Quotes and speeches of the month

Dear speech-fans and -friends, 

The debate on the future of Europe is in full swing with one Member State leaving the European Union in just one year, European elections coming up shortly after, in May 2019, and the next multi-annual financial framework (Which priorities? How much money?) currently discussed.

Different views, different speakers, all mobilising rhetorical tools to serve their vision and rally support.

See this month’s selection of best quotes and speeches below and click on ‘read more’ to get the whole selection.

Best wishes,

Great speeches,

Isabelle

Strong opening

You had a choice today. You could have listened to a speech in the UK about a future without Europe. Or a speech in Berlin by someone who believes in Europe and wants to talk about the best way to move forward with Europe. I’m glad you’re here. 

Make it concrete, visual

The European Union is not, in my view, an unstoppable train speeding towards federalism (…).

To use a painful metaphor: the fact that the Dutch national football team won’t be competing at the next World Cup is not a reason to send a European team in 2022. The Netherlands is going to get there on its own.

Repetition

A deal is a deal. (six occurrences of this guiding principle).

Read Mark Rutte, Underpromise and overdeliver: fulfilling the promise of Europe, 2 March 2018

Egalement disponible en français

Auch auf Deutsch

Building your credibility

Perhaps because Portugal returned to Europe after a lengthy 48 years of dictatorship, 13 years of an anachronistic colonial war in Africa, and because we suffered the tensions of the revolutionary founding period of our democracy, Portugal fully understands that being European is not just a happenstance of geography or history. More than a single currency, more than a single market, Europe is a community first and foremost of values.

Watch Antonio Costa, Future of Europe, 14 March 2018, available in 7 languages

Dear speech-fans and -friends,

From the dozens of speeches delivered this month, what stands out in terms of speeches and speechwriting ?

A few good lines that use classical rhetorical devices to make their point.

And two female voices taking the stage: rage after yet another mass shooting in a US school in the voice of a young student packing her 10-minute speech with an impressive collection of rhetorical devices; and the new hostess to the Munich Security Conference.

I wonder what you, speech-fans and –friends, think of these two especially. Let me know.

And, to celebrate the Treaty of Rome anniversary next month, a new book dedicated to great Europeans’ speeches in the bibliography section.

Best wishes,

Great speeches, 

Isabelle

Two female voices taking the stage

We are going to be the kids you read about in textbooks. Not because we're going to be another statistic about mass shooting in America, but because (…)

we are going to be the last mass shooting. 

- For this and many other rhetorical devices (in addition to a lot of pathos, contrats, repetitions, litanies, quotes, striking figures, call for action, inspiring precedents, getting the audience involved etc.), read or watch here Florida student Emma Gonzalez, 18 February 2018

- Sophia opens a conference, makes eye-contact and even winks at the audience, but can Sophia tell a personal and compelling story ?

Watch Robot Sophia opening the Munich Security Conference, 15 February 2018. 

Dear speech-fans and -friends, 

‘It's a little late, perhaps, for new year’s resolutions. But I'd like to suggest that we all make one anyway:  To do our bit to help Europeans get involved in building a bright future for Europe.’

This quote is from EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in her Competition and the future of Europe speech, delivered on 17 January 2018.

We the speech-fans and -friends do our bit through writing and promoting great speeches. You'll find this speech and many more good quotes and speeches on logospathosethos.eu

Enjoy the latest selection - and keep the resolution. 

Best wishes,

Great speeches, 

Isabelle

Ethos

The world is changing. But that doesn't mean the right way to respond is by changing our Union. By creating new institutions, drafting new treaties, producing new legislation by the barrowload.

All those things might seem to carry the stamp of action. But they won't necessarily make people's lives better or help us play a more forceful global role. And the measure of our success in facing up to the future shouldn't be how much we change our institutions, but how much we change people’s lives, and improve everyone’s opportunities.

Read the full speech here: Margrethe Vestager, Competition and the future of Europe, 17 January 2018

Ethos and pathos combined

Calling to memory past matters (also known as anamnesis)

Who, if not you –  the descendants of Spartacus, the inheritors of the oldest European statehood, you, who never ever lost a flag in any battle – would be better placed to rise to this important and exceptionally difficult task, that is to renew the European perspective for the whole of the region?

Read the full speech here: Donald Tusk, Opening ceremony of the Bulgarian presidency, 11 January 2018

Proving a statement by referring to common knowledge  (also known as apodixis)

What makes our European economies strong is the Single Market. The British know this well, since it was the main reason why they joined the EEC in 1972.

Read the full speech here: Michel Barnier, Trends Manager of the year 2017, 9 January 2018