Speech Conclusion



Speech Conclusion. We analysed the conclusion of 43 of the most important speeches ever delivered to see how the great orators did it.

The results are fascinating and they'll help end any fear or worry you might have about how to end your speeches.

Use them to inspire you to conclude your speeches with the same impact so that everyone who hears you speak from now on will remember your words.

Now there's a call to action!

Now look down the list and we'll discuss a few points at the bottom of the page.


How The Greatest Speeches In History Finish

A prediction of victory.

Elizabeth I

A prediction of going to a life after death.

Charles I

A command.

Oliver Cromwell

A prediction of victory.

George Washington

A prayer.

Thomas Jefferson

A farewell.

Napoleon

A call to action.

Abraham Lincoln

A demand.

Emmeline Pankhurst

A call to action.

Marie Curie

A blunt restatement of the problem and the solution.

Mohandis Ghandi

A statement of what must happen.

Lenin

An irrefutable statement of what must happen.

Woodrow Wilson

A call to action.

Clarence Darrow

A call to 'inaction'.

Neville Chamberlain

A threat.

Adolf Hitler.

A prediction of victory.

Adolf Hitler

A call to action.

Joseph Stalin

A call to action.

Winston Churchill

A prediction of admiration by future generations.

Winston Churchill

An exhortation that the inevitable continue

Winston Churchill

A call to action mixed with an assurance of victory.

Vyacheslav Molotov

A prayer

Franklin D Roosevelt

A call to action

Franklin D Roosevelt

A call to action

General Charles de Gaulle

A prediction of future proud memories

General George S Patton Jr

A call to action

Emperor Hirohito

A call to action

Jawaharlal Nehru

A declaration of a willingness to die for the cause.

Nelson Mandela

A call to action

Nelson Mandela

A call to action

Eamon de Valera

A call to action

John F Kennedy

A statement of pride

John F Kennedy

A statement of a vision

Martin Luther King

A statement of how he feels

Martin Luther King

A statement exposing a lie

Shirley Chisolm

A statement of values

Richard Nixon

A statement of defiance

Chaim Herzog

A blessing

Mother Theresa

A statement addressing his detractors

Ronald Regan

A call to build on the work done so far

Mikhail Gorachev

A call to action

F.W. de Klerk

A statement of reassurance and confidence

Vaclav Havel

A summarizing statement addressing past, present and future

Elie Wiesel


What You Can Learn From This About Speech Conclusion

There are several lessons here that deepen our understanding beyond the simplistic "finish with a call to action or a memorable statement".

A Call To Action Is The Most Common Way To End A Speech

It's used in various ways in about 40% of these speeches.

A Call To Action Isn't The Only Way

Predictions of victory or a better future in some way are very popular

They Are All About A Better Future

Every one of them either refers directly to, or implies,a brighter outlook for the listeners.

They Are Emotive

Without exception the speakers express some strong emotion in their endings. These range from disgust to profound love but all are aimed at engendering strong feelings in their listeners.


Finally I would suggest you continue your own research into speech conclusion by studying these and other great speeches. Really pay attention to how orators do it.

That way you can draw your own conclusions!




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