To Quote or Not to Quote
Using quotes effectively in your speeches will hold your audience's attention and enhance your credibility

"It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech."

This quote from American author Mark Twain is humorous, light-hearted and engaging. Used as the opening to this article, it is intended to grab your attention and bring a smile to your face. It is also relevant to our main topic - public speaking. For all of those reasons it is an excellent example of the effective use of quotes.

The decision to use quotes in your speech may not be an easy one. There is a thin line between peppering your talk with witty and relevant quotations and simply plugging in others' words to make your point instead of using your own original thoughts. By following a few simple guidelines, you will be able to use quotes to enhance your speech and sell your central idea to your audience.

Timing Is Everything

The best places to use a quote are in the introduction or conclusion of your speech. Using a humorous quote to open your speech will get your audience into a good mood and win them over quickly; everyone likes to laugh.

If your speech is serious in nature, for example, the rising spread of AIDS in Africa, you might choose to start out your speech with a sombre quote about the fragility of life or the difficulties faced by young orphans. A quote that shocks or saddens your audience will make them take notice. They will want to know what you have to say about this tragic situation and how you propose that it be made better. Closing your speech with a laugh is always a plus, as is ending with an inspirational message or a call to action.

Is Your Quote Relevant?

Be sure that your quote is relevant to your subject or can be easily tied into your subject. It's always nice to make your audience laugh, but if the joke or funny anecdote you've told has no relevance to your central idea, finding a way to segue back to your topic will be awkward. For example, if you are speaking to a group of teachers about the importance of leadership training for high school students, suddenly breaking into a quote from Katharine Hepburn about the field of acting will make no sense at all. Instead you might want to use this quote from novelist Edith Wharton, "There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

You can tie that quote into your subject by next saying, "Our students are that candle. They create a brilliant light every day. Let us be the mirrors that reflect their light into the world by teaching them how to be effective leaders now and in the future."

Quoting Credible Sources

The Internet holds a wealth of quotes from famous and not-so-famous individuals. The primary purpose behind using a quote is to reinforce your own opinions or beliefs by showing your audience that someone known and respected also shares your views. If your audience is largely Catholic, choosing a quote from Pope John Paul II would be particularly appropriate. If your audience is made up primarily of Vietnam-era war veterans, a quote from Jane Fonda may be a less-than-fitting choice.

Stick To Appropriate Subjects

Finally, be sure to choose a quote that has little chance of being considered offensive. You want your quote to be impactful and to really drive your point home, but offending your audience will have the opposite effect. Even an audience who were entirely on your side will turn on you if you say something they find demeaning or inappropriate. Your credibility will be gone, and you'll be unable to re-establish it. It is important that you know your audience well in advance; if this is not possible, choose quotes that are uplifting or funny in a very non-partisan way.

Using quotes can make your speech truly memorable and can give you the added credibility so important in public speaking. It is easy to find quotes on the Internet or in quote collections at the library or book store, but knowing just which quote to choose or when to use it in your speech takes a little bit of practice. By remembering these important rules you will be able to effectively use quotes to grab your audience's attention and keep it throughout the course of your speech.