“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” These great words from President Abraham Lincoln began what many consider to be Lincoln’s finest speech – The Gettysburg Address.
A testament to the fact that great speeches need not be long-winded, the Gettysburg Address – just shy of 300 words – lasted only about two minutes. The featured speaker – Edward Everett – delivered a two hour oration after which Abraham Lincoln was to make a “few appropriate remarks” at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery Dedication in November 1863. Lincoln’s carefully chosen words and impassioned delivery made such an impact that this brief speech became one of the most quoted in history.
Take President Lincoln’s lead and challenge yourself to compose your speeches thoughtfully, and deliver them with conviction. So often speakers are given time guidelines for how long a speech should last, instead of allowing the speech to develop naturally. Quantity of words is not as important as the quality of your message. Grab your audience’s attention with your first words, and lead them carefully and deliberately through your message. Include transitions and signposts to make your message clear and keep your audience engaged. Remember to conclude as you started – memorably. Below is Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address from the “Bliss Copy.” Lincoln wrote several versions, and many believe this to be the final.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln
