graduation speeches using quotes

Making speeches can be pretty daunting. The idea of getting up in front of anything from 10 to 10000 people is not something people relish. No matter what you do, the best thing to do is practice, practice and practice.
Sometimes it can be comforting to use some simple techniques to give added weight, credence and support for the point you are making.  For example if you are making a graduation speech you are likely to be wishing to inspire the graduates. You may want them to think about following their passion, working hard everyday, living to the highest standards or challenging yourself, just to mention a few. To get your point across a quote from a famous person can give a lot of weight to your points. I would try to make my points with my own words and then illustrate my point with, for example, a Tiger Woods quote. This would give a huge amount of credibility to what I am saying.  

Just to illustrate the point have a look at this example speech. I have used far too many quotes but it is just to illustrate the point.

Thank you Principal Hughes, Honored Guests, Graduates and Families.
Congratulation class of 2009. I am very honoured to be here on your big day. I remember being here 15 years ago on my graduation day. The speakers sort of came and went without much to remember for me anyway. Then an elderly gentleman spoke quietly about what had driven him on in life and why he had made such a great life for himself. He mentioned a great quote which may be from Mark Twain and I noticed it and strangely still remember it. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
At the time I knew I was going to college but this suggested to me that I should be looking at a much bigger picture which included college and a lot, lot more.
I know all of you have worked very hard to get this far. Indeed it may have been the whole focus was to get through to graduation and then take stock of what to do in the future

So why would you do dare to have grand plans and adventures in mind?
“Better to live one year as a tiger, than a hundred as a sheep.“ By Madonna
“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. “Author Winston Churchill

So, you are in charge of your own future. It is your future and not someone else’s.  As son as you can it may be wise to reflect on what you are passionate about and what it is you may want to make your career in that fits with your passions.
“I get to play golf for a living. What more can you ask for - getting paid for doing what you love.
by Tiger Woods

You have shown by becoming graduates that you know how to be successful. You know how to focus on your goal and persevere until you achieve it. You have the skills to succeed and you just need the challenges to motivate yourself. As the quote said, I hope you Explore, dream and discover your way through a very exciting life! Good luck to all of you.