The best speakers know enough to be scared…the only difference between the pros and the novices is that the pros have trained the butterflies to fly in formation.
Interpretation
True confidence comes from preparation and practice, even in the face of fear.
This quote highlights the idea that fear is a common experience for everyone, including skilled speakers. The distinction between experienced speakers and novices lies in the ability of the former to manage their fear through preparation and practice, allowing their anxiety to be transformed into a structured performance rather than a hindrance.
In practice
This quote could be shared during a public speaking workshop to encourage participants.
We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it, and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late.
Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them.
One of the basic troubles with radio and television news is that both instruments have grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, advertising and news. Each of the three is a rather bizarre and demanding profession. And when you get all three under one roof, the dust never settles.
Speaking of Sir Winston Churchill: He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.
We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.
The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.
People will work eight hours a day for pay, 10 hours a day for a good boss, and 24 hours a day for a good cause!
When a man gets it into his head to do something, and when he exclusively occupies himself in that design, he must succeed, whatever the difficulties. That man will become Grand Vizier or Pope.
Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.
Greatness is helping others realize they are great, beautiful and capable. Genius is seeing the wonder and possibility in those others ignore.
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
I just love it when people say I can't do something. There's nothing that makes me feel better, because all my life people have said I wasn't going to make it.
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