Review
"Quotations enliven, clarify, underscore, and lend credibility. Thanks to Bob Torricelli, speakers have a new source of the best..." -- ANN RICHARDS, former Governor of Texas
"Quotations for Public Speakers is an extraordinary literary reference resource that should remain in the briefcase, automobile, or bookshelf..." -- ROBERT SHRUM, presidential speechwriter and Washington media consultant
"These are the most powerful words that I have encountered during my public life..." -- from the Introduction to Quotations for Public Speakers
From the Publisher
Q:How, why, and over what period of time did you collect these quotations?
A:I began collecting quotations during my time working for Vice President Walter Mondale. Vice President Mondale carried a notebook of scraps of paper with quotations that had been gathered by himself and by Hubert Humphrey before him. It was given to me and has stayed with me ever since. As my life in public service progressed I continued to gather quotes for use in public speaking engagements. In nearly twenty years in Congress I have had the opportunity to collect a very large portfolio of quotes from a broad range of sources.
Q:Why did you decide to compile them into a book?
A:As a Member of Congress, I am called on to speak publicly nearly every day in some fashion. I have found no book of quotations adequate for the purpose of public speaking because most books of quotations are written for use in term papers or publications. I felt it was time for a book that focused on public speaking and the collection that I had amassed provided a good beginning.
Q:Who do you see as the audience for your book?
A:Every professional is called upon to speak at some point in some way. Someone in business, a civic leader or someone in politics - all are required to speak at some point and all should have a resource that will allow them to add so much power to their words. A good quotation can crystallize a thought for an audience and can solidify a point for a speaker. Every professional will need to do that sometime during their career.
Q:There are many quotation collections. What makes yours unique?
A:This collection is the only one that I am aware of that is specifically gathered for use in public speaking. Most collections are written for use in printed materials and papers. Quotes for speeches must be powerful - the ear cannot return to spoken word, but the eye can read a quote again and again. A quote for a speech has to be that much more clear and compelling. In this collection, I tried to find quotes that met that standard and were relevant to the common topics of public speaking.
Q:Do you have a favorite speaker who is quoted in the book? Why do you find this speaker so appealing?
A:Robert Kennedy is my political hero and the man whose quotes I most admire. His ability to cite literature and verse with great ease is compelling and he possessed lyrical skills that have hardly been matched in history.
Q:Do you have a favorite quotation from the book, one that you find yourself using often? What is it about this quotation that you find so useful?
A:Robert Kennedy's "Freedom by itself is not enough...what counts is the use to which men put freedom," because it so succinctly gives a sense of our responsibilities as Americans.
Q:In the book, you divide the quotations into 50 different subject areas. Were there any subject areas you found particularly enjoyable to work on?
A:The Latin quotations were the most interesting for me and were the most enlightening. The use of Latin really grabs an audience's attention and the use of quotes from the Roman Empire increases credibility because they have so powerfully stood the test of time.
Q:Public speaking can be a very stressful experience. As a veteran public speaker, how can you seamlessly integrate a quotation into a speech without making it seem forced?
A:The most important point to remember in delivering a quotation during a speech is to be sure to understand, and be able to define, the context in which the words were first used. This shows familiarity, continuity and understanding. The right words in the right context can intensify an argument immeasurably and understanding their context can equally increase a speaker's comfort level.
