The words of power

What does it mean “words of power”?

These are the words which transform the message we deliver while speaking or writing to empower and inspire the recipients of the message. As for example, let’s take a political speech of W.Churchill, performed in Parliament in 1940.

“Let me say that I am not advocating controversy… On the contrary, I say, let pre-war feuds die; let personal quarrels be forgotten, and let us keep our hatreds for the common enemy.
“Let party interest be ignored, let all our energies be harnessed, let the whole ability and forces of the nation be hurled into the struggle, and let all the strong horses be pulling on the collar.”

Churchill uses repetitions to control the emotions of this really important message, his words of power are the repetitions of the word LET. These words bring the forces of nation, the forces of unity and unbreakable faith and strength.

If we delete these words of power from his speech, what it might be?

“The party interest might be ignored, all our energies are harnessed, the whole ability and forces of the nation are hurled into the struggle, and all the strong horses are pulling on the collar.” Do you feel it speaks to your heart? Does it motivates you to not give up? No. The speech without words of power can’t move the hearts of people.

Let us take Donald Trumps speech on August, 27 2020 as another example:

“Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy. We will reach stunning new heights, and we will show that the world for America there is a dream, and it is not beyond your reach. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are unbeatable. Because together, we are the proud citizens of the United States of America”.

The words of power here speak to future benefits of staying together. The repetition of the word “together” makes this speech powerful and determined, although thoughtful and friendly.

The words of power are not the words which insist, order or abuse. The words of power are those words which use expressive and symbolic means with a special message to be delivered. By these words of power the nation could be inspired and empowered, by words of powers we could save lives and determine our future.

Photo credit: Library of Congress