![]() People are naturally attracted to opposites – opposites create energy. He used contrast effectively, by comparing “those who here gave their lives that this nation might live†– maybe the ultimate contrast – life vs. He expanded the significance of the war beyond the borders of the US – those giving the importance of winning the war a greater significance.He signaled a challenge – namely that the founding principles of our nation were under attack.Lincoln used the pronouns “we†“ our†and “us†throughout his two-minute speech.These simple principles acknowledged something that everyone could easily agree upon. Lincoln reminded the audience of the basis on which our country was founded: Liberty & Equality.He did not use the standard “once upon a timeâ€, but an opening that has become iconic. Here are 10 points that show the power of the speech: I have asked myself “why†was the speech so powerful and what lessons could I take away from Lincoln’s speech. I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes. Later, here, is what Everett said to Lincoln: In those words, and in a speech that lasted about 2 minutes, he struck a chord that would not only resonate with his audience but one that would resonate through time and forever. ![]() Lincoln’s speech was comprised of 10 sentences and only 272 words. Lincoln and Everett traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that day to dedicate a national cemetery, a cemetery that was needed because of the tremendous death toll of the Civil War.Įverett spoke for two hours and no one remembers a word of his speech. He was considered a “spellbinding†orator. Most folks do not know that the principal speaker at Gettysburg on November 19th, 1863 was not Abraham Lincoln, but Edward Everett a famous politician and the President of Harvard at the time. Get to the point and consider simplifying your case to its bare essentials and the message you want the jury to focus upon. What I have found over time is that there are much more power and persuasion in talking less, quickly getting to the point, and sharing only what really matters. ![]() We are also taught to drive home our arguments by repeating ourselves, over and over again. We are taught in law school and often as young lawyers to make long and detailed arguments – to speak with big words and to sound both important and smarter than anyone else in the courtroom.
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