Quotes are a smart way to borrow authority from people who have it. They boost the level of ethos (credibility) in your public speaking.
Great quotes convey depth and wisdom in few words. On the web you find zillions of quotes. Here are some of my favorites. Borrow their originators’ authority; you won’t be a thief.
Better is the enemy of good. — Voltaire
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. — Leonardo da Vinci
All generalizations are false, including this one. — Mark Twain
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. — Seneca
It always seems impossible until its done. — Nelson Mandela
Some people want the audience to love them. I love the audience. — Luciano Pavarotti
A day without laughter is a day wasted. — Charlie Chaplin
Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on. — Maxwell Maltz
All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action. — Demosthenes
Don’t look back, you’re not going that way! — Mary Engelbreit
Envy is the highest form of recognition. — Arthur Schopenhauer
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. — Albert Einstein
Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence. — Ovid
Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. — Vince Lombardi
Peace begins with a smile. — Mother Teresa
