Best Uplifting and Motivational Famous Speeches That You Can’t Miss

Last Update on February 8, 2021 : Published on May 4, 2020
motivational speech to inspire

We all look for motivation around us throughout our lives. Surprisingly we often manage to find motivation, sometimes via a few lines in the form of quotes and other times from the full-fledged scripts of movies. Well, one such source of motivation that I would opt for is motivational speeches cum inspirational speeches.

The reason why inspirational speeches end up making push our limits are:

  • Speeches work as a reminder that we all are in this together
  • While listening to an inspirational speech we end up seeing or lives with new eyes, rethinking about our current life situations
  • Often uplifting ignite a fire within us that urges us to respond and compel to words into action

Also Read: Top 10 Uplifting Movies On Netflix That Could Change Your Life

Here is a list of 11 best uplifting motivational speeches that you:

Top Motivational Speeches That Will Change Your Life:

1. Will Smith- Pursuit of Happyness

This motivational speech comes from the 2006 biographical drama film- Pursuit of happiness. The short and crisp words of motivation made will win over millions of hearts and this speech topped the charts of powerful famous speeches.

My favorite line that moved me was-

“You got a dream, you gotta protect it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

The personal touch that comes from the real and reel life duo of this film- Will and Jaden Smith, makes it even more heart-touching and emotional. You can also listen to Motivational Songs to Inspire you in Life

2. Matthew McConaughey- Speech at University of Houston

Have you ever considered joy as a state of life in which you wish to live each day of your life? If yes, then time to change this lens and put on the one given by the Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey.

In his commencement speech at the University of Houston, he said:

 “Joy is always in process, it’s always under construction”

Apart from it, this inspirational speech has another insightful message to give:

“Define success for yourself”

You don’t have to fit yourself in the pre-defined notions of success, have your unique definition. Strive to achieve it and don’t forget to enjoy it as you progress on it.

3. Steve Jobs- How to Live Before You Die

A 15-minute inspirational video that sets you on an emotional roller coaster ride, giving you Goosebumps, making you emotional and happy, and motivating you at the same time, has to be on the list. The flow of this speech is quite similar to a typical inspirational TED talk, it has a theme, it is short, it supports its points through a story.

Also Read: Top 9 Instagram Accounts For Daily Inspiration, Start Following These Pages ASAP

What makes this inspirational speech even more motivating is the fact that it was given by Steve Jobs after one year of his cancer diagnosis and surgery. This most powerful lesson of this speech is

“Our time here is limited”

So we should use it wisely because ultimately that is what is going to matter the most.

4. J.K. Rowling- The Benefits of Failure

Do you fear failure? Or Do you struggle facing or dealing with your failure? If your answer to these two questions is yes or even a maybe then it is time to learn the right lessons from J.K. Rowling’s powerful inspirational speech on failure. She suggested that by exploring your failures and imaginations we can pave our way to lead a successful life. The former helps to explore your true passion and the later can make you use your influence to do good.

The most powerful lines for me from this motivational speech are:

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Secret to Success

Getting it straight the point has to be the motto of Arnold. Apart from being an actor, politician, and entrepreneur, he has also been a great motivational speaker to date. One of his inspirational speeches that broke the internet was on revealing his secrets to success. One of line while revealing these secrets sums up pretty much everything is-

“Just remember, you can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets”

It definitely empowers us to work constantly on ourselves to reach the goal of our life by utilizing every hour of our day.

6. Rocky Balboa: Reality Checks of Life


Often motivation finds its way through reality checks. The best one coming from the 6th Rocky installment. That monologue by Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) is the most inspirational one till the date. The lines that still echo in my ear from that speech are:

“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.”

Giving one of the important and often overlooked messages of life- struggles will be there throughout our life. What matters the most is not giving up! Remember… when life gives you lemon you make a lemonade out of it! If you are watching movies here are some Inspiring and Feel-Good Movies on Amazon Prime

7. Jim Carrey: Taking Risks in Life

Yes, Mr. Funnybones has some words of wisdom to shower on you. After this motivational speech of his at Maharishi University in 2014 the way the world viewed him took a 180-degree turn. From being the funniest man on the planet to a philosophical guru. The best motivational quote of all time that I picked from his speech is:

“I learned many great lessons from my father — not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

8. Al Pacino: Inch by Inch

Another famous inspirational speech coming from a movie! But this time it is a football movie- Any Given Sunday. This motivational speech feels like Al Pacino poured his soul out talking about life, loss and what not! Having a difficult day? Just watch this and pump yourself up. My go-to part from this speech is-

“Either we heal as a team or we’re gonna crumble, inch by inch, play by play, till we’re finished. We’re in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And we can stay here and get the $&#@ kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

To put it in a nutshell, inch by inch you will succeed just… Keep. Moving. Forward. Period.

9. Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

This is probably the odd one out of the list! It definitely is an inspirational speech but coming of a researcher and being an animated motivated video is what sets this uplifting speech apart. This speech will help you identify your boundaries that might be making it hard for you to connect with others. Motivating through vulnerability is not easy but Brown managed it to score a home run here. The pearls of wisdom that melted me were-

“Empathy is a choice, and it’s a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling.”

10. Oprah Winfrey: Perseverance is the Key

“Perseverance is the key.” I bet all of us have heard of this one phrase in our lives. Of course, to achieve the goals in your life perseverance is the true key. Who could have made you realize in the best manner than the host of one of the best talk shows we have witnessed? Yes, it is Oprah Winfrey’s words of wisdom that will be the guiding light to build perseverance. All you have to do is-

Do not say certain things to yourself:

“Stop the crazy mind chatter in your head that tells you all the time that you are not good enough.”

And keep reminding yourself:

“Relax, relax. It’s going to be OK. It’s really going to be OK.”

And you will be there building perseverance.

11. Tony Robbins: The Life Success Coach

Didn’t the list feel quite incomplete without him? Keeping his powerful inspirational speeches for the end! Yes, speeches were a difficult call to choose one.

Other Inspirational Speeches to Uplift You

1. Why we do What we Do

The only TED talk in this list! But, worth being in the list is his 2014 inspirational speech is this one. In this speech he addressed six beautiful needs of life that often goes unnoticed- certainty, significance, connection, love, growing and giving. Ending on a sweet note of appreciating what’s driving other people Tony just gave us all a new lens to look at others around us.

2. New Year New Life

How many of us make New Year resolutions? How many of us adhere to them? I bet half us will nod with a No! But, with this speech it breaking the resolutions won’t happen again. In this mindfulness speech Tony talks about making lasting changes in life by reshaping our vision.

For Tony Robbins motivational speeches one I am not sharing my favorite lines with you. In fact I will encourage you to listen to his famous speech and find inspiration for yourself and share the same in the comment section.

Feeling motivated enough?

Good!

So, it is time for us to quit waiting and start striving for success. Good Luck!

If you have more suggestions to add to this list of motivational speeches do let us know in the comment section below.

Stay motivated… Stay Happy…

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About The Author

Anjali Singh
Anjali Singh

Anjali Singh is a content curator in the field of Mental Health. She is currently done Ph.D. in Psychology. Her aim is to light up the world with positive vibes through her words, her idea of life is ‘Grow through what you go through’. Apart from this, she is a big-time pet lover.

One COMMENT

  1. Anjali Singh
    Anjali Singh

    Thank you for your kind words. Stay motivated!

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