The Greatest Motivational Speeches of All Time
Everyone needs motivation at one time or another. Some people need to be motivated before the big game. Others before going into battle. Some people need to be motivated to get out of bed. So here we have collected for you the Interrobang Staff’s favorite motivational speeches of all time. What a coincidence that they all happen to come from movies. Save these for that moment you need them most.
1. President Andrew Sheppard, The American President.
After the most powerful man on earth spent over half a movie getting pushed around, and letting his scumbag opponent shit all over him and his girlfriend, Michael Douglas as the President of the United States finally throws down the hammer, kicks ass, and takes names. Most memorable moments:
“America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship.”
“We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them.”
“My name is Andrew Sheppard and I am the President.”
2. Aragorn, Lord of the Rings
Possibly the strangest inspirational battle speech of all time. When else did a leader list all the things we will not do, to inspire men into battle? Sure, grammatically it was a bit backwards, but how many of you were prepared to dive into battle along with Aragon to fight for survival? He had the right cadence…the right tone of voice, and most importantly, the right background music to uplift his men. Most memorable moment:
“A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship– but it is not this day!”
3. Captain Picard, Star Trek First Contact
The normally calm, cool unflappable Jean Luc Picard had enough!!! In this scene, his new 20th century friend played by Alfre Woodard attempts to talk him into a reasonable retreat from the Borg. This of course brought about Picards anger filled NOOOOOO as he smashes a lovely decorative memorabilia case. As great as that moment is, the speech will always be remembered for this:
“The Line Must be Drawn HEEEEEEYAH! This far and no farther. I will make them pay…for what they’ve done.”
4. Gilbert Lowell and Louis Skolnik, Revenge of the Nerds
Who didn’t felt a surge of pride as Gil and Louis defended the rights of spazzes, dorks, and geeks everywhere? Cue “We Are the Champions” and let the pride come shining through! See, the little guy CAN win!
“No one’s really going to be free until Nerd persecution ends. Nerds! Nerds! Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!”
5. Russell Franklin, Deep Blue Sea
In an unexpected swerve this inspirational speech turned into famous last words, but oh what a moment!
“Now You’ve seen how bad things can get, and how quick they can get that way. Well they can get a whole lot worse. So we’re not going to fight anymore! We’re going to pull together, and we’re going to find a way to get out of here! First we’re going to seal off……..”
6. Rocky Balboa, Rocky IV
In reality the Rocky movies were just a series of inspirational speeches strung together, but this speech from the end of Rocky IV after Rocky fights Ivan Drago…is the ultimate. Rocky puts in simple, slurring, language (even simple by his standards) how boxing is better than nuclear war. He even elicits a slow clap into applause from the Soviet leaders, and made the Russians realize they’ve been wrong about communism. Favorite moment:
“If I can change…and you can change…EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE!”
7. The Entire Town, In & Out
In the climactic moment of this film, the entire town including a visiting Matt Dillon stands up and declares that they are gay to defend their favorite teacher, Brackett, played by Kevin Kline. It starts with one brave student and spreads to the rest of the audience like wildfire, culminating with Mr. Brackett getting an Oscar instead of the teacher of the year award. Best Moments– the entire fire department shouting in unison: GAY! and the high school band bursting into a perfect rendition of “People Who Need People.”
8. Sunny Davis, Protocol
Goldie Hawn plays Sunny Davis, a corn fed cocktail waitress who uses good ole fashioned farm girl wisdom to teach the fat cats in Washington a lesson or two. Here she gives the patriotic speech of a lifetime and reminds us all of our personal duty.
“I’m we the people. And you’re we the people. We’re all we the people, right?”
“I’m going to watching all of you…..like a hawk.”
9. Colonel Guile, Street Fighter the Movie
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s character inspires the UN forces to fight the evil M. Bison to avenge his friends death, instead of everyone going home and no one else getting killed. Best moment:
“I’m going to get on my boat, and I’m going up river, and I’m going to kick that son of a bitch Bison’s ass so hard, that the next Bison wanna be is going to feel it.”
starts 1:29 in…..
10. Mr. Eckert, Red Dawn
Over the top in the best way possible, you can’t help but feel bad for poor Harry Dean Stanton as he screams for vengeance. The end is the best.
11. Elizabeth, Pirates of the Carribean, On Stranger Tides
This fucking movie made no sense. Somehow Keira Knightley became queen of the pirates and convinced them to raise their colors, whatever that means, and go fight a bunch of, um, ghost pirates? Yeah, that’s it. Ghost pirates. And since when was the freedom of Pirates ever in question? Not since, “Ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles!” have less words gotten a bigger reaction. Best moments:
“They will hear the ring of our swords and THEY WILL KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO!”
“Gentlemen…hoist the colors. (hoist the colors…hoist the colors!!!!!!)”
starts 30 seconds in…
12. Coach Gordon Bombay, The Mighty Ducks
Coach Gordon Bombay reminds his team that they are ducks and ducks fly together with one period left in a youth hockey game that decides the fate of the world or something. Or, it might just be youth league championships. We have no idea.
13. President Whitmore, Independence Day
The grand daddy of all inspirational speeches. You’ll want this in your back pocket before you do anything challenging. Best moments: ALL OF THEM.
