The Power of Extemporaneous Speaking

Abraham Lincoln wrote, “Extemporaneous speaking should be practiced and cultivated; it is the lawyer’s avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in other respects, people are slow to bring him business, if he cannot make a speech.”

When Lincoln spoke of extemporaneous speaking, he did not mean making totally unprepared speeches-”winging it” we might call it today. Few speakers can trust the moment or raw talent for a good speech. Very, very few.