Gettysburg Quote by David Herbert Donald
““Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was 272 words and he delivered it under three minutes. He labored on it for days. The "featured speaker," Edward Everett, rambled on for two hours. Most people don't even remember his name, never mind what he said.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address Context, 1863
The brevity and impact of Lincoln's speech contrast sharply with the lengthy, less memorable remarks of his contemporary, highlighting the power of concise, purposeful communication.
In simple terms: Short, powerful speeches outshine long, rambling ones.
Key Takeaway
Value concise, impactful messaging.
Themes
communication
history
leadership
public speaking
memory
Mood
reflective
educational
Type
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political speeches
- educational lectures
- media presentations
Key Concepts
rhetoric
historical significance
speechcraft
Questions to Reflect On
- How does brevity affect audience retention?
- When is a longer discourse preferable?
A Different Perspective
Long speeches can still be effective if well-structured.
![“[T]he only thing wrong with Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was that it was the South, not the North, that was fighting for a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b4e/h-l-mencken-245_abraham_t-he-only-thing-wrong-with-abraham-linco_1672393.jpg)
![“The people who visit the [Lincoln] memorial always look like an advertisement for democracy, so bizarrely, suspiciously diverse that one time I actually saw a man in a cowboy hat standing there reading the Gettysburg Address next to a Hasidic Jew. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had linked…” quote by Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3fe/sarah-vowell-2016_addresses_the-people-who-visit-the-lincoln-memoria_1143653.jpg)
