Charlie Chaplin's Speech

I hold no rights to this speech. This is my favorite quote of all time.

I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor, that's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair". The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die liberty will never perish . . . Soldiers: don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think or what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate, only the unloved hate. The unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers: don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty. In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written: - "The kingdom of God is within man" Not one man, nor a group of men, but in all men; in you. You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let us use that power. Let us all unite! Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfill that promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers! In the name of democracy: Let us all unite!

Reviews

[dw817]

Wow. I saw him as an all-around entertainer for silent movies but never thought he held such esteemed ideas and ideals about the spirit of man.

Thanks for sharing, Lord !

Do you know what year he wrote this, where he wrote it, the circumstances, and when it was first published ?

[Lord of mad men]

This was for his movie The Great Dictator in the 40's film written, directed, produced, scored by and starring Charlie Chaplin. The clip is way better then reading it but hearing it with your voice in your head adds a different kind of meaning to it.

[dw817]

Ah ! My Godfather has really wanted me to see this film. It's a comedy and one of gold key standard I am understanding. Not today but next weekend I'll dedicate some time to see it.

Thanks for the info !

[prymore]

very powerful words, thanks for sharing.

[ManasaC]

This speech shows the depth of a man's thought. It's really a wake up call. Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing. Good Day!

[Lord of mad men]

It inspires but very little act... Thank you for your review.

[zaisham9393]

Thank you for sharing .He was inspirational !
One of my favorite quotes by him''We think too much and feel too little.''

[Bear]

A nice tribute to the legend of Charlie Chaplin a genius that even today would be setting standards for others to follow. Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

[Lord of mad men]

Yes, but sadly this speech has done so little to inspire others to do what must be done for this world to prosper... Thank you for your review.

[Bear]

History is full of wisdom overlooked or ignored by the ruling factors of the world and it makes no sense. With power comes greed and and the desire for more power and you don't get that from listening to someone else. The Great Dictator says so :~)

[Lord of mad men]

I know this but I mean the people of the world have given the people with the power to govern what no man or group should govern. We the people give the power to them. When I idea is divided it will fail when it is united it will prosper. We should be helping the world and like he said as long men die the power will return to the people. But if those people have given the power to another why must we wait for change? Change does not just happen. It is made

[Bear]

Here is the USA right now there seems to be little room for reason. We are ruled by a showman who says what most want to hear and enough believe to keep him in power. Pray for us that his venomous words for friend and allies does not have us standing alone when his words causes it to rain fire from the heavens and lay waste to us all.

[Lord of mad men]

The world is starting to reach the point where change needs to happen. Change will happen but that change will be uncomfortable if we do not inact it. If fire rains from the sky change will come but the past will be lost for a time.