I have always loved great speeches. A long time ago I found a series of the greatest speeches in history on Caedmon LP Records at the Eau Claire Public Library. I would go into the sound booth and play everyone of them over and over again. It did not matter whether or not I agreed with the speaker or whether or not I endorsed his/her ideas. The passion, resonance and persuasion that came through these orators was something that mesmerized me. I could only wish that someday I might be able to be as erudite and convincing as any of these men and women.
Well, it’s now almost fifty years later and each of these speeches still echo someplace in my mind. You might wonder how Jesus or Pericles managed to be recorded. Caedmon Records had professional actors and speakers who did many of the older tapes that no original soundtrack existed for. I always found it amazing that speeches sometimes 2000 or more years old had somehow been saved in the historical records.
So, my friends, here are my picks for the top 15 speeches of all time. I have listed them in order of importance and my measure of their impact on the human race. The ranking reflects both the historical impact of these speeches and my own judgment about their enduring power. Ask fifteen historians, philosophers, theologians, military leaders, or political scientists to create a similar list, and you will likely get fifteen different rankings—and perhaps fifteen different speeches.
1. The Sermon on the Mount
Speaker: Jesus of Nazareth
The most influential moral speech in human history.
Theme: Compassion, mercy, humility, forgiveness.
Memorable verse: “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”
2. Pericles’ Funeral Oration
Speaker: Pericles
The foundational speech of democratic citizenship.
Theme: Duty, sacrifice, democracy.
Memorable verse: “Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors’, but is an example to them.”
3. The Gettysburg Address
Speaker: Abraham Lincoln
Perhaps the most perfect speech ever written in the English language.
Theme: Equality and democratic government.
Memorable verse: “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”
4. The Apology of Socrates
Speaker: Socrates
The ultimate defense of free inquiry and intellectual honesty.
Theme: Truth over his own life.
Memorable verse: “Someone might say: ‘Are you not ashamed, Socrates, to have followed the kind of occupation that has led to your being now in danger of death?’ However, I should be right to reply to him: You are wrong, sir, if you think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death; he should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong, whether he is acting like a good or a bad man.”’
5. Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms
Speaker: Martin Luther
One man’s conscience against an empire and a church.
Theme: Individual conscience.
Memorable verse: “I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither right nor safe to go against conscience. God help me.”
6. “I Have a Dream”
Speaker: Martin Luther King Jr.
The greatest civil-rights speech ever delivered.
Theme: Equality and reconciliation.
Memorable verse: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”’
7. Rivonia Trial Speech
Speaker: Nelson Mandela
A defense of democracy while facing possible execution.
Theme: Justice and freedom.
Memorable verse: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
8. What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?
Speaker: Frederick Douglass
One of history’s most devastating moral critiques.
Theme: Hypocrisy and liberty.
Memorable verse: “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”
9. Ain’t I a Woman?
Speaker: Sojourner Truth
A powerful intersection of race, gender, and human dignity.
Theme: Equality and humanity.
Memorable verse: “Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ’cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.”
10. I Will Fight No More Forever
Speaker: Chief Joseph
Perhaps the most heartbreaking speech in American history.
Theme: Loss, dignity, and peace.
Memorable verse: “I want to have time to look for my children and see how many I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.”
11. The Ballot or the Bullet
Speaker: Malcolm X
I would actually choose this over several of his police-brutality speeches because it captures his ideas at their most mature and influential.
Theme: Self-determination and political power.
Memorable verse: “Uncle Sam’s hands are dripping with blood, dripping with the blood of the black man in this country. He’s the earth’s number-one hypocrite. He has the audacity — yes, he has — imagine him posing as the leader of the free world. The free world! And you over here singing “We Shall Overcome.”’
12. The Quit India Speech
Speaker: Mahatma Gandhi
One of the greatest calls for nonviolent resistance.
Theme: Freedom through moral courage.
Memorable verse: “People may laugh, nevertheless that is my claim. At a time when I may have to launch the biggest struggle of my life, I may not harbor hatred against anybody.”
13. The “Dare, Dare Again, Always Dare” Speech
Speaker: Georges Danton
Delivered during the crisis of the French Revolution.
Theme: Courage in the face of tyranny.
Memorable verse: “To conquer, gentlemen, we must dare, dare again, always dare, and so save France.”
14. Farewell Address to Congress
Speaker: Douglas MacArthur
A brilliant defense of a military career and a strategic vision.
Theme: Duty, honor, and service.
Memorable speech: “I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.”
15. The Tilbury Address to the English Troops
Speaker: Queen Elizabeth I
A speech that roused the English troops to victory over Spain
Theme: Trust, gratitude, courage and commitment
Memorable verse: “I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm: to which rather than any dishonor shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.”
Conclusions:
I confess I have done scant justice and perhaps irreparable harm to the great speeches that have been rendered by men and women throughout history. No doubt from my selection, you will say that I have ignored many South American, Australian, Asian, Chinese, Korean and Japanese orators. You will be right. My index of speeches has never been swollen with speeches from these areas and countries. Would that I have another two or more lives to live, I swear I would rectify that problem.
I ask forgiveness for anyone I have admitted who is on your list of “greatest speeches.” I would ask you to take a minute or two and include your favorites in my comments section. Over my years on this planet, many of these speeches have sustained my faith in humanity and progress by the words of these moral and courageous leaders. I have several other speeches that I could have included but as with blogs, we only have a limited amount of time to allocate to them.
I would encourage you to take a moment to read some of the speeches I have listed. In the treacherous and devious era that we now live in, maybe you will gain some measure of faith that humanity will continue to learn and become a better race than we appear to be.
When I look at humanity, I do not see a completed masterpiece. I see a chrysalis. We are often selfish, fearful, and divided, yet beneath those imperfections lies the possibility of something greater. The question is not whether humanity has flaws; the question is whether we are still becoming. The caterpillar and the butterfly are the same creature separated only by growth.
Perhaps the same is true for all of us.
Aging Capriciously 
Jun 25, 2026 @ 07:46:03
Dear Dr John Persico Jr,
Had you labelled the post title to “The Fifteen Great Speeches in Human History” or “My Most Favourite Fifteen Speeches in Human History”, your position would have been much less vulnerable or untenable. Nevertheless, I appreciate your commendable selections and good spirit. Thank you.
In essence, you have given us 15 quotations. The matters regarding quotations can be highly complex and very consequential, and yet still rarely discussed and poorly understood, even in the academic circle. Therefore, I would like to recommend to you my post entitled “The Quotation Fallacy “💬”“.
I have yet to respond to the two comments that you submitted to two of my blog posts respectively, because I am far too occupied with several complex projects to reply to my satisfaction and commensurate with high standard. Please bear with me.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 09:59:21
I think your comment is right on about the title. Ergo, I am going to change it. thanks for taking the time to respond. I can only hope people take the time to read some of the entire speechs. I look forward to your comments in respect to my remarks. I understand about not having enough time. Time flies when you get older, and it becomes much more valuable. Thanks. John
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 10:02:55
Dear SoundEagle, I changed the title to “Fifteen of the Greatest Speeches in human history.” I think that still reflects my personal opinions but also recognizes that they are not the only greatest speeches. Thanks for the suggestion. John
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 19:01:13
Dear Dr John Persico Jr,
In The Court of Quotation, your sentence is only commuted on account of your changing the blog post title from “The Fifteen Greatest Speeches in Human History” to “Fifteen of the Greatest Speeches in Human History“, but not dropped because the URL of your blog post still bears the former title.
For your edification, here is a legal proceeding conducted at The Court of Quotation:
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 19:28:14
Harking back to the former title, I was tempted to answer you with this little bit of poetry/
The Fifteen Greatest Speeches in Human History
“Tonight we’ll rank the greatest words
That ever stirred the human herd.
We’ll score each line, assign a grade,
As if great souls were lemonade.”
“Was Lincoln first? Was Luther second?
Did Socrates deserve to beckon?
Should Jesus edge out Pericles?
Let’s settle it by counting ‘likes,’ if you please.”
The judges frowned. The experts spoke.
Each wore a very serious cloak.
They argued long with charts and graphs,
While history tried not to laugh.
For speeches aren’t like racehorses,
Or Olympic gold resources.
Each changed a heart, a mind, an age—
Not points upon a ranking page.
So make your lists if lists delight,
Debate them deep into the night.
Just leave one space for words untold—
The greatest speech… still yet unfolds.
By Metis (AI Assistant)
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 21:30:58
Dear Dr John Persico Jr,
Please use this version of my reply as I have just made some amendments.
Thank you for replying with the inclusion of a somewhat comedic AI-generated poem. Unfortunately, it does not rhyme perfectly. I naturally noticed such things, having established ample opportunities for and sustained endeavours in composing mainly rhyming poems, often with end rhymes, internal rhymes, alliterations, assonances, consonances, sibilances as well as rhythmic devices, syllabic schemes, musical patterns, and other subtle or overt features (not just in my poems but also in my own musical compositions, illustrations and animations as featured on my blog).
Please note that the title of your poem, “The Fifteen Greatest Speeches in Human History” may again render your position vulnerable or untenable.
Here is the revised, perfectly rhyming version with enhanced vocabulary and crisp, consistent rhythm.
“Tonight we’ll rank the greatest words
That ever moved the human herds.
We’ll score each line, assign a grade,
As if great souls were lemonade.”
“Was Lincoln first? Was Luther best?
Did Socrates outshine the rest?
Should Jesus edge out Pericles?
Let’s count the ‘likes’, if you would please.”
The judges frowned. The experts spoke.
Each wore a very serious cloak.
They argued long with chart and graph,
While history tried not to laugh.
For speeches aren’t a racing course,
Where winners ride a faster horse.
Each changed a heart, a mind, an age —
Not points upon a ranking page.
So make your lists if lists delight,
Debate them deep into the night.
Just leave one space for words untold —
The greatest spiels… still yet unfold.
Key Improvements Made
I hope that by now you have realised that resorting to using AI-produced poems can create problematic results.
You are very welcome to examine my entirely human-produced poems published on my website to gain further insight and inspiration.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 21:41:35
Dear Dr John Persico Jr,
Please use this definitive version of my reply, as I have included additional explanations.
Thank you for replying with the inclusion of a somewhat comedic AI-generated poem. Unfortunately, it does not rhyme perfectly. I naturally noticed such things, having established ample opportunities for and sustained endeavours in composing mainly rhyming poems, often with end rhymes, internal rhymes, alliterations, assonances, consonances, sibilances as well as rhythmic devices, syllabic schemes, musical patterns, and other subtle or overt features (not just in my poems but also in my own musical compositions, illustrations and animations as featured on my blog).
Please note that the title of your poem, “The Fifteen Greatest Speeches in Human History” may again render your position vulnerable or untenable.
Here is the revised, perfectly rhyming version with enhanced vocabulary and crisp, consistent rhythm.
“Tonight we’ll rank the greatest words
That ever moved the human herds.
We’ll score each line, assign a grade,
As if great souls were lemonade.”
“Was Lincoln first? Was Luther best?
Did Socrates outshine the rest?
Should Jesus edge out Pericles?
Let’s count the ‘likes’, if you would please.”
The judges frowned. The experts spoke.
Each wore a very serious cloak.
They argued long with chart and graph,
While history tried not to laugh.
For speeches aren’t a racing course,
Where winners ride a faster horse.
Each changed a heart, a mind, an age —
Not points upon a ranking page.
So make your lists if lists delight,
Debate them deep into the night.
Just leave one space for words untold —
The greatest spiels… still yet unfold.
Key Improvements Made
I hope that by now you have realised that resorting to using AI-produced poems can create problematic results.
You are very welcome to examine my entirely human-produced poems published on my website to gain further insight and inspiration.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 22:00:03
Dear SoundEagle.
Thank you! You’ve convincingly demonstrated that there are at least sixteen great speeches in human history—the sixteenth being your critique of the poem. 🙂
AI poems do have one advantage for the non-rhyming person like me. I could never write a good poem or even a half-way good poem. So I will gladly render the effort to Metis, my AI assistant giving her full credit when due.
Sorry I neglected to change the poem title to match the new blog title. Mea Culpa.
My kudos to you on your poetry writing. I did enjoy your poem much better than my Metis’ poem. Thank you for your meticulous review. I shall inform the Metis that she has been demoted from “Poet Laureate” to “Rhyming Intern” until she completes a remedial course in iambic tetrameter. Fortunately, history has been known to forgive the occasional imperfect rhyme—even if poets do not.
John “not known for his poetry” Persico
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 22:22:03
Dear Dr John Persico Jr,
Here’s one of my best rhyming poems. As you might already know, without the Moon, life on Earth may not have started, let alone evolved so successfully as it has been, according to what I have learnt about the Moon, the Earth and the solar system through my study in astronomy and cosmology. Being consilient and holistic through interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity has allowed me to see, perceive and express the Moon in multiple ways. As a poet, artist, musician, researcher, writer and a lover of Moon, I like to entertain, inspire and resonate with my readers through one of my most animation-intensive posts presented to you as a courtesy of my dramatic attempt to bring the Full Moon alive, so to speak, in the form of Music Animation with Dynamic Visualization rendered in high definition and imbued with a scintillating full Moon surrounded by eye-catching astronomical phenomena and stellar activities!
The post contains twelve poetic stanzas constituting my tetrapartite rhyming poem entitled “If My Name Were Moon Tonight…“. In order to see all of the animations, please make sure that you view the post on my website and not via the WordPress Reader. Please enjoy to your heart’s content the mixed-media offering of “If My Name Were Moon Tonight…” and its beautifully rendered Music Animation with Dynamic Visualization on the big high-resolution screen of your desktop or laptop computer. Switch the video playback to full-screen mode. The animation starts calmly and will gradually climax.
In the post, there is also the opportunity to savour my own rendition of Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”, played by me and recorded on my organ. In addition, I hope that you will enjoy watching my dynamic animation produced in high resolution (1920 x 1280) synchronized perfectly to “Clair de Lune”. The effects are going to be great on the large screen of your desktop or laptop computer. Moreover, you should be able to see that the entire post from top to bottom is full of eye-catching animations. Remember that my website works best on a desktop or laptop computer. Please enjoy!
The direct link to the post is
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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Jun 26, 2026 @ 03:16:58
Thank You SoundEagle, I am looking forward to the experience. It is now 3 AM in Arizona and I usually get up at this time with a blog idea or at least the germ of a blog idea. I woke up with the thought of “How to be taken seriously.” Or Seriously, “why I am Serious” or some such theme. Anyway, the world is so peaceful at 3 AM in the morning. My wife is sound asleep. My tortoise is in his hidey and no new wars have yet to start. Plus, I found your message which lets me know that there are lots of good ideas from people like you still to inspire people like me. John
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Jun 28, 2026 @ 15:55:52
Dear Dr John Persico Jr,
As you are “looking forward to the experience”, I await your frequenting the said post and giving me your feedback there. Thank you in anticipation.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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Jun 28, 2026 @ 17:22:57
SoundEagle, Please call me John. I am very glad you reminded me. My wife and I have been suffering from some type of undiagnosed chest conditions the past several weeks. It has left me rather distracted.
It was a beautiful composition from a musical, visual and literary perspective. I have left you a very very long comment which I hope is ok. John
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 22:53:33
Dear Dr John Persico Jr,
Please kindly check that you have received my previous comment, which starts with “Here’s one of my best rhyming poems. As you might already know, without the Moon, life on Earth may not have started, let alone evolved so successfully as it has been….”
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 08:29:45
These 15 are excellent selections John. 🙂 Some I had forgotten about. Thank you for reminding me of them! 👍
I was thinking when I first saw your blog-title that Winston Churchill would make the list. Was he perhaps #16? Churchill has always been one of my all-time favorites. 😉
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 10:08:16
Actually, I was going to include his in my first of honorable mentions but I got lazy. I could hear him saying “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” I also liked George Washingtons first inauguration speech. Actually many others. Thus, per a suggestion, I have changed the title of this blog to “Fifteen of the Greatest Speeches in Human History.” I do love speeches and I could probably think of a hundred but space and time limit. Thanks for taking the time to comment. John
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 14:32:49
No worries. This had to be hard to narrow it down to just 15. I would’ve struggled big-time and taken far too long to decide. 😄
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 18:29:14
Here is a poem for you Professor Taboo made by my AI assistant.
The Silent Thief
The thief wears neither mask nor knife,
Yet quietly he steals a life.
He whispers, “Wait. Be sure. Delay.”
And dreams slip silently away.
The perfect choice may never come;
The waiting heart is left undone.
For every step, though flawed, can guide—
But standing still lets hope subside.
As Cicero so wisely knew,
The greatest loss is not to choose.
So trust your feet, embrace the climb;
The silent thief is wasted time.
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 18:37:02
Wow. Love it! ❣️ And Marcus Tullius Cicero is one of my favorite statesmen to quote, especially his quote about knowing your history. I’m sure you already know it John:
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 19:39:09
Yes, I did read a few works by Cicero. Came across another account of his execution the other day after reading the story of Brutus in the National Geographic History magazine for March/April 2026. So tragic a loss to think about him being executed. I suppose by order of Marc Anatony. Interesting that Alexander the Great spared the great Diogenes. The following story:
Diogenes barely raised himself up to look at the conqueror and his glittering army. Wanting to show his immense generosity, Alexander addressed him warmly and offered to grant him any favor or wish he desired.Without hesitation, Diogenes gave his famous reply:”Yes, stand a little out of my sun.”
Alexander’s soldiers and followers were insulted by this blatant disrespect and began mocking Diogenes as a crazy beggar.However, Alexander himself was deeply struck by the response. Instead of getting angry or ordering his guards to harm him, the king admired Diogenes’ ultimate self-sufficiency, grandeur of spirit, and utter contempt for worldly power.Silencing his laughing courtiers, Alexander famously stated:”But truly, if I were not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes.”
I would guess that Alexander was much more the man than Antony was. Or perhaps it was just politics as usual.
Thanks for your comment Professor.
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 12:58:54
the first one is assumed as there is really no factual account of this happening. However the list is pretty cool.
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Jun 25, 2026 @ 13:45:29
Thanks for the comment and compliment. However, in my previous life I was there at the Sermon on the Mount and I used my IPAD to copy every single word verbatim. And I never tell a lie. 🙂
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Jun 27, 2026 @ 17:54:46
While not entirely agreeing with you list, I do agree with your thought, there have been many great speeches ,made by the worlds free thinkers both male and female. I wa presented with a book back in 2007 entitled “Speeches that change the world” and I never stop wondering why society has not adopted some of the ideas and views expressed?
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Jun 27, 2026 @ 21:43:14
So Jon, what would your list consist of? I would appreciate hearing it. I would hope that you would have some I never heard. I love the chance to experinces new speeches.
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Jun 30, 2026 @ 15:10:43
Hi John, here’s a few I like: Emmeline Pankhurst “I am here as a soldier who has temporarily left the battle field.” or Joseph Stalin “It is essential that the war continue for as long as possible”, reminds me of Netanyahu, I rather like Vyacheslav Molotov’s “Perfidy unparalleled in the history of civilized nations”. But best of all, I like Vaclav Havel who said “We live in a contaminated moral environment”, how right he was.
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Jun 30, 2026 @ 15:30:47
Thanks So Much Jon, I was not familiar with any of these. I look forward to listening to them. John
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Jul 01, 2026 @ 01:13:49
John, I am sure I have said this before, but, I’ll say it again, the world is full of beautiful people, but they are drowned out by the mass media and politicians.
Have you never noticed, those who sing and dance and drop their pants, always attract more attention than those who make a constructive contribution?
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Jul 01, 2026 @ 12:44:08
Jon, I have always noticed that Sex sells no matter what sick form it takes. I think most current pop singers spend more time dancing and showing off their asses than they do singing. But it does seem to sell and I guess if money is your criteria of success than they sure as hell know what they are doing.
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Jul 01, 2026 @ 12:39:45
started with the Pankhurst speech. One part that resonated with me so well was:
“That is the whole history of politics. You have to make more noise than anybody else, you have to make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, you have to fill all the papers more than anybody else, in fact you have to be there all the time and see that they do not snow you under.”
Parts of her speech reminded me of Patrick Henry and parts of Frederic Douglas. However, the second half of the speech talking about the punishments that they inflicted on women was so powerful. Not sure I have ever heard another speech describe so much brutality. Very much an amazing speech and one that should be among the “Greatest speeches ever given.”
I jumped to the Havel speech. It has so much relevance for America today. It should be repeated at every No King’s Rally in the USA. After listening to his speech, I looked up his bio on Wiki. Karen and I went to Prague in 1990 right after things really started changing. We had a friend who escaped Czech Republic during the Communist invasion in 1968. We stayed with a friend of hers who lived right at the end of the Charles bridge in a fifth floor apartment. We stayed three weeks and he showed us around Czech quit a bit. My friend Hana died during the Covid epidemic but she loved the USA like no one I have ever known. Later on she went back to Prague and Czech to help spread the TQM revolution that was coursing through the USA in the later 80’s. She started a group of consultants there which continued for many years. Her name was Dr. Hana Tomasek and I have written a blog about her. The Czech people were wonderful and the country was very beautiful. I would guess few countries in the world have ever elected a leader as literate and erudite and even musical as Vaclav Havel.
A One Act Play in Memory of Our Good Friend: Dr. Hana Tomasek – D- 05-25-2020
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