Start Strong

First and last words resonate in the ear. They belong to the author of whatever speech, article, or blog post written. These sections give authority to the author.

The Speech-Writers.com Blog suggests otherwise. This blogger believes that every good speech begins with a quotation. They even provide two ready-made quotations that could be applied to a variety of speeches: "Winston Churchill said, ‘Never, no matter what the odds, never ever give in.’” and “‘If the horse is dead, it’s time to get off.’”

I disagree in every way with this post. Great speeches aren’t and never have been formed by repeating another person's thoughts.

How would Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech have turned out if he would have said, “My grandpa had a dream.”

In all fairness to the a fore mentioned blogger, it is important to hook your listeners when preparing a speech. A profound quotation works better than a poorly developed original thought.

Overall, creativity and boldness hook readers. Very rarely will the over-utilized quote beginning suffice.