Three things matter in a speech – who says it, how he says it and what he says, and of the three, the latter matters the least
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Political Leader, Writer, Editor, Journalist
Speech is often repented, silence never.
—Danish Proverb
Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
A sentence well couched takes both the sense and the understanding.—I love not those cart-rope speeches that are longer than the memory of man can measure.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
If you don’t want to read it, see it or hear it, don’t say it.
—Unknown
Speech is the twin of my vision, it is unequal to measure itself, it provokes me forever, it says sarcastically, Walt you contain enough, why don’t you let it out then?
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Never try to impress people with the profundity of your thought by the obscurity of your language. Whatever has been thoroughly thought through can be stated simply.
—Unknown
The ability to express an idea is well nigh as important as the idea itself.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
Man does not speak because he thinks; he thinks because he speaks. Or rather, speaking is no different than thinking: to speak is to think.
—Octavio Paz (1914–98) Mexican Poet, Diplomat
As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not, so men are proved by their speeches whether they be wise or foolish.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
Speech happens to not be his language
—Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) French Woman of Letters
No man not inspired can make a good speech without preparation
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
I don’t want to talk grammar. I want to talk like a lady.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
They that are loudest in their threats are the weakest in the execution of them. It is probable that he who is killed by lightning hears no noise; but the thunder-clap which follows, and which most alarms the ignorant, is the surest proof of their safety.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself.
—Salman Rushdie (b.1947) Indian-born British Novelist
The world does not speak. Only we do. The world can, once we have programmed ourselves with a language, cause us to hold beliefs. But it cannot propose a language for us to speak. Only other human beings can do that.
—Richard Rorty (1931–2007) American Philosopher
The music that can deepest reach, And cure all ill, is cordial speech
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Good poetry seems too simple and natural a thing that when we meet it we wonder that all men are not always poets. Poetry is nothing but healthy speech.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Speech of yourself ought to be seldom and well chosen.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Nothing is more silly than the pleasure some people take in “speaking their minds.” A man of this make will say a rude thing, for the mere pleasure of saying it, when an opposite behavior, full as innocent, might have preserved his friend, or made his fortune.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
One often makes a remark and only later sees how true it is.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
There are remarks that sow and remarks that reap.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
The sober man’s secret is the drunkard’s speech.
—Russian Proverb
Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Speech is oft repented, silence never
—Danish Proverb
Literature is the immortality of speech.
—August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845) German Poet, Literary Critic, Scholar
One should not speak too much nor keep quiet all the time. When it is time to speak, let him speak moderately and not redundantly.
—Buddhist Teaching
All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language, until it finds a willing and prepared hearer.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
There are three things that ought to be considered before some things are spoken,—the manner, the place, and the time.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Speech is silver, silence is golden.
—Common Proverb
Let a man talk of what he can do, not of what he still cannot do. He who is merely clever at speaking, but not doing, will he detected by the wise man.
—Buddhist Teaching
Eloquence is the essential thing in a speech, not information
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A constant governance of our speech, according to duty and reason, is a high instance and a special argument of a thoroughly sincere and solid goodness.
—Isaac Barrow
It takes two to speak truth—one to speak, and another to hear.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
It was justly said by Themistocles that speech is like tapestry unfolded, where the imagery appears distinct; but thoughts, like tapestry in the bale, where the figures are rolled up together.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Let a man speak what is pleasant and cheerful. A wise man does not pay attention to others’ insult and always speak what is delightful.
—Buddhist Teaching
One should speak a word which does not cause regret to himself and is not harmful to others. That kind of words is well-spoken.
—Buddhist Teaching
There is a wide difference between speaking to deceive, and being silent to be impenetrable.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Wilson was once asked how long it took him to write a speech. He answered, ‘That depends. If I am to speak 10 minutes, I need a week for preparation. If 15 minutes, 3 days. If half hour, two days. If an hour, I am ready now.’
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Song is the heroics of speech.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Not speech, but facts, convince.
—Greek Proverb
When you have spoken the word, it reigns over you. When it is unspoken you reign over it.
—Arabic Proverb
A tart temper never mellows with age; and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener and sharper with constant use.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Wherever the relevance of speech is at stake, matters become political by definition, for speech is what makes man a political being.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Any man who makes a speech more than six times a year is bound to repeat himself, not because he has little to say, but because he wants applause and the old stuff gets it
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Liberty doesn’t work as well in practice as it does in speeches.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist