Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II Quotes

For the Oscars, I had a speech in my hand, and I just knew if I opened the piece of paper, I was going to be unable to read it. So I just thought, 'I'm going to say, as coherently as I can, whatever I can.'

I don't like giving speeches - I enjoy sitting on my rump.

I've never given a speech without being terrified first.

I have to make a speech tomorrow and prefer to lose my foot.

My early years as a 'speaker' involved note cards that shook like a leaf while I held them because I was so nervous.

I consider myself a pretty good extemporaneous speaker. Even though I don't like speaking in front of people, I don't think I'm bad at it.

You kind of half-prepare a speech in your head, and then you get up there and then you end up saying nothing that was in your head before you went up there. It's a very weird thing. I never do award speeches too well.

It's hard to write when you think every sentence is going to be read by a million kids.

There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.

There are some who speak well and write badly. For the place and the audience warm them, and draw from their minds more than they think of without that warmth.

Speeches are much easier if you read them. I just find when I do that, it's harder to fire up the crowd.

Every writer I know has trouble writing.

I find doing speeches nerve wrecking.

And, finally, Lincoln was not a good impromptu speaker; he was at his best when he could read from a carefully prepared manuscript. Though maybe a teleprompter could have helped that!

I wish I could write easily. I'm one of those guys who's visited by the muse when things are dire.

I'm not sure why writing for others became harder. Probably a reluctance to give away anything you might conceivably use yourself caused a block. I did it, but it remained hard when it had once been easy.

Nick can get up on stage and just wing it, whereas I would have to be taken to a mental institution.

I was in sixth grade the first time I was required to speak in front of an audience. I had terrible stage fright and felt quite ill, in fact, by the time I had to give my little talk to students in another class across the hall.

I was very nervous about giving speeches for a long time.

Put me in a room with a songwriter, and I just clam up. I get shy.

I've always loved public speaking, and that's something I definitely will pursue after the Olympics.

I'm certainly afraid of not being able to write for some reason. I guess I've had spells of not necessarily writer's block, but something like that. I find that pretty terrifying.

I think I'm a good joke writer. I'm also very scared that the last joke I wrote is the last joke I'll ever write.

I'll never forget my first moment of looking out on a convention audience with my mouth open like they were kidding me.

Extemporaneous speaking should be practised [sic] and cultivated. It is the lawyer's avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in other respects, people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make a speech. And yet there is not a more fatal error to young lawyers than relying too much on speech-making. If any one, upon his rare powers of speaking, shall claim an exemption from the drudgery of the law, his case is a failure in advance.