25 iconic speeches you'll want to watch on repeat
We've compiled a list of the most moving, inspirational and unforgettable public addresses. Be prepared to laugh, cry and gasp. Here are the most iconic speeches of all time.
From Martin Luther King to Margaret Thatcher, prepare to be moved by the most iconic speeches of all time...
We've compiled a list of the most moving, inspirational and unforgettable public addresses. Be prepared to laugh, cry and gasp. Here are the most iconic speeches of all time.
1. Martin Luther King, I Have A Dream, 1963
2. Margaret Thatcher, The Lady's Not For Turning, 1980
3. Angelina Jolie, World Refugee Day, 2009
4. Winston Churchill, We Shall Fight On The Beaches, 1940
5. Barack Obama, The Audacity Of Hope, 2004
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6. President Kennedy's Inaugural Address, 1961
7. Cuba Gooding Jr, Oscars Acceptance, 1997
8. Ronald Reagan, Brandenburg Gate, 1987
9. Elizabeth Gilbert, Your Creative Genius, 2009
10. Michelle Obama at Oxford University, 2011
The First Lady gave an inspirational speech telling a group of London schoolgirls they can achieve anything and when they do, to use that power to help others. *Melts*
11. Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's Funeral, 1997
12. Nelson Mandela, Release From Prison, 1990
13. Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, 2005
14. J. K. Rowling, Harvard Commencement Address, 2011
J. K. Rowling gave a speech entitled The Fringe Benefits Of Failure And The Importance Of Imagination
15. Hillary Clinton, Women In The World, 2012
16. Maya Angelou, On the Pulse of Morning, 1993
17. Malala Yousafzai, Worldwide Access To Education, 2013
Her bravery stunned the world, and this speech marked her 16th birthday. Malala urged all assembled to 'fund new teachers, schools, books and recommit to getting every girl and boy in school by December 2015'.
18. Sir Ken Robinson, Do Schools Kill Creativity?, 2006
19. Stephen Hawking, Questioning The Universe, 2008
20. Oprah Winfrey, Stanford Address, 2008
21. The Queen's Speech, 1957
Although the footage seems quaint now, at the time, it was groundbreaking. She said: 'I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct'. Her speech included the historic quote: 'I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands.'
22. Sheryl Sandberg, Why We have Too Many Female Leaders, 2010
COO of Facebook Sheryl looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions and advises women on how to get to the top.
23. Baz Luhrmann, Everybody's Free, 1999
Baz's speech is our only speech that's spoken over a score music. Narrated by the actor Lee Perry, the song reached number one in the UK and features witty advice like 'Be kind to your knees – you'll miss them when they're gone.' So true.
24. Scarlett Johansson, DNC Speech, 2012
25. Sally Field, Oscars Acceptance, 1985
Famously gushing, and also misinterpreted, Sally Field's emotional speech saw her utter the lines 'I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!'. She was parodying a line from her role in Norma Rae for which she had one the Oscar, but it went over many people's heads and the line has been satirised in many speeches since.
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