loving. And brilliant. "Your move, chief."

Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (Aragorn)

Like so many other battle scenes in movies, Aragorn's (Viggo Mortensen) speech at the Black Gates in Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King has us willing to fight to the death with our fellow soldiers. There is nothing like a leader riding back and forth on horse inspiring his troops. 

Braveheart (William Wallace)

Always remember, that no matter how badly you are treated by a tyrannical English king, he can never take your freedom! William Wallace (Mel Gibson) brilliantly reminds us of that in Braveheart . While it's easy to mock the poor history telling in the movie (and we argue if it was really one of the best movies of 1995 ), you can never say that the speech Wallace gives before the biggest battle in the movie won't have you ready to take on the entire British Empire. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Elizabeth)

Speeches made by leaders to inspire men in battle aren't unique in movies. What makes the speech unique in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is that the speech is made by a woman. Elizabeth's (Keira Knightly) speech isn't a lot different than a lot of its ilk, but it's more inspiring to hear it from a woman because we've never heard that before. So hoist the colors! 

Stripes (John Winger)

John Winger (Bill Murray) is the biggest misfit in a platoon filled with them in Stripes . He's the least likely to inspire the rest with a razzle-dazzle speech firing them up, yet that's exactly what he does before their graduation from boot camp. Bill Murray has some of the best lines in movie history, and this speech is near the top of them. 

Miracle (Herb Brooks)

"Great moments are born from great opportunity." That is something we can all stand to remember. In Miracle , Herb Brooks inspires his rag-tag team of college kids to defeat maybe the greatest hockey team ever assembled in the Soviet National Team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The movie is based on a true story and while it's impossible to know exactly with the real Brooks said, if it was anywhere close to what Russell delivers, it's no surprise we all believe in miracles today. 

Rocky IV (Rocky Balboa)

The Cold War inspired a lot of movies, even sports movies like Rocky IV . Early in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) wasn't a man of many words, but at the end of Rocky IV , he finds some of the most inspiring words of the whole series, imploring all of us to get along, despite our differences. 

Swingers (Trent)

What's a good friend if not someone to pep you up when you're feeling low? That's exactly who Trent (Vince Vaughn) is to Mike (Jon Favreau) in Swingers . Not only does he take him to Vegas for a night of fun, on the way home, after the trip doesn't pep Mike up as much as it should, Trent explains exactly why Mike is so money, and he doesn't even know it. 

Network (Howard Beale)

It's scary just how much a movie like Network , released almost 50 years ago is still so relevant. We don't need Howard Beale (Peter Finch) to tell us just how bad things are, we just need to him to inspire us to go to the window, open the window and yell to the world that we're not going to take it anymore! 

The Goonies (Mikey)

"The Goonies never say die!" When all seems lost in the Goonies quest to rescue their neighborhood from developers, Mikey (Sean Astin) reminds them all exactly how far they've come in the quest for One-Eyed Willie's gold. We don't get a lot of inspirational speeches from kids, but when we do, we love them. 

Clueless (Cher)

When Cher (Alicia Silverstone) compares her garden party to a refugee crisis, your inclination is to think she's an airhead. But like so many before and after her, there is kind of a subtle brilliance to her thought process. She takes what she knows and uses that to find the emotion we should all feel for her side of the argument. 

Milk (Harvey Milk)

Milk , based on the true story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), is inspiring in and of itself, but Milk's speech on the steps of San Fransisco City Hall at the Gay Pride Rally is a masterpiece. 

Troy (Achilles)

In another classic example of a military leader inspiring his troops, Achilles' (Brad Pitt) speech reminding his men that they are lions, is enough to get anyone to storm the beaches of Troy. There's a reason the story has been told for thousands of years. 

Norma Rae (Norma Rae)

The best thing about Norma Rae's (Sally Field, in one of her best roles ) speech in Norma Rae is that the most important word isn't spoken at all. She simply holds up a sign that says "Union" in the middle of her sweatshop. That's all she needs to "say" to get everyone in the textile mill to agree. It's brilliant. 

We Are Marshall (Jack Lengyel)

We Are Marshall tells the tragic and heroic story of the 1971 Marshall University football team. At the end of the 1970 season, a plane carrying most of the team and its coaches crashed in North Carolina. Before the start of the next season, the new coach, Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) makes a speech at a memorial for some of the lost players and what he says about never forgetting the past but looking to the future will bring a tear to anyone's eyes.

Legally Blonde (Elle Woods)

More than 20 years after the first Legally Blonde movie was released Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) continues to inspire us. With an address like the one she makes at the end of the movie, as she's graduating, it's easy to see why. "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."

Avengers: Endgame (Captain America)

In a room full of superheroes, leave it to Captain America to make the hype speech. In Avengers: Endgame , that's exactly when Cap (Chris Evans) psyches the cadre up for their mission to reverse the Snap. "Whatever it takes."

Hoosiers (Norman Dale)

When tiny Hickman High School makes it to the Indiana State Basketball Finals, they are facing a huge school, in a huge arena. Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) takes only a minute or so to lay out what will make them successful, and a minute is all he needs. It's why Hoosiers one of the best sports movies ever made. 

Rudy (Rudy)

The speech in Rudy is a little different. Rudy really has no audience, save for one person, but that doesn't stop him from delivering a first-rate speech that any Notre Dame alum gets goosebumps when they hear it, including the parts he lifted from the great Knute Rockne.

Juno (Mac MacGuff)

When Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) is wondering what her future holds, her father Mac MacGuff (J.K. Simmons) explains simply and succinctly, "The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. 

Stand And Deliver (Jaime Escalante) 

Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) is a no-nonsense math teacher who is determined to get the most from his students. He decides he needs to raise the level of expectations inside and outside of the classroom and he starts by breaking down when he is going to be so hard on his students, to get the most out of them. All they need is ganas – motivation. 

Rocky Balboa (Rocky)

Leave it to Rocky to make a speech in 2006's Rocky Balboa meant to inspire his son to inspire all of us together. It's pure Rocky, leave it all out, don't accept things you don't like, and never make excuses, no matter how hard it is. And it seems like this was advice he took to heart when it became a struggle to make the film . 

300 (Dilios)

Dilios (David Wenham) fires up the Spartans like no other person could. It's truly one of the great hype speeches in film history. It's exactly what you would expect from a civilization of warriors. Whether it really happened or not is irrelevant. The message is the same, "Remember us."

From sports to war, love to education, and beyond, a great speech raises goosebumps like nothing else in film can. These examples are some of the best speeches we've used to inspire us. 

Hugh Scott is the Syndication Editor for CinemaBlend. Before CinemaBlend, he was the managing editor for Suggest.com and Gossipcop.com, covering celebrity news and debunking false gossip. He has been in the publishing industry for almost two decades, covering pop culture – movies and TV shows, especially – with a keen interest and love for Gen X culture, the older influences on it, and what it has since inspired. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in Political Science but cured himself of the desire to be a politician almost immediately after graduation.

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9 TV Speeches That Everyone Needs To Hear

From Grey's Anatomy to Friday Night Lights, here are 9 TV speeches that everyone needs to hear.

Sometimes all you need is a good pep talk. There are plenty of great speeches and monologues from movies, but oftentimes it's the ones from television that get overlooked. Shows like Game of Thrones and Friday Night Lights are no stranger to rousing speeches. However, sometimes they are more than a way to rally the troops. In fact, more often than not, they are confessions. A way for characters to lay everything out on the table and say, "Okay, this is where I'm at."

If you’ve ever felt a speech from a TV series impact you, perhaps it was written for you in some way. The monologues on this list can touch something in everyone, whether it's a rousing talk about not giving up or a confession of pain in the face of life’s many obstacles. Each entry here is evocative of something everyone goes through. Some of them are even more poignant now given current events. Here’s a list of nine television monologues that everyone needs to hear.

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9 BoJack Horseman – “My Mother Is Dead”

BoJack Horseman has been through a lot over the course of this hit series. The show depicts him as jaded, lonely, and depressive as he wrestles his inner demons for six seasons. One of the arbitrators of his self-destructiveness is his mother, Beatrice, who throughout his life has been dismissive and emotionally abusive to her son, often blaming him for her many shortcomings in life. When she dies in season five, episode 8, BoJack spends the entire episode eulogizing her with stories of disappointment and regret. While there's a lot said in the episode worth mentioning, the crux of his speech comes when he airs his grievances at her inability to care for him in life and knowing that she will never have the chance. The award-worthy monologue from Will Arnett had us both weeping in laughter and sorrow, as not everyone gets to have good parents, but no one ever tells you what to do with negative emotions towards them when they're gone.

8 Star Trek – “Risk Is Our Business”

As much as people like to imitate and make fun of William Shatner's portrayal of Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek , there's no denying that the character's legendary status is thanks to him. The space captain was ambitious, bold, and adventurous. Star Trek would arguably not have been as successful without Shatner. This monologue from the original series sees Kirk extolling the importance of risk to the Enterprise crew as they face a difficult decision. He recounts the massive achievements of history's past that has led them to where they are now, before encouraging them to continue pushing boundaries for the sake of science and exploration. The entire speech encapsulates everything there is to love about the captain. This speech is timeless and reminds everyone of the importance of taking chances and begs that we not let fear prevent growth.

7 Doctor Who – “Scale Model of War”

Each Doctor in the Doctor Who series is its character despite being the same life form. The Twelfth Doctor was by far the most insightful, being the bearer of lifetimes of guilt from hard choices. Peter Capaldi's run saw the character attempting to make up for said choices, and one of the ways of doing so came in season 9's episode 8, where he was caught between Kate Stewart and a Zygone ready to start a full-scale war with the use of two Osgood boxes. It was a desperate plea from the Doctor to get both women to stand down, and the scene is pulse-pounding as he tells them the truth of war from his own experience. The line "You don't know whose children are going to burn or scream" strikes a nerve in the stunning speech as he begs both to step away and talk rather than continue a long-running cycle of bloodshed. The monologue today strikes a harder cord given current events across the world.

6 Grey's Anatomy – “He Took Little Pieces of Me”

Cristina Yang had been through a lot by season 6 of Grey's Anatomy . Being subsequently left at the altar would be enough to break anyone, but luckily she was able to recover. However, we learn the full scale of how her previous relationship broke her when she defines the toll it had on her to her new lover Owen Hunt. It was a powerful moment for the strong-willed surgeon to admit everything the relationship had done to her, explaining how her ex-fiancé had taken small pieces from her over time until she became unrecognizable to herself. Despite this, she was able to bounce back into the Yang of old, this time stronger. It's not hard for others to see a bit of themselves in Cristina, as losing oneself in a relationship, despite each other's best intentions, is something plenty of people can identify with, but real strength is found in rediscovering one's sense of self-value once it's over.

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5 Shameless – “You Weren’t Here”

There's no lack of heartbreaking moments throughout Shameless 's 11-season run, but this emotional monologue from Fiona to her mother in the first season encompasses the hard work and sacrifices she's made to make sure her siblings had a roof over their heads. When Monica returns after having abandoned her children years prior, the Gallaghers are less than enthused by her presence, especially when she states her intention to take their youngest sibling away to start over with her new girlfriend. Fiona lays into her mother with everything she missed over the years, unwilling to let her sidestep the pain she's caused her kids by taking one of them away. To Monica's credit, she does recognize the damage she's done, but fails to understand that it's not something she can fix or redo. Like with BoJack's monologue, this speech is painfully telling of the damage parents can cause to their children.

4 Fleabag – “I Want Someone To Tell Me What To Do”

Fleabag has been through a lot. The first season saw her dealing with guilt after causing a personal tragedy, coming to terms with her father's new marriage, and struggling to find balance in her life. The second season was a breath of fresh air that saw the character pursuing happiness and encouraging those around her to do the same. However, choosing to focus on the positives in life didn't wipe away her anguish, as seen when she gives a tearful confession to her love interest, a character known as the Priest. This speech sees her emotionally wishing for someone to tell her how to eat, how to dress, what to feel, and how to live her life in general as she consistently feels like a failure. It's relatable because many people feel lost in life. Young adults navigating adulthood understand more than most. Their lack of experience in the world can make them feel lost at sea when they thought they had everything figured out. Like the titular character of this hit Amazon series, sometimes we all just want someone to tell us how to get through life.

3 Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Make Your Choice”

While this one may be referring to fighting demons, there are empowering undertones as Buffy calls upon the women to put aside their differences and decide how to face a unique threat. Rather than sit helplessly and wonder how their circumstances could be different, she calls them to action, dictating that she will no longer be the slayer, but all women willing to fight will be. The power to choose to stand up and be strong is what makes this speech poignant, as we see women across the world facing different circumstances choosing to stand and fight. The pivotal line "Are you ready to be strong?" can be seen as a rallying cry for all women to believe in their own power. Whether you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or not, it's not a bad idea to listen to this monologue before a big presentation at work or in the face of hard times.

2 This Is Us – “He Sees His Entire Future”

In season 2 of This Is Us , we see Kevin at his lowest point as he recounts his life's mistakes on his high school football field. Having returned to his hometown to receive an award for his achievements, we find the oldest Pearson son in a bad place. He describes several things, such as his failed football career, his infidelity, and his drug dependency. It's a highlight of his awareness of his flaws. However, despite his shortcomings, everyone around him keeps cheering him on anyway. The guilt of unearned praise has ultimately taken a toll on him, to the point where he rejects the attention he's always sought his whole life. This private soliloquy is a highlight of the season and reflects how despite being in a position of having everything one could ever want, it can’t take away suffering, a fact many on the outside of this reality refuse to see. Perception often masks the truth, leaving the most visible people feeling unseen.

1 Friday Night Lights – “This Battle Is Not Over”

Coach Taylor of Friday Night Lights always knew what to say when the chips were down, and this epic speech in the season finale of the first season was one of the most inspirational in the entire series. Severely behind in the championship game, The Panthers were ready to throw in the towel. Almost everyone had written them off by this point, but the Coach reminded them that there were still people in the stands who believed in them and encouraged his players to keep going for them. At the series start, he instilled the importance of perseverance, and he repeats that message here. His words go beyond the football field as he imparts words important for everyone in all walks of life. Everyone will lose at some point. But they can still walk away with dignity. Until then, the battle was not yet over. This popular series touched on many true-to-life themes, so even if the viewer isn't a sports fan, there is plenty they can take away from this show and Coach Taylor's paternal words.

15 Best Movie Speeches of All Time

Dialogues and speeches are the string, which binds the beads of a good cinema. Acting, cinematography, production they can all fall apart if the writing sucks. There are so many movies with great stories who aren’t impactful, because of lame dialogues. On the other hand, people remember even mediocre movies because of a powerful speech. These speeches are so inspirational that they make the listener believe that anything’s possible. The sheer power of words is strong enough to move mountains. In these speeches, the speaker enthralls the audience with his wisdom and experience and motivates them to carry out the impossible in life. We, at the Cinemaholic, made a list of top movie speeches ever that will inspire you. Be ready to get motivated!

15. Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) – “Hoist The Colours”

Consider this. A fleet of pirate ship have been surrounded by the elite force of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. The pirates are broken, without any command and their faith lies in their pirate queen Elizabeth who probably due to a turn of fate, became their leader. Tricked into a cornered position, by a cunning lord Beckett, she is left with no choice but retaliate with whatever she has. And she choses this moment to rise to the occasion. She thunders at her fellow pirates, asking them to fight like free men and not surrender meekly like cowards. And it resonates with pirates, irrespective of their clans and they roar as every version of Jolly Roger starts flying high in the wind.

14. V For Vendetta (2005) – “The Revolutionary Speech”

Just like Hitler crafted a dictatorship, disguised within a so-called superior race driven government, in a not so distant future version of London, the chancellor Adam Sutler formed a reign where in the name of security, privacy was looted. In return of order and peace to the society, the people traded their foremost weapon – consent. In the garb of protecting the people, the reigning government unleashed tyranny and oppression. In such times, one fine day, every TV gets tuned into a channel where a man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask speaks to them. He reminds them of Guy Fawkes, who brought a revolution to the people 400 years ago. To end this cruelty and meek submission, he asks everyone to join him in exactly one year later, on 5th of September on the gates of the Parliament. This speech sets in motion, of the events of ‘V for Vendetta’.

13. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) – “I’m not fuckin’ leaving”

The high flying, corrupt and megalomaniac Jordan Belfort is finally caught and as a part of the deal with the FBI, he’s supposed to leave Stratton Oakmont and never ever indulge in the market of share trading, which made him so rich. He appears in his office and makes an announcement about his stepping down from the company, in front of his beleaguered colleagues. He explains his pain in leaving them in lurch and how he’s going to miss them all. While talking about their collective effort to make money overcoming their individual struggles in life, all of sudden he realizes, this is place where he belongs after all. And despite the warning of FBI, he screams his lungs out – ‘I’m not fuckin’ leaving !!’

12. Rocky Balboa (2006) – “It ain’t about how hard you hit”

Rocky Balboa is an ageing boxer, who has left the sport, only to come back to it again. His wife’s dead and his son is sick and tired of the name and pressure of being related to Rocky. His father’s fame has started to affect him professionally and personally as well. So he gets the news of his arthritic father, gearing up for another bout of boxing, he discourages him by stating his example of being a failure, despite of being a Balboa. Rocky thunders when he says, ‘It’s ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.’ He asks him to stop blaming others for his failure. It’s an moving speech with some profound advice for life. Life’s meant to be unfair and its sole plan is to keep you down. Instead of cribbing, you’ve to accept your loses and move forward. That’s how you win.

11. Any Given Sunday (1999) – “Life’s a game of inches”

Before an all important play off game, coach D’Amato, played by Al Pacino gathers around his players. Through many difficulties and infightings, they’ve reached a place where one mistake can cost them everything. He begins the talk with comparing their current position to being in a shit hole and it’s totally up to them to get beat the shit out of themselves or fight hard to come back. He cites his own example of being a broken man who lost money, family and himself for taking bad decisions in life. But life is just like a game of football . It’s all about the margin of error. Just like a game of football, where once one starts losing, he gets the drift of the game and then tries crawl into those inches. He urges them to come together as a team and win it for themselves.

10. Wall Street (1987) – “Greed, for lack of a better word, is Good”

Wall street is about money. Wall street is about power. Wall street is about greed. And greed, ladies and gentlemen, for the lack of a better word, is good. That’s what Gordon Gekko believed in. In a speech to the investors of a loss making paper company Teldar, he explains meticulously that the sole reason the company lost so much of money is because of inefficient people at the top and not because he broke the company to pieces. He argues that his greed of making money actually liberates loss making industries. Greed is an evolutionary trait and it’s greed which has made man go for more, be it knowledge, technology or profit. It’s an amazing take on something which itself is labelled as a biblical sin. Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko, gives an amazing performance.

9. Dead Poet’s Society (1989) – “Carpe Diem, seize the day boys”

In a school, where discipline is revered, a new English teacher comes in a breather among the strict disciplinarians. To a motley group of students, he reaches out and asks them to come out of their shell. He tells them to live their lives in their own way and not to someone’s expectations. One’s life duration is limited and eventually everyone will die. What will be left, is his legacy. So instead of living a dull life, one should do something to make it extraordinary. That’s the essence of Carpe Diem. The character of John Keating was played by the late Robin Williams , who demonstrates the importance of individuality to the students through this inspiring speech. He inspires them to be achieve greatness rather than to be successful.

8. Remember The Titans (2000) – “Take a lesson from the dead”

At the heights of racism, a black man is appointed as the head coach of a school, where traditionally it’s usually filled up by a white man. Tackling racism and discrimination at every step, coach Boone takes up the challenge. The team suffers from racially motivated conflicts and its success is deterred due to the ever meddling school authorities. Coach Boone takes everything to his stride and takes his team through a gruelling schedule of training at the Gettysburg cemetery where thousands of men died during the battle of Gettysburg. Through this speech, he asks his team to learn from those people, who laid their lives while fighting for each other. He urges them to be better by coming together and play as one team. His speech motivates his team to achieve success. Denzel Washington plays coach Boone in the sports drama ‘Remember The Titans’.

7. Braveheart (1995) – “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom”

In an English ruled Scotland, a young William Wallace witnesses the English massacring his family. He flees from the country only to return as a rebel who takes charge to lead the rebellion against the English. As he leads a rag-tag army of Scottish peasants and farmers, he asks them to fight as free men, against the enormous English army. When somebody from the army says that it’s better to hide and live than to fight and die, Wallace roars back by saying that the enemy may take their lives but they will never be able to take their freedom. Mel Gibson acted as well as directed this film, which went on to win five academy awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

6. Scent Of A Woman (1992) – “When shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay”

At the Baird school, which traditionally has given the country many leaders and achievers, a disciplinary meeting takes place, for an act of mischief. While the reason remains trivial at its best, the focus shifts to two persons, who were supposed to be the witnesses of the events. One of those witnesses is a boy, whose father is a key figure in the school management. Hence he gets off the hook, after naming the suspects. Naturally it’s the other guy Charlie, who despite of being innocent, gets to take the blame. And it almost happens but for the presence of Lt Colonel Frank Slade. He makes his point that while everyone chose to be indifferent to the situation, Charlie showed integrity by not behaving as a snitch. And this is the stuff leaders are made of. Al Pacino played Lt Colonel Slade and gave a performance of a lifetime.

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5. Independence Day (1996) – “Today, we celebrate our independence day”

While the world burns and is at the mercy of aliens, it comes down to a few brave men who decide to join forces to fight against the aliens. After repeated attempts of failure, a final assault is planned in the lines of a kamikaze attack, similar to a suicide mission. The president, himself a pilot mans the mission. Before they leave the base, he reminds them that this mission, incidentally to commence on 4th of July will be the biggest battle of their lives. And should they win, it will no longer be an American holiday. Rather it will be the day, when the world will be liberated of their common enemy. It shall be the world’s independence day. It’s a speech that evokes thunderous applause from everyone, as their belief in their leader becomes firm.

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4. Network (1976) – “I’m mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore”

News these days, are more of shock inducing and eye grabbing details rather than journalism based on facts. In ‘Network’, a TV network’s struggle with declining viewership turns into a full-blown war when its own people start making factory made shows to get ratings. The movie is primarily about how TV controls the life and through it audio-visual medium, can sway public opinion about everything. In a way, this is what controls the masses today. When the veteran news anchor Howard Beale screams at his viewers to shout that they’ re mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore, he vents out his frustration at the growing influence of TV on the people. He cites example of life going astray while the TV shows paint a rosy picture. Many years later, as we see today, the real has imitated the reel and today literally the TV controls everything. This speech is truly pathbreaking.

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3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – “Get busy living or get busy dying”

There’s nothing new that can be told about ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ . Arguably the best movie ever, this is Andy Dufresne’s story spanning across nineteen years in the infamous Shawshank penitentiary. While Andy makes the most out of his time at the prison doing various jobs, he also gets into a tiff with a corrupt warden over his discharge which leads him into a solitary confinement. When he’s out, his friend Red becomes afraid that this may break him forever. However a nonchalant Andy tells him about his dream destination and his wish to spend rest of his life there, thus explaining that life is all about hope and at times, it comes down to one simple choice – Get busy living or get busy dying. This speech is also a metaphor for being hopeful in the most hopeless of situations.

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2. A Few Good Men (1992) – “You can’t handle the truth”

A soldier dies at GITMO base camp and the blame goes to couple of fellow soldiers as an act of negligence. While the soldiers plead that they were under order to punish the dying soldier, it comes down to one of the most laziest of military lawyers to take up their case. As the case reaches its final stage, upon repeated provocation from the defence lawyer, Colonel Nathan Jessup becomes enraged and tells that at times, despite being wrong, people need to take decision that may take one life but in return save thousands. Freedom comes at a price and being a provider of the same, that’s what entitles him to take decisions which may or may not be ethical. This’s the truth and that possibly cannot be fathomed by a layman. A stunning performance by Jack Nicholson !

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1. The Great Dictator (1940)- “We think too much and feel too little”

Charlie Chaplin ’s ‘The Great Dictator’ is a political satire, in the garb of comedy and it condemns the ways of the contemporary dictators of the time, namely Hitler and Mussolini. A Jewish barber, who’s also a lookalike of the tyrant ruler of a fictional country gets to replace the dictator and ends up in a podium where he has to deliver a speech. He rises to the occasion when he tells his subjects that instead of ruling everyone as a dictator, he wants to help everyone. As human beings, one should rise above the ever engulfing greed. Though the world has progressed into future through numerous innovations, still it does distinguish people based on their caste, creed and colour. Humanity has been lost its meaning in the countless machinery that does our jobs. We’ve become cynical due to our ever growing penchant for knowledge. And that’s where we all lose as mankind.

Read More:  Best Adolf Hitler Movies of All Time

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

Famous Persuasive Speeches

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

In this article:

Martin Luther King Jr. – “I Have a Dream”

Barack obama – “against going to war with iraq”, winston churchill – “we shall fight on the beaches”, abraham lincoln – “the gettysburg address”, hillary clinton – “women’s rights are human rights”.

A speech about ending racism and segregation, and coming together as one society, in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. addressed over 250,000 people in front of the Lincoln Memorial. King’s speech would later become one of the most famous persuasive orations ever given. Known for his charismatic and passionate style of communication, King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is frequently epitomized as the ideal example of expressing one’s values and convictions. King’s use of vivid language and imagery immediately captured the audience’s attention making this historical speech a memorable one.

Throughout history, war has been a common topic of persuasive speeches. Likewise, today in an age where wars and conflict continue to be rampant, war is the perennial topic for public addresses. One of the most famous present day declamations is president Barack Obama’s speech, “Against Going to War With Iraq.” In this 2002 speech, Obama expresses his views on the war with Iraq using both logistical arguments and engaging rhetorical devices.

At a time when the world was entering into a crisis, Churchill speech was not only about persuading mankind to fight, but about instilling hope and strength. At a point when all seem bleak, Churchill delivered an impassioned speech to the people, offering them a much needed sense of guidance and confidence. Delivered in 1940, Churchill would subsequently give several other well known persuasive speeches during World War II including, “This Was Their Finest Hour.”

Although given in a somewhat unconventional style, Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Adress” is one of the most well known persuasive speeches in American history. Spoken rather hastily, totaling just under three minutes, Lincoln nevertheless convincingly imparted his love and dedication to the freedom and the American country.

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Women’s rights issues have frequently been the focus of many rhetorical declarations. As women have fought to earn equality and matching human rights, persuasive speeches have played a vital role. Although the process has not been without setbacks, impassioned speeches such as Clinton’s “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights” help instill in society the need for change and social action.

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Persuasive Speech: How to Write an Effective Persuasive Speech

Most often, it actually causes the other person to want to play “Devil’s advocate” and argue with you. In this article, we are going to show you a simple way to win people to your way of thinking without raising resentment. If you use this technique, your audience will actually WANT to agree with you! The process starts with putting yourself in the shoes of your listener and looking at things from their point of view.

Background About How to Write a Persuasive Speech. Facts Aren’t Very Persuasive.

Most people think that a single fact is good, additional facts are better, and too many facts are just right. So, the more facts you can use to prove your point, the better chance you have of convincing the other person that you are right. The HUGE error in this logic, though, is that if you prove that you are right, you are also proving that the other person is wrong. People don’t like it when someone proves that they are wrong. So, we prove our point, the other person is likely to feel resentment. When resentment builds, it leads to anger. Once anger enters the equation, logic goes right out the window.

In addition, when people use a “fact” or “Statistic” to prove a point, the audience has a natural reaction to take a contrary side of the argument. For instance, if I started a statement with, “I can prove to you beyond a doubt that…” before I even finish the statement, there is a good chance that you are already trying to think of a single instance where the statement is NOT true. This is a natural response. As a result, the thing that we need to realize about being persuasive is that the best way to persuade another person is to make the person want to agree with us. We do this by showing the audience how they can get what they want if they do what we want.

You may also like How to Design and Deliver a Memorable Speech .

A Simple 3-Step Process to Create a Persuasive Presentation

The process below is a good way to do both.

Step One: Start Your Persuasive Speech with an Example or Story

When you write an effective persuasive speech, stories are vital. Stories and examples have a powerful way to capture an audience’s attention and set them at ease. They get the audience interested in the presentation. Stories also help your audience see the concepts you are trying to explain in a visual way and make an emotional connection. The more details that you put into your story, the more vivid the images being created in the minds of your audience members.

This concept isn’t mystical or anything. It is science. When we communicate effectively with another person, the purpose is to help the listener picture a concept in his/her mind that is similar to the concept in the speaker’s mind. The old adage is that a “picture is worth 1000 words.” Well, an example or a story is a series of moving pictures. So, a well-told story is worth thousands of words (facts).

By the way, there are a few additional benefits of telling a story. Stories help you reduce nervousness, make better eye contact, and make for a strong opening. For additional details, see Storytelling in Speeches .

I’ll give you an example.

Factual Argument: Seatbelts Save Lives

• 53% of all motor vehicle fatalities from last years were people who weren’t wearing seatbelts.
• People not wearing seatbelts are 30 times more likely to be ejected from the vehicle.
• In a single year, crash deaths and injuries cost us over $70 billion dollars.

These are actual statistics. However, when you read each bullet point, you are likely to be a little skeptical. For instance, when you see the 53% statistic, you might have had the same reaction that I did. You might be thinking something like, “Isn’t that right at half? Doesn’t that mean that the other half WERE wearing seatbelts?” When you see the “30 times more likely” statistic, you might be thinking, “That sounds a little exaggerated. What are the actual numbers?” Looking at the last statistic, we’d likely want to know exactly how the reporter came to that conclusion.

As you can see, if you are a believer that seatbelts save lives, you will likely take the numbers at face value. If you don’t like seatbelts, you will likely nitpick the finer points of each statistic. The facts will not likely persuade you.

Example Argument: Seatbelts Save Lives

When I came to, I tried to open my door. The accident sealed it shut. The windshield was gone. So I took my seatbelt off and scrambled out the hole. The driver of the truck was a bloody mess. His leg was pinned under the steering wheel.

The firefighters came a few minutes later, and it took them over 30 minutes to cut the metal from around his body to free him.

A Sheriff’s Deputy saw a cut on my face and asked if I had been in the accident. I pointed to my truck. His eyes became like saucers. “You were in that vehicle?”

I nodded. He rushed me to an ambulance. I had actually ruptured my colon, and I had to have surgery. I was down for a month or so, but I survived. In fact, I survived with very few long-term challenges from the accident.

The guy who hit me wasn’t so lucky. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The initial impact of the accident was his head on the steering wheel and then the windshield. He had to have a number of facial surgeries. The only reason he remained in the truck was his pinned leg. For me, the accident was a temporary trauma. For him, it was a life-long tragedy.

The Emotional Difference is the Key

As you can see, there are major differences between the two techniques. The story gives lots of memorable details along with an emotion that captures the audience. If you read both examples, let me ask you a couple of questions. Without looking back up higher on the page, how long did it take the firefighters to cut the other driver from the car? How many CDs did I have? There is a good chance that these two pieces of data came to you really quickly. You likely remembered this data, even though, the data wasn’t exactly important to the story.

However, if I asked you how much money was lost last year as a result of traffic accidents, you might struggle to remember that statistic. The CDs and the firefighters were a part of a compelling story that made you pay attention. The money lost to accidents was just a statistic thrown at you to try to prove that a point was true.

The main benefit of using a story, though, is that when we give statistics (without a story to back them up,) the audience becomes argumentative. However, when we tell a story, the audience can’t argue with us. The audience can’t come to me after I told that story and say, “It didn’t take 30 minutes to cut the guy out of the car. He didn’t have to have a bunch of reconstructive surgeries. The Deputy didn’t say those things to you! The audience can’t argue with the details of the story, because they weren’t there.

Step 2: After the Story, Now, Give Your Advice

When most people write a persuasive presentation, they start with their opinion. Again, this makes the listener want to play Devil’s advocate. By starting with the example, we give the listener a simple way to agree with us. They can agree that the story that we told was true. So, now, finish the story with your point or your opinion. “So, in my opinion, if you wear a seatbelt, you’re more likely to avoid serious injury in a severe crash.”

By the way, this technique is not new. It has been around for thousands of years. Aesop was a Greek slave over 500 years before Christ. His stories were passed down verbally for hundreds of years before anyone ever wrote them down in a collection. Today, when you read an Aesop fable, you will get 30 seconds to two minutes of the story first. Then, at the conclusion, almost as a post-script, you will get the advice. Most often, this advice comes in the form of, “The moral of the story is…” You want to do the same in your persuasive presentations. Spend most of the time on the details of the story. Then, spend just a few seconds in the end with your morale.

Step 3: End with the Benefit to the Audience

So, the moral of the story is to wear your seatbelt. If you do that, you will avoid being cut out of your car and endless reconstructive surgeries .

Now, instead of leaving your audience wanting to argue with you, they are more likely to be thinking, “Man, I don’t want to be cut out of my car or have a bunch of facial surgeries.”

The process is very simple. However, it is also very powerful.

How to Write a Successful Persuasive Speech Using the “Breadcrumb” Approach

Once you understand the concept above, you can create very powerful persuasive speeches by linking a series of these persuasive stories together. I call this the breadcrumb strategy. Basically, you use each story as a way to move the audience closer to the ultimate conclusion that you want them to draw. Each story gains a little more agreement.

So, first, just give a simple story about an easy to agree with concept. You will gain agreement fairly easily and begin to also create an emotional appeal. Next, use an additional story to gain additional agreement. If you use this process three to five times, you are more likely to get the audience to agree with your final conclusion. If this is a formal presentation, just make your main points into the persuasive statements and use stories to reinforce the points.

Here are a few persuasive speech examples using this approach.

An Example of a Persuasive Public Speaking Using Breadcrumbs

Marijuana Legalization is Causing Huge Problems in Our Biggest Cities Homelessness is Out of Control in First States to Legalize Marijuana Last year, my family and I took a mini-vacation to Colorado Springs. I had spent a summer in Colorado when I was in college, so I wanted my family to experience the great time that I had had there as a youth. We were only there for four days, but we noticed something dramatic had happened. There were homeless people everywhere. Keep in mind, this wasn’t Denver, this was Colorado City. The picturesque landscape was clouded by ripped sleeping bags on street corners, and trash spread everywhere. We were downtown, and my wife and daughter wanted to do some shopping. My son and I found a comic book store across the street to browse in. As we came out, we almost bumped into a dirty man in torn close. He smiled at us, walked a few feet away from the door, and lit up a joint. He sat on the corner smoking it. As my son and I walked the 1/4 mile back to the store where we left my wife and daughter, we stepped over and walked around over a dozen homeless people camped out right in the middle of the town. This was not the Colorado that I remembered. From what I’ve heard, it has gotten even worse in the last year. So, if you don’t want to dramatically increase your homelessness population, don’t make marijuana legal in your state. DUI Instances and Traffic Accidents Have Increased in Marijuana States I was at the airport waiting for a flight last week, and the guy next to me offered me his newspaper. I haven’t read a newspaper in years, but he seemed so nice that I accepted. It was a copy of the USA Today, and it was open to an article about the rise in unintended consequences from legalizing marijuana. Safety officials and police in Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon, the first four state to legalize recreational marijuana, have reported a 6% increase in traffic accidents in the last few years. Although the increase (6%) doesn’t seem very dramatic, it was notable because the rate of accidents had been decreasing in each of the states for decades prior to the law change. Assuming that only one of the two parties involved in these new accidents was under the influence, that means that people who aren’t smoking marijuana are being negatively affected by the legalization. So, if you don’t want to increase your chances of being involved in a DUI incident, don’t legalize marijuana. (Notice how I just used an article as my evidence, but to make it more memorable, I told the story about how I came across the article. It is also easier to deliver this type of data because you are just relating what you remember about the data, not trying to be an expert on the data itself.) Marijuana is Still Largely Unregulated Just before my dad went into hospice care, he was in a lot of pain. He would take a prescription painkiller before bed to sleep. One night, my mom called frantically. Dad was in a catatonic state and wasn’t responsive. I rushed over. The hospital found that Dad had an unusually high amount of painkillers in his bloodstream. His regular doctor had been on vacation, and the fill-in doctor had prescribed a much higher dosage of the painkiller by accident. His original prescription was 2.5 mg, and the new prescription was 10 mg. Since dad was in a lot of pain most nights, he almost always took two tablets. He was also on dialysis, so his kidneys weren’t filtering out the excess narcotic each day. He had actually taken 20 MG (instead of 5 MG) on Friday night and another 20 mg on Saturday. Ordinarily, he would have had, at max, 15 mg of the narcotic in his system. Because of the mistake, though, he had 60 MGs. My point is that the narcotics that my dad was prescribed were highly regulated medicines under a doctor’s care, and a mistake was still made that almost killed him. With marijuana, there is really no way of knowing how much narcotic is in each dosage. So, mistakes like this are much more likely. So, in conclusion, legalizing marijuana can increase homelessness, increase the number of impaired drivers, and cause accidental overdoses.

If you use this breadcrumb approach, you are more likely to get at least some agreement. Even if the person disagrees with your conclusion, they are still likely to at least see your side. So, the person may say something like, I still disagree with you, but I totally see your point. That is still a step in the right direction.

For Real-World Practice in How to Design Persuasive Presentations Join Us for a Class

Our instructors are experts at helping presenters design persuasive speeches. We offer the Fearless Presentations ® classes in cities all over the world about every three to four months. In addition to helping you reduce nervousness, your instructor will also show you secrets to creating a great speech. For details about any of the classes, go to our Presentation Skills Class web page.

For additional details, see Persuasive Speech Outline Example .

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10 Best and Most Inspirational Speeches in Movies

By Film Threat Staff | August 8, 2019

In addition to plot and cast, a vast number of movies can impress viewers with speeches they contain. In some cases, they are as meaningful that become assigned to be analyzed in the educational process. This blog post can be useful as online help with your assignment if you face issues with finding motivational sources for your presentation or writing task. You can read the  writemypapers.org review to find out more about writing help. It provides consideration of the best ten inspirational speeches from modern and classical movies.

When students need to write a speech, there are a few ways to help them compose a masterpiece. The first way is to turn to a  speech writing service  where they can hire a professional writer who will write a custom speech that meets their demands, and the other way is to have a look at some strong examples presented in this article.

10. “The Show Goes On” Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

In Wolf Of Wall Street , the main hero’s speech is inspiring because it includes consideration of success, mainly financial. Presented instances of how people achieve wealth, after being poor ones, can make individuals to take a chance when an opportunity appears. His speech has since, apart from being an honorable person, it is also significant to have decent living conditions.

9. “We are special” Gridiron Gang (2006)

The speech of the coach (Dwayne Johnson) reflects that all people are special, regardless of any circumstances, like imprisonment. He inspires to think that even in cases when human is not a part of high society, he or she can achieve considerable goals and show that he or she is worth to be recognized. It is only essential to make efforts and do all actions one can to be better.

8. “Dream” The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

It is worth saying that the entire film is quite touching since it reflects relations between father and son. In this scene, an adult man teaches his son to fight for his dream, when people around consider it impossible. The main idea of the speech: if somebody believes that you can not achieve your goals, then do not listen to such people. They are not right if they see you as a person with no power to reach your goals.

7. “Our Deepest Fear” Coach Carter (2005)

In Coach Carter , speech goes about fear to be successful, since it implies the possibility to influence other people. However, success can become an inspirational tool, which can make other people also to get past fears. Moreover, in the speech, one can see the rethinking of how it is significant to make efforts in order to “shine.”

6. “Being Perfect” Friday Night Lights (2004)

The movie includes a scene with the inspiring speech of the coach, who talks about what it means to be perfect. From his perspective, being perfect lies in the attitude towards relatives and friends, in love and truth, which a person express. His words can make an individual think over the noted points, as valuable indicators of perfection. As well, one can consider whether he or she expresses love towards surroundings, tells the truth, and have no remorse.

5. “Respect each other” Remember the Titans (2000)

Speech presented in Remember the Titans goes about friendship and respectful attitude to each other. It can make an individual think over the significance of peaceful relations since disagreements are destroying for mankind. The hero insists on being respectful despite any features of individuals like race, nationality, or point of view. From the selected scene, one can recognize that friendly relationships can be quite useful in achieving common goals, especially when it goes about teamwork.

4. “Presidents Speech” Independence Day (1996)

In this film, the president of America talks about the significance of humankind and friendship among all nations. His speech is inspiring since it goes about unification, which can be beneficial in terms of struggling with enemies and saving people. In general, it reflects the need to forget about nationality, race, gender, and other feature of identity because without focusing on them, humans can easily cooperate and protect humankind more effectively. This speech can be quite useful for consideration of international relations.

3. “Freedom” Braveheart (1995)

This scene contains the speech of William Wallace (Mel Gibson) about freedom, as an essential part of a human being. From his point of view, freedom is more significant than mere life with its routine. As well. The speech can inspire individuals to take actions for the sake of more meaningful things like love, faith, truth, or pride, instead of making nutrition and sleep crucial.

2. “Get Busy Living” The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

This inspiring speech reflects the faith of a person in a successful and happy future, even if it requires a lot of efforts to achieve this goal, while another man surrenders. At this point, each person can choose own path, namely “get busy living” or “get busy dying,” as the main hero says. Therefore, you should always think about the future life with a positive attitude, and imagine how and where you will be happy.

1. “We are Mutants” Stripes (1981)

In the selected scene, the main hero John Winger (Bill Murray) talks to his military colleagues, inspiring them to be good soldiers. From his speech, it is possible to emphasize the significance of identity background, which is forming by generations. His statements can inspire individuals to be proud of their bloodline, even if their ancestors are not recognized as worthy people. Thus, this speech can be considered as an inspirational one in terms of American patriotism. 

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Not a single female speaker? Shocking

[…] gives a rousing speech about the world uniting against aliens. It’s been cited as one of the greatest speeches in film history on many different websites. Despite the widespread acclaim for this […]

Once you see the gender-based attack by valueless politicians in “The Contender,” where a female up for selection as VP is slandered by Congressional sleaze, you can appreciate the skillful civics lesson-counterattack orchestrated in the name of privacy. It seems party-specific to those who don’t recognize universal rights and decency.

How does Al Pacino’s “Game of inches” speech from Any Given Sunday not make this list? Should be top of the pile🙈

BENJI: BENJI'S SPECIAL TIME

A fun, kitsch parody of 50s educational films, Puberty: Benji's Special Time is a chuckle filled romp through adolescent changes and the questions that...

UNDERCLASSMAN

For me, the most memorable part of “Underclassman” (Marcos Siega) wasn’t watching it but waiting for it to begin. Twenty minutes before the 8:10 p.m....

THE QUIET FAMILY

Imagine a dash of "Arsenic and Old Lace," a pinch of "Shallow Grave," and a splash of Billy Wilder, and you've got this amusing little package. When a ...

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How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech

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The purpose of a persuasive speech is to convince your audience to agree with an idea or opinion that you present. First, you'll need to choose a side on a controversial topic, then you will write a speech to explain your position, and convince the audience to agree with you.

You can produce an effective persuasive speech if you structure your argument as a solution to a problem. Your first job as a speaker is to convince your audience that a particular problem is important to them, and then you must convince them that you have the solution to make things better.

Note: You don't have to address a real problem. Any need can work as the problem. For example, you could consider the lack of a pet, the need to wash one's hands, or the need to pick a particular sport to play as the "problem."

As an example, let's imagine that you have chosen "Getting Up Early" as your persuasion topic. Your goal will be to persuade classmates to get themselves out of bed an hour earlier every morning. In this instance, the problem could be summed up as "morning chaos."

A standard speech format has an introduction with a great hook statement, three main points, and a summary. Your persuasive speech will be a tailored version of this format.

Before you write the text of your speech, you should sketch an outline that includes your hook statement and three main points.

Writing the Text

The introduction of your speech must be compelling because your audience will make up their minds within a few minutes whether or not they are interested in your topic.

Before you write the full body you should come up with a greeting. Your greeting can be as simple as "Good morning everyone. My name is Frank."

After your greeting, you will offer a hook to capture attention. A hook sentence for the "morning chaos" speech could be a question:

• How many times have you been late for school?
• Does your day begin with shouts and arguments?
• Have you ever missed the bus?

Or your hook could be a statistic or surprising statement:

• More than 50 percent of high school students skip breakfast because they just don't have time to eat.
• Tardy kids drop out of school more often than punctual kids.

Once you have the attention of your audience, follow through to define the topic/problem and introduce your solution. Here's an example of what you might have so far:

Good afternoon, class. Some of you know me, but some of you may not. My name is Frank Godfrey, and I have a question for you. Does your day begin with shouts and arguments? Do you go to school in a bad mood because you've been yelled at, or because you argued with your parent? The chaos you experience in the morning can bring you down and affect your performance at school.

Add the solution:

You can improve your mood and your school performance by adding more time to your morning schedule. You can accomplish this by setting your alarm clock to go off one hour earlier.

Your next task will be to write the body, which will contain the three main points you've come up with to argue your position. Each point will be followed by supporting evidence or anecdotes, and each body paragraph will need to end with a transition statement that leads to the next segment. Here is a sample of three main statements:

• Bad moods caused by morning chaos will affect your workday performance.
• If you skip breakfast to buy time, you're making a harmful health decision.
• (Ending on a cheerful note) You'll enjoy a boost to your self-esteem when you reduce the morning chaos.

After you write three body paragraphs with strong transition statements that make your speech flow, you are ready to work on your summary.

Your summary will re-emphasize your argument and restate your points in slightly different language. This can be a little tricky. You don't want to sound repetitive but will need to repeat what you have said. Find a way to reword the same main points.

Finally, you must make sure to write a clear final sentence or passage to keep yourself from stammering at the end or fading off in an awkward moment. A few examples of graceful exits:

• We all like to sleep. It's hard to get up some mornings, but rest assured that the reward is well worth the effort.
• If you follow these guidelines and make the effort to get up a little bit earlier every day, you'll reap rewards in your home life and on your report card.

Tips for Writing Your Speech

• Don't be confrontational in your argument. You don't need to put down the other side; just convince your audience that your position is correct by using positive assertions.
• Use simple statistics. Don't overwhelm your audience with confusing numbers.
• Don't complicate your speech by going outside the standard "three points" format. While it might seem simplistic, it is a tried and true method for presenting to an audience who is listening as opposed to reading.
• How to Write a Persuasive Essay
• 5 Tips on How to Write a Speech Essay
• Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay
• Writing an Opinion Essay
• How To Write an Essay
• 5 Steps to Writing a Position Paper
• How to Structure an Essay
• Ethos, Logos, Pathos for Persuasion
• What Is Expository Writing?
• Audience Analysis in Speech and Composition
• Definition and Examples of Analysis in Composition
• 100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students
• What an Essay Is and How to Write One
• How to Write a Good Thesis Statement
• 100 Persuasive Essay Topics
• How to Write a Graduation Speech as Valedictorian

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

11.2 Persuasive Speaking

Learning objectives.

• Explain how claims, evidence, and warrants function to create an argument.
• Identify strategies for choosing a persuasive speech topic.
• Identify strategies for adapting a persuasive speech based on an audience’s orientation to the proposition.
• Distinguish among propositions of fact, value, and policy.
• Choose an organizational pattern that is fitting for a persuasive speech topic.

We produce and receive persuasive messages daily, but we don’t often stop to think about how we make the arguments we do or the quality of the arguments that we receive. In this section, we’ll learn the components of an argument, how to choose a good persuasive speech topic, and how to adapt and organize a persuasive message.

Foundation of Persuasion

Persuasive speaking seeks to influence the beliefs, attitudes, values, or behaviors of audience members. In order to persuade, a speaker has to construct arguments that appeal to audience members. Arguments form around three components: claim, evidence, and warrant. The claim is the statement that will be supported by evidence. Your thesis statement is the overarching claim for your speech, but you will make other claims within the speech to support the larger thesis. Evidence , also called grounds, supports the claim. The main points of your persuasive speech and the supporting material you include serve as evidence. For example, a speaker may make the following claim: “There should be a national law against texting while driving.” The speaker could then support the claim by providing the following evidence: “Research from the US Department of Transportation has found that texting while driving creates a crash risk that is twenty-three times worse than driving while not distracted.” The warrant is the underlying justification that connects the claim and the evidence. One warrant for the claim and evidence cited in this example is that the US Department of Transportation is an institution that funds research conducted by credible experts. An additional and more implicit warrant is that people shouldn’t do things they know are unsafe.

Figure 11.2 Components of an Argument

The quality of your evidence often impacts the strength of your warrant, and some warrants are stronger than others. A speaker could also provide evidence to support their claim advocating for a national ban on texting and driving by saying, “I have personally seen people almost wreck while trying to text.” While this type of evidence can also be persuasive, it provides a different type and strength of warrant since it is based on personal experience. In general, the anecdotal evidence from personal experience would be given a weaker warrant than the evidence from the national research report. The same process works in our legal system when a judge evaluates the connection between a claim and evidence. If someone steals my car, I could say to the police, “I’m pretty sure Mario did it because when I said hi to him on campus the other day, he didn’t say hi back, which proves he’s mad at me.” A judge faced with that evidence is unlikely to issue a warrant for Mario’s arrest. Fingerprint evidence from the steering wheel that has been matched with a suspect is much more likely to warrant arrest.

As you put together a persuasive argument, you act as the judge. You can evaluate arguments that you come across in your research by analyzing the connection (the warrant) between the claim and the evidence. If the warrant is strong, you may want to highlight that argument in your speech. You may also be able to point out a weak warrant in an argument that goes against your position, which you could then include in your speech. Every argument starts by putting together a claim and evidence, but arguments grow to include many interrelated units.

Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic

As with any speech, topic selection is important and is influenced by many factors. Good persuasive speech topics are current, controversial, and have important implications for society. If your topic is currently being discussed on television, in newspapers, in the lounges in your dorm, or around your family’s dinner table, then it’s a current topic. A persuasive speech aimed at getting audience members to wear seat belts in cars wouldn’t have much current relevance, given that statistics consistently show that most people wear seat belts. Giving the same speech would have been much more timely in the 1970s when there was a huge movement to increase seat-belt use.

Many topics that are current are also controversial, which is what gets them attention by the media and citizens. Current and controversial topics will be more engaging for your audience. A persuasive speech to encourage audience members to donate blood or recycle wouldn’t be very controversial, since the benefits of both practices are widely agreed on. However, arguing that the restrictions on blood donation by men who have had sexual relations with men be lifted would be controversial. I must caution here that controversial is not the same as inflammatory. An inflammatory topic is one that evokes strong reactions from an audience for the sake of provoking a reaction. Being provocative for no good reason or choosing a topic that is extremist will damage your credibility and prevent you from achieving your speech goals.

You should also choose a topic that is important to you and to society as a whole. As we have already discussed in this book, our voices are powerful, as it is through communication that we participate and make change in society. Therefore we should take seriously opportunities to use our voices to speak publicly. Choosing a speech topic that has implications for society is probably a better application of your public speaking skills than choosing to persuade the audience that Lebron James is the best basketball player in the world or that Superman is a better hero than Spiderman. Although those topics may be very important to you, they don’t carry the same social weight as many other topics you could choose to discuss. Remember that speakers have ethical obligations to the audience and should take the opportunity to speak seriously.

You will also want to choose a topic that connects to your own interests and passions. If you are an education major, it might make more sense to do a persuasive speech about funding for public education than the death penalty. If there are hot-button issues for you that make you get fired up and veins bulge out in your neck, then it may be a good idea to avoid those when speaking in an academic or professional context.

Choose a persuasive speech topic that you’re passionate about but still able to approach and deliver in an ethical manner.

Michael Vadon – Nigel Farage – CC BY-SA 2.0.

Choosing such topics may interfere with your ability to deliver a speech in a competent and ethical manner. You want to care about your topic, but you also want to be able to approach it in a way that’s going to make people want to listen to you. Most people tune out speakers they perceive to be too ideologically entrenched and write them off as extremists or zealots.

You also want to ensure that your topic is actually persuasive. Draft your thesis statement as an “I believe” statement so your stance on an issue is clear. Also, think of your main points as reasons to support your thesis. Students end up with speeches that aren’t very persuasive in nature if they don’t think of their main points as reasons. Identifying arguments that counter your thesis is also a good exercise to help ensure your topic is persuasive. If you can clearly and easily identify a competing thesis statement and supporting reasons, then your topic and approach are arguable.

Review of Tips for Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic

• Not current. People should use seat belts.
• Current. People should not text while driving.
• Not controversial. People should recycle.
• Controversial. Recycling should be mandatory by law.
• Not as impactful. Superman is the best superhero.
• Impactful. Colleges and universities should adopt zero-tolerance bullying policies.
• Unclear thesis. Homeschooling is common in the United States.
• Clear, argumentative thesis with stance. Homeschooling does not provide the same benefits of traditional education and should be strictly monitored and limited.

Adapting Persuasive Messages

Competent speakers should consider their audience throughout the speech-making process. Given that persuasive messages seek to directly influence the audience in some way, audience adaptation becomes even more important. If possible, poll your audience to find out their orientation toward your thesis. I read my students’ thesis statements aloud and have the class indicate whether they agree with, disagree with, or are neutral in regards to the proposition. It is unlikely that you will have a homogenous audience, meaning that there will probably be some who agree, some who disagree, and some who are neutral. So you may employ all of the following strategies, in varying degrees, in your persuasive speech.

When you have audience members who already agree with your proposition, you should focus on intensifying their agreement. You can also assume that they have foundational background knowledge of the topic, which means you can take the time to inform them about lesser-known aspects of a topic or cause to further reinforce their agreement. Rather than move these audience members from disagreement to agreement, you can focus on moving them from agreement to action. Remember, calls to action should be as specific as possible to help you capitalize on audience members’ motivation in the moment so they are more likely to follow through on the action.

There are two main reasons audience members may be neutral in regards to your topic: (1) they are uninformed about the topic or (2) they do not think the topic affects them. In this case, you should focus on instilling a concern for the topic. Uninformed audiences may need background information before they can decide if they agree or disagree with your proposition. If the issue is familiar but audience members are neutral because they don’t see how the topic affects them, focus on getting the audience’s attention and demonstrating relevance. Remember that concrete and proxemic supporting materials will help an audience find relevance in a topic. Students who pick narrow or unfamiliar topics will have to work harder to persuade their audience, but neutral audiences often provide the most chance of achieving your speech goal since even a small change may move them into agreement.

When audience members disagree with your proposition, you should focus on changing their minds. To effectively persuade, you must be seen as a credible speaker. When an audience is hostile to your proposition, establishing credibility is even more important, as audience members may be quick to discount or discredit someone who doesn’t appear prepared or doesn’t present well-researched and supported information. Don’t give an audience a chance to write you off before you even get to share your best evidence. When facing a disagreeable audience, the goal should also be small change. You may not be able to switch someone’s position completely, but influencing him or her is still a success. Aside from establishing your credibility, you should also establish common ground with an audience.

Build common ground with disagreeable audiences and acknowledge areas of disagreement.

Chris-Havard Berge – Shaking Hands – CC BY-NC 2.0.

Acknowledging areas of disagreement and logically refuting counterarguments in your speech is also a way to approach persuading an audience in disagreement, as it shows that you are open-minded enough to engage with other perspectives.

Determining Your Proposition

The proposition of your speech is the overall direction of the content and how that relates to the speech goal. A persuasive speech will fall primarily into one of three categories: propositions of fact, value, or policy. A speech may have elements of any of the three propositions, but you can usually determine the overall proposition of a speech from the specific purpose and thesis statements.

Propositions of fact focus on beliefs and try to establish that something “is or isn’t.” Propositions of value focus on persuading audience members that something is “good or bad,” “right or wrong,” or “desirable or undesirable.” Propositions of policy advocate that something “should or shouldn’t” be done. Since most persuasive speech topics can be approached as propositions of fact, value, or policy, it is a good idea to start thinking about what kind of proposition you want to make, as it will influence how you go about your research and writing. As you can see in the following example using the topic of global warming, the type of proposition changes the types of supporting materials you would need:

• Proposition of fact. Global warming is caused by increased greenhouse gases related to human activity.
• Proposition of value. America’s disproportionately large amount of pollution relative to other countries is wrong .
• Proposition of policy. There should be stricter emission restrictions on individual cars.

To support propositions of fact, you would want to present a logical argument based on objective facts that can then be used to build persuasive arguments. Propositions of value may require you to appeal more to your audience’s emotions and cite expert and lay testimony. Persuasive speeches about policy usually require you to research existing and previous laws or procedures and determine if any relevant legislation or propositions are currently being considered.

“Getting Critical”

Persuasion and Masculinity

The traditional view of rhetoric that started in ancient Greece and still informs much of our views on persuasion today has been critiqued for containing Western and masculine biases. Traditional persuasion has been linked to Western and masculine values of domination, competition, and change, which have been critiqued as coercive and violent (Gearhart, 1979).

Communication scholars proposed an alternative to traditional persuasive rhetoric in the form of invitational rhetoric. Invitational rhetoric differs from a traditional view of persuasive rhetoric that “attempts to win over an opponent, or to advocate the correctness of a single position in a very complex issue” (Bone et al., 2008). Instead, invitational rhetoric proposes a model of reaching consensus through dialogue. The goal is to create a climate in which growth and change can occur but isn’t required for one person to “win” an argument over another. Each person in a communication situation is acknowledged to have a standpoint that is valid but can still be influenced through the offering of alternative perspectives and the invitation to engage with and discuss these standpoints (Ryan & Natalle, 2001). Safety, value, and freedom are three important parts of invitational rhetoric. Safety involves a feeling of security in which audience members and speakers feel like their ideas and contributions will not be denigrated. Value refers to the notion that each person in a communication encounter is worthy of recognition and that people are willing to step outside their own perspectives to better understand others. Last, freedom is present in communication when communicators do not limit the thinking or decisions of others, allowing all participants to speak up (Bone et al., 2008).

Invitational rhetoric doesn’t claim that all persuasive rhetoric is violent. Instead, it acknowledges that some persuasion is violent and that the connection between persuasion and violence is worth exploring. Invitational rhetoric has the potential to contribute to the civility of communication in our society. When we are civil, we are capable of engaging with and appreciating different perspectives while still understanding our own. People aren’t attacked or reviled because their views diverge from ours. Rather than reducing the world to “us against them, black or white, and right or wrong,” invitational rhetoric encourages us to acknowledge human perspectives in all their complexity (Bone et al., 2008).

• What is your reaction to the claim that persuasion includes Western and masculine biases?
• What are some strengths and weaknesses of the proposed alternatives to traditional persuasion?
• In what situations might an invitational approach to persuasion be useful? In what situations might you want to rely on traditional models of persuasion?

Organizing a Persuasive Speech

We have already discussed several patterns for organizing your speech, but some organization strategies are specific to persuasive speaking. Some persuasive speech topics lend themselves to a topical organization pattern, which breaks the larger topic up into logical divisions. Earlier, in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , we discussed recency and primacy, and in this chapter we discussed adapting a persuasive speech based on the audience’s orientation toward the proposition. These concepts can be connected when organizing a persuasive speech topically. Primacy means putting your strongest information first and is based on the idea that audience members put more weight on what they hear first. This strategy can be especially useful when addressing an audience that disagrees with your proposition, as you can try to win them over early. Recency means putting your strongest information last to leave a powerful impression. This can be useful when you are building to a climax in your speech, specifically if you include a call to action.

Putting your strongest argument last can help motivate an audience to action.

Celestine Chua – The Change – CC BY 2.0.

The problem-solution pattern is an organizational pattern that advocates for a particular approach to solve a problem. You would provide evidence to show that a problem exists and then propose a solution with additional evidence or reasoning to justify the course of action. One main point addressing the problem and one main point addressing the solution may be sufficient, but you are not limited to two. You could add a main point between the problem and solution that outlines other solutions that have failed. You can also combine the problem-solution pattern with the cause-effect pattern or expand the speech to fit with Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.

As was mentioned in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , the cause-effect pattern can be used for informative speaking when the relationship between the cause and effect is not contested. The pattern is more fitting for persuasive speeches when the relationship between the cause and effect is controversial or unclear. There are several ways to use causes and effects to structure a speech. You could have a two-point speech that argues from cause to effect or from effect to cause. You could also have more than one cause that lead to the same effect or a single cause that leads to multiple effects. The following are some examples of thesis statements that correspond to various organizational patterns. As you can see, the same general topic area, prison overcrowding, is used for each example. This illustrates the importance of considering your organizational options early in the speech-making process, since the pattern you choose will influence your researching and writing.

Persuasive Speech Thesis Statements by Organizational Pattern

• Problem-solution. Prison overcrowding is a serious problem that we can solve by finding alternative rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders.
• Problem–failed solution–proposed solution. Prison overcrowding is a serious problem that shouldn’t be solved by building more prisons; instead, we should support alternative rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders.
• Cause-effect. Prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to lesser sentences for violent criminals.
• Cause-cause-effect. State budgets are being slashed and prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to lesser sentences for violent criminals.
• Cause-effect-effect. Prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to increased behavioral problems among inmates and lesser sentences for violent criminals.
• Cause-effect-solution. Prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders, which leads to lesser sentences for violent criminals; therefore we need to find alternative rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is an organizational pattern designed for persuasive speaking that appeals to audience members’ needs and motivates them to action. If your persuasive speaking goals include a call to action, you may want to consider this organizational pattern. We already learned about the five steps of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , but we will review them here with an example:

• Hook the audience by making the topic relevant to them.
• Imagine living a full life, retiring, and slipping into your golden years. As you get older you become more dependent on others and move into an assisted-living facility. Although you think life will be easier, things get worse as you experience abuse and mistreatment from the staff. You report the abuse to a nurse and wait, but nothing happens and the abuse continues. Elder abuse is a common occurrence, and unlike child abuse, there are no laws in our state that mandate complaints of elder abuse be reported or investigated.
• Cite evidence to support the fact that the issue needs to be addressed.
• According to the American Psychological Association, one to two million elderly US Americans have been abused by their caretakers. In our state, those in the medical, psychiatric, and social work field are required to report suspicion of child abuse but are not mandated to report suspicions of elder abuse.
• Offer a solution and persuade the audience that it is feasible and well thought out.
• There should be a federal law mandating that suspicion of elder abuse be reported and that all claims of elder abuse be investigated.
• Take the audience beyond your solution and help them visualize the positive results of implementing it or the negative consequences of not.
• Elderly people should not have to live in fear during their golden years. A mandatory reporting law for elderly abuse will help ensure that the voices of our elderly loved ones will be heard.
• Call your audience to action by giving them concrete steps to follow to engage in a particular action or to change a thought or behavior.
• I urge you to take action in two ways. First, raise awareness about this issue by talking to your own friends and family. Second, contact your representatives at the state and national level to let them know that elder abuse should be taken seriously and given the same level of importance as other forms of abuse. I brought cards with the contact information for our state and national representatives for this area. Please take one at the end of my speech. A short e-mail or phone call can help end the silence surrounding elder abuse.

Key Takeaways

• Arguments are formed by making claims that are supported by evidence. The underlying justification that connects the claim and evidence is the warrant. Arguments can have strong or weak warrants, which will make them more or less persuasive.
• Good persuasive speech topics are current, controversial (but not inflammatory), and important to the speaker and society.
• When audience members agree with the proposal, focus on intensifying their agreement and moving them to action.
• When audience members are neutral in regards to the proposition, provide background information to better inform them about the issue and present information that demonstrates the relevance of the topic to the audience.
• When audience members disagree with the proposal, focus on establishing your credibility, build common ground with the audience, and incorporate counterarguments and refute them.
• Propositions of fact focus on establishing that something “is or isn’t” or is “true or false.”
• Propositions of value focus on persuading an audience that something is “good or bad,” “right or wrong,” or “desirable or undesirable.”
• Propositions of policy advocate that something “should or shouldn’t” be done.
• Persuasive speeches can be organized using the following patterns: problem-solution, cause-effect, cause-effect-solution, or Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.
• Getting integrated: Give an example of persuasive messages that you might need to create in each of the following contexts: academic, professional, personal, and civic. Then do the same thing for persuasive messages you may receive.
• To help ensure that your persuasive speech topic is persuasive and not informative, identify the claims, evidence, and warrants you may use in your argument. In addition, write a thesis statement that refutes your topic idea and identify evidence and warrants that could support that counterargument.
• Determine if your speech is primarily a proposition of fact, value, or policy. How can you tell? Identify an organizational pattern that you think will work well for your speech topic, draft one sentence for each of your main points, and arrange them according to the pattern you chose.

Bone, J. E., Cindy L. Griffin, and T. M. Linda Scholz, “Beyond Traditional Conceptualizations of Rhetoric: Invitational Rhetoric and a Move toward Civility,” Western Journal of Communication 72 (2008): 436.

Gearhart, S. M., “The Womanization of Rhetoric,” Women’s Studies International Quarterly 2 (1979): 195–201.

Ryan, K. J., and Elizabeth J. Natalle, “Fusing Horizons: Standpoint Hermenutics and Invitational Rhetoric,” Rhetoric Society Quarterly 31 (2001): 69–90.

Communication in the Real World Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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• Writing Tips

 Ethos, Logos, and Pathos – A Simple Guide

4-minute read

• 12th April 2023

Ethos, logos, and pathos are three essential components of persuasive communication . They’ve been used for centuries by great communicators to influence the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of their audiences. In this simple guide, we’ll take a closer look at these three components using examples from famous writing and speeches.

What Is Ethos?

Ethos is a persuasive appeal based on the credibility or character of the speaker or writer. It refers to the trustworthiness, expertise, or authority that they bring to the argument. It’s crucial in establishing the credibility of the speaker or writer and can be built in through a variety of means, such as reputation and sources, or language and tone.

How To Use Ethos

Ethos can be established through the speaker or writer’s reputation: if they are known for being knowledgeable, honest, and trustworthy, this can lend credibility to their argument. For example, in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. established his ethos by highlighting his role as a civil rights leader and his personal experience with racial injustice.

Another way you can achieve ethos in speech or writing is through the use of credible sources. For example, Rachel Carson established ethos in her book Silent Spring by providing extensive scientific evidence to support her argument that pesticides were harming the environment.

Finally, ethos can be accomplished through the use of language and tone . Using a professional and respectful tone can create the impression of credibility and authority. For instance, in his second inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln employed ethos by using a solemn, reflective tone to convey the gravity of the situation.

What Is Logos?

Logos is a persuasive appeal based on logic and reasoning. It refers to the use of evidence and logical arguments to support the speaker or writer’s position.

How To Use Logos

One way you can implement logos in your speech or writing is through the use of statistics and data. When writing, or constructing a speech, try to incorporate reliable and credible stats or figures to strengthen your claims or argument and persuade your audience.

You can also employ examples and analogies to achieve logos. These can make your argument more accessible and understandable to a wider audience. For example, in his book The Tipping Point , Malcolm Gladwell uses the example of “the broken windows” theory to illustrate his argument that small changes can have a big impact on social behavior.

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Finally, logos can be established through the use of logical arguments . To ensure you have a logical argument, you should have a clear statement with definitions, examples, and evidence to support it. For instance, in his essay “Civil Disobedience,” Henry David Thoreau made a logical argument that individuals have a moral obligation to resist unjust laws.

What Is Pathos?

Pathos is a persuasive appeal based on emotion. It refers to the use of language and imagery that elicits an emotional response. Pathos can be used to create a sense of urgency, inspire empathy, or evoke a particular mood.

How To Use Pathos

Vivid imagery is a great way in which a writer or speaker can implement pathos. Using descriptive language to paint a picture in your audience’s mind is a powerful and persuasive skill. For example, in his poem “Dulce et Decorum Est,” Wilfred Owen used vivid imagery to describe the horrors of war and elicit an emotional response in his readers.

Pathos can also be accomplished by using personal anecdotes. The power of storytelling is an invaluable skill for any writer or speaker because it creates rapport and an emotional connection with your audience. For example, in her TED talk “The Power of Vulnerability,” Brene Brown shares personal stories about her struggles with shame and vulnerability to inspire empathy and connection with her audience.

Finally, pathos can be established through the use of rhetorical questions and appeals to shared values. A good example can be heard in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. He poses his biggest question to his audience (and the world): “Now, what does all of this mean in this great period of history?” In response to this rhetorical question, he beautifully tries to persuade the audience to work together toward a common goal, stating, “It means that we’ve got to stay together. We’ve got to stay together and maintain unity.”

Ethos, logos, and pathos are powerful tools for persuasive speech and writing. By establishing credibility, using logical arguments, and appealing to emotion, speakers and writers can influence the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of their audiences. When used effectively, these elements can help to create meaningful and lasting change in the world.

Interested in learning how to elevate your writing with more literary devices? Check our other articles .

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Ronald Reagan "The Gipper" was known as the "Great Communicator" for his exceptional speaking abilities. He was able to connect with audiences on a personal level and deliver his message in a clear, concise, and inspiring way.Reagan's speaking abilities were honed during his career as an actor and radio broadcaster. He had a natural talent for storytelling and a knack for using humor and anecdotes to illustrate his points. He was also a master of body language and vocal delivery, and he knew how to use his voice and gestures to emphasize his message.One of the key elements of Reagan's speaking ability was his sincerity. He came across as a genuine and authentic person who believed in what he was saying. This made him relatable to audiences and allowed him to build trust with them.Reagan was also a skilled rhetorician. He knew how to use language effectively to persuade and inspire his listeners. He often used simple, straightforward language and avoided jargon. He also used repetition and parallelism to emphasize his key points.Finally, Reagan was a gifted storyteller. He was able to weave together personal anecdotes, historical examples, and moral lessons to create compelling narratives that resonated with audiences.Here are some specific examples of Reagan's speaking abilities: In his famous "A Time for Choosing" speech in 1964, Reagan delivered a powerful and persuasive argument against the policies of the Johnson administration. He used simple language and vivid imagery to paint a picture of a nation on the wrong track. He also used repetition and parallelism to emphasize his key points.In his first inaugural address in 1981, Reagan outlined his vision for a new America. He spoke of the importance of individual freedom and limited government. He also used patriotic language and imagery to inspire the American people.In his speech to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in 1987, Reagan challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. This speech was a powerful plea for freedom and democracy, and it helped to usher in the end of the Cold War.Ronald Reagan's speaking abilities were a major factor in his political success. He was able to use his voice to connect with the American people and deliver his message of hope and optimism. He is rightly remembered as one of the greatest communicators in American history.

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Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker Quotes Taylor Swift in Controversial Commencement Speech

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is facing criticism for the commencement speech he gave at Benedictine College.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Joe Biden 's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.

The three-time Super Bowl champion delivered the roughly 20-minute address Saturday at the Catholic private liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, which is located about 60 miles north of Kansas City.

Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, began his address by attacking what he called "dangerous gender ideologies" in an apparent reference to Pride month, which has been celebrated in June since the Stonewall riots in 1969. He also criticized an article by The Associated Press  highlighting a shift toward conservativism in some parts of the Catholic Church.

The 28-year-old Butker then took aim at Biden's policies, including his response to COVID-19, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique," he said. "The bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder."

Butker later addressed the women in the audience, arguing that their "most important title" should be that of "homemaker."

"I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you," Butker said. "Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother."

The kicker from Decatur, Georgia, also quoted from Taylor Swift 's song "Bejeweled" while addressing the graduates.

"As my teammate's girlfriend says, 'familiarity breeds contempt,' " Butker said, referencing Travis Kelce .

The kicker has faced some backlash for the speech.

"One of the worst parts of this NFL player's awful speech is that he quoted a Taylor Swift song before telling women they should be homemakers and serve their man's career," OutSports wrote in a social media post.

Meanwhile, former Kansas City commissioner Justice Horn wrote on social media:"Harrison Butker doesn't represent Kansas City nor has he ever. Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms, and embraces our LGBTQ+ community members."

The Chiefs declined to comment on Butker's commencement address.

The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech has become of the NFL's best kickers, breaking the Chiefs' franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022. Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he kicked the field goal that forced overtime in a Super Bowl win over San Francisco in February.

It has been an embarrassing offseason for the Chiefs, though.

Last month, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a ballot initiative that would have helped pay for a downtown ballpark for the Royals and an $800 million renovation to Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Chiefs. Many voters criticized the plan put forward by the Chiefs as catering primarily to VIPs and the wealthy.

The same week, wide receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in to Dallas police on multiple charges, including aggravated assault, after he was involved in a high-speed crash that left four people with injuries . Rice has acknowledged being the driver of one of the sports cars that was going in excess of 100 mph, and video shows him leaving the scene without providing information or determining whether anyone needed medical attention.

Last week, law enforcement officials told The Dallas Morning News that Rice also was suspected of assaulting a person at a downtown nightclub; Dallas police did not name Rice as the suspect in detailing a report to The Associated Press.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he had spoken to the receiver and the team was letting the legal process play out.

This story was originally published by CBS News on May 15, 2024 at 7:14 a.m. ET. 

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Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager slam Harrison Butker’s homemaker speech: ‘Stop speaking for women’

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Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb slammed NFL star Harrison Butker after he gave a controversial speech telling women to embrace becoming homemakers .

On Thursday’s episode of “Today With Hoda & Jenna,” Bush Hager credited her husband, Henry Hager, with treating her as an “equal partner.”

“Who is [Butker] to tell us?” she quipped, to which Kotb added, “Don’t speak for us. I think that’s kind of the thing. Stop speaking for women out there.”

Both journalists applauded those who are stay-at-home parents, while also stating that some couples don’t have the luxury to afford one parent to be home with the kids.

“It’s an elitist concept to begin with,” Bush Hager, 42, stated.

“I think that there’s a thing about someone speaking for [someone],” Kotb, 59, said. “And [Butker] may be speaking for a lot of people, but you can’t speak for everyone.

She added, “Women get to decide what they want to do.”

Kotb and Bush Hager’s remarks come nearly a week after the Kansas City Chiefs kicker, 28, gave a sexist and anti-LGBTQIA+ commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., on Saturday.

During Butker’s address, he said he’s “gained quite the reputation for speaking my mind” before attacking “dangerous gender ideologies” and President Joe Biden’s “bad policies and poor leadership.”

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“Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder,” he added.

The three-time Super Bowl champ then addressed the women in the graduating class, telling them that their “most important title” should be “homemaker.”

“Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” he added.

“I can tell you that  my beautiful wife, Isabelle , would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”

Butker also encouraged the male graduates to “be unapologetic in your masculinity” and “fight against the cultural emasculation of men.”

The kicker, whose mom is an accomplished physicist , faced backlash for his views.

GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement to Page Six that Butker’s speech was “not only a clear miss, it was inaccurate, ill-informed, and woefully out of step with Americans about Pride, LGBTQ people and women.”

And the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, Jonathan Beane, told People that Butker’s “views are not those of the NFL as an organization.”

“The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger,” Beane added.

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