Are you the greatest speaker that no one's heard of?

[JoelR]

A story

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I'd like to introduce you to one of the greatest speakers of all time: Edward Everett.

For his time, he was the most renowned orator of his day, yet you've probably never heard of him — which begs the question: why?

Edward Everett's life was filled with accolades and achievements. Born in Massachusetts in April 1794, he was the son of a preacher and an exceptional young man. He was admitted to Harvard at just 13 years old and graduated by the age of 17. Afterward, he sought to continue his studies, but at the time, the U.S. did not offer any Ph.D. programs. Undeterred, Everett took a slow boat to Germany, where he earned his doctorate from the University of Göttingen.

He returned to the U.S. to take a teaching position at Harvard, ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, became the governor of Massachusetts,and revolutionized education by establishing the state’s first Board of Education. He even became the president of Harvard and was later appointed the Secretary of State of the United States. As mentioned earlier, he was an exceptional young man through and through.

Part of his success came from his skills as an orator. Edward Everett had a reputation as a first-rate public speaker, one of the best of his time. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a student during his tenure at Harvard, praised Everett's voice, describing it as having "rich tones, precise and perfect utterance, the most mellow and beautiful... of all the instruments of the time." His influence as a speaker was so well-known that even Thomas Jefferson praised Everett for a speech he gave at Harvard on behalf of the visiting Marquis de Lafayette. Everett's reputation was so well-established that he was often referred to as the "American Cicero," a comparison to the famous Roman orator Marcus Tullius Cicero.

To state the obvious, Everett was known as one of the most famous orators of his time.

Then came an interesting turn of events. Everett was invited to be the keynote speaker for a major dedication originally scheduled for October 23, 1863. However, due to his travel commitments, he was unable to accept the invitation for that date. So important was his presence that the event was postponed to November 19, 1863, specifically to accommodate him.

This dedication was intended to cement his legacy as the greatest speaker of his time, ensuring that his name would be remembered for generations. He spent about a month preparing his speech. On the day of the event, an astonishing 15,000 people gathered, eagerly awaiting his rich tones with precise and perfect utterance. He faced the crowd and began his speech with the words:

"Standing beneath this serene sky, overlooking these broad fields now reposing from the labors of the waning year..."

He continued his speech for over two hours, weaving together origin stories, side anecdotes, and detailed reflections. He touched on themes such as equality, sacrifice, and renewal, among others. In total, he delivered more than 13,000 words. When he finished, the audience responded with appreciative and respectful applause. Yet, you probably still don't recall the name Edward Everett.

Another speaker was slated to speak next. This speaker was invited in his official capacity to offer only a few "dedicatory remarks," more as a ceremonial gesture.

The next speaker stepped up to the wooden platform, faced the 15,000-person crowd, and began his speech with the words:

"Four score and seven years ago..."

Yes, it was Abraham Lincoln, delivering the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln's speech was exactly 272 words, three paragraphs, lasting under two minutes. The delivery was so short that the photographers didn't even have time to set up their cameras to capture the moment.

A speech so famous that Edward Everett's presence is now merely a footnote, with most people astonished to learn that there was even someone else speaking at Gettysburg that day, let alone a keynote speaker. Why?

Brevity.

It's everything. Lincoln understood that words matter. He was known for carefully choosing his words when communicating, and the reason is clear. The lesson is obvious: when speaking, presenting, or communicating anything, don't fall into the trap thinking more words are better. Avoid the temptation to fill a time window just because you have it. Use the fewest words necessary to make your point. Speak concisely, and give your words meaning—because every word matters.

Interestingly, despite what you might expect, there was no animosity between the two speakers. After the event, Everett sent a humble note to Lincoln, writing, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes." It's a reflection we can all learn from.

There's a reason why we all remember Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, yet don't recall even the name of someone who was once one of the greatest speakers of his day.

Have you ever noticed how sometimes less is more when it comes to communication? Edward Everett, once the greatest orator of his time, delivered a two-hour speech at Gettysburg in 1863. But it's Abraham Lincoln’s two-minute, 272-word Gettysburg Address that we all remember.

This story highlights a key lesson: brevity matters. In building an online community, it's easy to think that more words or longer posts will make a greater impact. But in reality, carefully chosen, concise messages often resonate more deeply.

• How can we apply the lesson of brevity to our own forum and communications?
• Are there areas where we might be overwhelming our members with too much information instead of getting straight to the point?
• How can we encourage meaningful, concise contributions that still deliver value?