Copyright 2005 by Beth Mende Conny, ArtofSchmooze.com
All rights reserved in all media.

The content of this article may be forwarded in full without special permission provided it is used for not-for-profit purposes and full attribution and copyright notice are given. For other purposes, contact Beth Mende Conny at Beth@ArtofSchmooze.com

I don't mind having others put words in my mouth—not when their words are witty, wise and succinct. Put another way: I love using quotations in my presentations and writing.

I've been collecting quotes since I was a teen. My notebooks, computer files and bookshelves are filled with them. It's no wonder then that more than half of the dozens of books I've published are quotation anthologies, original and otherwise. I'd like to get you hooked on quotations as well.

Whether used in presentations, reports or brochures, quotes can make your delivery more memorable and enjoyable. They let you speak with authority and poignancy, and to appear witty and wise. You can also use them to speak pointedly while pointing a finger of blame elsewhere. ("Hey, I didn't say that. So-and-so did.")

Quotes shouldn't be overused, however. Insert too many and you'll interrupt your flow, not to mention convince others you can't communicate unassisted. More importantly, you must choose quotations carefully. The differences among them may be subtle or sharp, even when they deal with the same subject. Examples:

• Love is a kind of military service. (Latin proverb)
• Love rules without rules. (Italian proverb)
• You can always get someone to love you—even if you have to do it yourself. (Tim Masson)

Pick quotes that are short and simple, so key points don't get bogged down. Examples:

• Our sons, who so easily recognize our errors and rightly denounce them, will have to confess their own later on, and they be as bad as ours, perhaps worse. (Bruce Hutchinson)
• Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth. (Peter Ustinov)

Avoid overused quotations. Reach, instead, for those with an interesting twist or play on words. Examples:

• We have nothing to fear but fear itself. (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
• That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. (Neil Armstrong)
• God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them. (German proverb)
• When women go wrong, men go right after them. (Mae West)

Whenever appropriate, aim for the funny bone or at least the clever. Your audience will love you for it. Examples:

• They say hard work never hurt anybody, but I figure why take the chance? (Ronald Reagan)
• If you don't think too good, don't think too much. (Ted Williams)

Your audience also will appreciate your helping them see themselves and life anew, and giving them reason to hope and persevere. Examples:

• You only live once—but if you work it right, once is enough. (Joe E. Lewis)
• Life is meant to be spent not to be saved. (D.H. Lawrence)
• It's not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts. (Adlai Stevenson)

In conclusion then, it's okay to let others speak for you, especially when they have something better to say. On that you can quote me.

Beth Mende Conny is the founder of ArtofSchmooze.com and the author of more than four dozen books and collections, including her latest books, The Confident Schmoozer and What to Say When Talking to Yourself. She is based in the Washington, D.C., area, where she conducts workshops and training sessions for corporations, associations and community organizations. She can be contacted at Beth@ArtofSchmooze.com.

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