"Extreme hopes are born of extreme misery."

-Bertrand Russell

Speeches are a unique form of oral (spoken) communication that involve the delivery addressing an audience for a specific occasion. Speeches take a variety of forms: some are formal addresses made by, say, political or business leaders, others are more informal addresses given at weddings, graduations, and other social events. They help to acknowledge, review, and lock in certain moments of our lives. They can help us come to terms with past events and allow groups of people to achieve a repaired or common vision regarding a given topic.

The history of delivering speeches dates back to antiquity, when public speaking was an absolutely vital skill for politicians, as well as philosophers, and other public figures. In ancient Greece, for example, public speaking was considered an art form, with orators like Demosthenes and Cicero renowned for their eloquence and persuasive powers.

Across the centuries, speeches have continued to play a central role in shaping public opinion and influencing events. In the United States, for example, famous speeches like Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech are remembered as key moments in the country's history.

Today, speeches remain a regular, even yearned for, form of communication. With the rise of digital media, speeches can now be instantaneously delivered to audiences around the world, making them an even more powerful tool for shaping public opinion and influencing global events.