These speeches send chills down the spine and fire to the groins. They make you stand up and tell your boss, that stuck-up, arrogant wanker, to go fuck himself. They make you stand up in the middle of the cinema, saluting and screaming with passion, thoroughly embarrassing your friends. They make you look at the world around you and say "This world is mine. And this life is mine to live." These are the moments where, despite everything in the way; every enemy and opponent, every obstacle and wall, every nerve failing in the face of innumerable odds, these are the moments where one person takes the front and centre and delivers a speech to chill the spines of everyone in front and strengthen the spirit of every person behind them. Here's the people you want to lead you into the future when everything is dark and depressing. Here's the best of the best. There are lessons to be learned here ladies and gentlemen. And minors.



When nothing is going your way, you have to keep your cool. Remember there is nothing in this world worth fearing that can't be overcome. Courage can see you through the absolute worst. Particularly when you fight not for yourself, but for someone else. For you friends, for those that can't fight themselves, for those you love. You have nothing to lose in the heat of the charge. Endings come, but if you meet them head on, no matter how monstrous, you always come out on top.

5) King Theoden - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King





Always remember to laugh, even in the face of challenges. "Lightning from his arse." is always guaranteed a laugh. But more importantly remember why you fight; so you can look back on your life and say: "For one brief moment, I was free of every pain and fear I've been through."

4) William Wallace - Braveheart



The most important thing to remember is to speak. Never be silent when things are wrong. You may be the only one to speak out if you do, but that just means your voice will ring all the louder. And speak from the heart; if there's any time to let your emotions out it's now. There's always hope for the future when you listen to your heart. Hate and greed will fall and fail if you can give yourself up to something greater; the hope for a greater humanity a brighter future. It is up to you to fight, to speak up and to be strong for a better world.

3) Hynkel - The Great Dictator





Find yourself middle aged and in some pain in the ass job, your life gone by and falling further from your reach and every choice you make the wrong one?Just reach that one inch further, push for that one inch that will take you closer to your goal. To that dream you've always harboured, but always denied for fear of failure. It's up to you to fight for every inch of your life and to make it all count up in the end when your day is done. No-one else can do this for you. It's your life, your game, your fight. It's all yours to win.

2) Tony D'Amato - Any Given Sunday





Ever wonder why those inspirational speeches, where the hero/heroine steps into the light and says just what needs to be heard, are sometimes called St. Crispin's Day speeches? It's because that speech is the best there is. It's the iconic moment. It's the promise that through everything; through every piece of crap, through every drop of blood, sweat and tears, every enemy and opponent, through every wall and obstacle, through every failing nerve, you will sit down and tell your son, your daughter, your friends and family, of the day you stood your ground and fought. That instead of turning from the challenge, you walked forward with every other person around the world who shared and shares your suffering though you do not know their names. It's the promise that when you return home your life will have mattered, your name will be remembered and the scars you suffered in the struggles will be trophies to your bravery and your strength.

1) King Henry - Henry V