A Talk on Speaking

For some time now, I have been mulling about in an attempt to determine the difference between how people talk in everyday conversation, and how a very select few have mastered the art of speech. I believe I’ve found something.

When a person talks, fundamentally, he is making a series of noises that other people understand to have a connection to the real world: a noun is a thing, a verb is an action, "IS" conveys a state of being. This is of course vital in every day life. What it does not do, however, it does not truly convey meaning. surely when talking to a man, he understands what you’re saying, so in that sense there is a bit of meaning in it. But the meaning is shallow, fleeting, without life.

But to speak, my god, to speak. To speak is to touch the very being of a man. True speech is timeless. It cannot be silenced, it cannot be quieted, it cannot die. To truly speak is to forever brand an ideal on the hearts of all who hear it. To truly speak is to move beyond the simple meaning of words, and enter the realm of the soul. The spoken word knows no single language, it is not spelled a certain way. The speaker, when he speaks, bares his soul to any who listen, be he friend or enemy. And should he be friend or enemy of the hearer, he is received.

When one talks, it may induce laugher, anger, fear, sadness.  When one speaks, the emotions it stirs in the hearts of men has never been named.  Speech can call men to action. It can encourage the people to rise up from oppression. It can move a nation to such righteous fury that the very earth shudders at their rage.

Speech can instill love.  It can bring peace to rebellion, nonviolence to civil war.  Speech can move a world of men from a world of different lives to tears.

Speech need not even be spoken.  I believe that the truest words I have ever known were not given into a microphone, but murmured into the ears of children and soldiers alike.  Words of love, comfort and peace.  The truest words I have ever known were contained in a single moment, when husband and wife meet each other’s gaze for the first time as such.  The truest words i have ever known were in the look of a father to his son, both too proud, or too afraid, to say the words they both know are there.

When the time comes to speak, what will you say?