Ten of the greatest: Inspirational speeches

From Mahatma Gandhi's keynote speech in the struggle for Indian independence to Martin Luther King's powerful 'I have a dream' oration during the civil rights movement, here are ten speeches that changed the course of history

1. MAHATMA GANDHI

Banaras Hindu University, India, February 4, 1916

Mahatma Gandhi gave a speech in front of an audience of princes in elegant robes, and other worthies, some British, which outraged everybody and turned him into a spiritual leader for the Indian independence campaign

Having spent many years outside India, on returning to his homeland Gandhi reacquainted himself with the land of his fathers, and swapped his Western-style dress for the simple robes of a peasant. Until that time the independence campaign had been largely waged by a clique of upper-class intellectuals who aped the British in manners, but Gandhi saw this was a road to nowhere. Invited to speak at the opening of the Banaras Hindu University in front of an audience of princes in elegant robes, and other worthies, some of them British, he declared:

'There is no salvation for India unless you strip yourselves of this jewellery and hold it in trust for your country men.'

His words outraged everybody - you have to remember that this took place during World War I, when India's princes had rallied to the imperial cause - but it was a keynote speech in the struggle for Indian independence, and helped transform the nature of the debate, and turn Gandhi into the movement's spiritual leader. Tragically, Gandhi would pay for his dedication to the cause with his life, but despite the conflict that followed the declaration of Indian independence, his dream of an India free from colonial rule was achieved.

2. CHAIM HERZOG

UN General Assembly, New York, November 10, 1975

Chaim Herzog gave one of the most powerful speeches of the post-war era when he condemned and symbolically tore up a copy of the 'Zionism is racism' resolution

The Belfast-born son of a rabbi, Herzog became the sixth president of Israel (1983 - 1993), following a distinguished career in both the British Army and the Israel Defence Forces. In 1975 he was appointed Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, and during his term the UN adopted the 'Zionism is racism' resolution (General Assembly Resolution 3379). In a famous speech at the UN General Assembly, Herzog condemned and symbolically tore up a copy of the hateful resolution, and let rip:

'For us, the Jewish people, this resolution based on hatred, falsehood and arrogance is devoid of any moral or legal value.'

He challenged the racism of the resolution itself, turning the whole thing on its head - and eventually it was quietly abandoned, because it was, quite frankly, embarrassing. Like my own speech to British troops in the Gulf, it was entirely off the cuff, and was that much more powerful for it, in my view. He threw away his notes and harangued Israel's opponents into silence. One of the most powerful speeches of the post-war era.

3. WINSTON CHURCHILL

House Of Commons, June 4, 1940

'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds': Winston Churchill made this classic speech following the Dunkirk evacuation just weeks before becoming prime minister in 1940

An absolute classic of a speech that Churchill made following the Dunkirk evacuation just weeks after becoming prime minister. To quote the most famous lines:

'We shall fight on the seas and oceans... we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender...'

It was, in effect, an exultation to the nation to pick itself up and start the struggle all over again, despite the set back at Dunkirk - and the impending defeat of France. The great man would strut around the room smoking a cigar, composing his oratorial tours de force - and this speech steeled the nation's resolve at a vital time in our history, when some members of the Cabinet wanted to open negotiations with the Axis powers. Any such deal would have been disastrous for Europe and would have meant the annihilation of the remaining Jews on the Continent. It's also a speech that speaks to all of us who have had bitter disappointments in life - and while we don't use such eloquent language, this is what we have to tell ourselves. An inspirational speech, although I can't help wondering if we have a statesman of Churchill's calibre who could make it today.

4. OLIVER CROMWELL

House Of Commons, April 20,1653

'Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?': Oliver Cromwell dismissed the 'Rump' Parliament in 1653

A towering if controversial figure in British history, Oliver Cromwell, a politician and a military commander of the first order, declared England a republic (the Commonwealth) following the execution of Charles I. But he made his most powerful and, in its way, inspirational speech when he dismissed the 'Rump' Parliament:

'It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice... ye are a pack of mercenary wretches...

'Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse...

'Ye sordid prostitutes, have you not defil'd this sacred place...Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation...

'Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors... In the name of God, go!'

The corrupt 'Rump' Parliament had begun as a radical body but vacillated over the issue of elections and went back on an agreement to debate its dissolution, and Cromwell vented his anger and frustration by dissolving it himself. The rancour with which he did so would have surely struck a chord with the British people in the wake of last year's expenses scandal. Although a terrific leader in many respects, Cromwell had a slightly sociopathic quality to his character and found it hard to delegate. However, this is undoubtedly a speech for the ages.

5. SIR GEOFFREY HOWE

House Of Commons, November 13, 1990

In 1990, Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Howe delivered a stinging rebuke to the prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, that precipitated her downfall

No one would claim that Geoffrey Howe was the world's greatest orator - Denis Healey once declared that being attacked by him was 'like being savaged by a dead sheep' - but in 1990, the Conservative MP delivered a stinging rebuke to the prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, that precipitated her downfall. Standing up in the House, he criticised her for undermining her colleagues' efforts in Europe, describing her actions as...

'like sending your opening batsmen to the crease only for them to find, the moment the first balls are bowled, that their bats have been broken by the team captain.'

He went on to say that he realised that any attempt as foreign secretary to get her to change her mind was 'futile' and that he had resigned in the belief that doing so was 'right for my party and my country'. It was the beginning of the end for Thatcher, and is a reminder that speeches can change the course of history.

6. DAVID LLOYD GEORGE

London, September 19, 1914

'They think we cannot beat them. It will not be easy': David Lloyd George delivered a passionate call to arms shortly after the outbreak of World War I

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, David Lloyd George - the then Liberal chancellor - delivered a passionate call to arms and committed himself to a fight to the finish. In the speech, Lloyd George attacked Germany for being 'the road hog of Europe' and argued that it would be 'a dark day for humanity' if Britain did not go to the world's rescue. In words that may well have inspired Churchill's wartime rallying call to the nation a generation later, the Welshman declared:

'They think we cannot beat them. It will not be easy.
It will be a long job; it will be a terrible war; but in the end we shall march through terror to triumph.'

His words were prophetic - it would be a terrible war, but in the end Britain would indeed triumph.

7. MARTIN LUTHER KING

Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, August 28, 1963

'I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed': Martin Luther King told a crowd in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC in 1963

One of the most powerful speeches of modern times was that made by the black civil-rights leader Martin Luther King in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Using soaring Christian rhetoric, he told a huge audience,

'I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

'I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

'I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

'I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

'I have a dream today!'

Tragically, King was assassinated just a few years later, but the great thing about this speech is that his dream was eventually realised - even though at the time he spoke it was just a dream. What greater legacy can a speech have?

The maiden speech made by F.E. Smith (left) in 1906 is considered the best ever made in the House of Commons. Woodrow Wilson (right) embarked on a speaking tour determined to set up the League of Nations

8. F.E. SMITH

House Of Commons, March 11, 1906

It might have been made over a century ago, but the maiden speech by FE Smith, the lawyer turned Conservative MP, is still considered the best ever made in the House of Commons. Despite the Tories having just suffered a landslide defeat, he took the fight to the new Liberal Government and poked fun at leading front benchers such as Lloyd George - teasing him for allegedly saying that if the Tories got into power, they would introduce slavery on the hills of Wales. When Lloyd George denied saying such a thing, Smith quoted him verbatim and observed drily: 'I have no means of judging how heaven will deal with persons who think it decent to make such suggestions.' At a time when party morale was low, he further cheered Tory hearts with his rousing closing words:

'I warn the Government that the people of this country will neither forget nor forgive a party which... denies to the infant Parliament of the Empire one jot... of that ancient liberty of speech which our predecessors in this House vindicated for themselves at the point of the sword.'

It's a masterclass in making a maiden speech.

9. WOODROW WILSON

Pueblo, Colorado, USA, September 25, 1919

In the aftermath of WWI, Wilson was determined to set up the League of Nations (the precursor to the United Nations) to help prevent any future conflict. Knowing he didn't have the majority he needed for ratification, Wilson embarked on an epic speaking tour of the country. At his 40th and most famous speech - 'The Pueblo Speech' - he told a cheering audience of...

'the moral obligation that rests upon us not to go back on those boys, but to see the thing through... and make good their redemption of the world.'

Shortly afterwards he suffered a massive stroke. The Senate failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, thereby keeping the U.S. out of the nascent League of Nations - and within 20 years the world was at war again.

10. CHARLES DE GAULLE

London, June 18, 1940

'For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast empire behind her': Charles De Gaulle made a heartfelt appeal to the people of France not to give up the fight against Nazi Germany

Just days after the fall of Paris, General Charles de Gaulle, who had fled to England, made a heartfelt appeal to the people of France not to give up the fight against Nazi Germany, despite their government's capitulation. In one of the most important speeches in French history, he told his fellow countrymen:

'Believe me...nothing is lost for France. The same means that over came us can bring us victory one day. For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast empire behind her.She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight...
'Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.'

It was an exhortation to resist, and copies of the speech were - and are - posted throughout France. Lots of memorials carry it, too. It was also a call to his countrymen to join him and continue the fight from abroad. That was its real importance.