Is one of your communication goals to inspire and influence?
Most nutrition or health communication has that goal. Think about it, a message must do more than inform an audience. If elevating the audience’s thinking, attitudes, and behaviors is the objective, it must also inspire and influence.
How can your communication inspire and influence an audience? Many approaches need to be employed. One that’s easy and effective is to include well-selected quotes.
Let’s explore why and how to harness the power of well-selected quotes to inspire and influence.
What value do quotes add to communication?
Quotes support a message by providing the wisdom of others. Think of a quote as expert opinion, a form of evidence, quoted in the author’s own words rather than paraphrased. A well-selected quote can add credibility to your communication.
“I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself.” ~ Marlene Dietrich
Quotes can enlighten and inspire by eloquently and memorably clarifying or illustrating a point. They can pique an audience’s emotions similar to using storytelling and thereby create a stronger connection with an audience than information alone.
“A very wise quote is a spectacular waterfall! When you see it, you feel its power!” ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan, Turkish playwright, novelist and thinker
How can you harness the power of quotes?
I suggest 4 simple steps: Determine the need for a quote, choose quotes carefully, cite them clearly, and deliver them effectively.
Determine the need for a quote.
Consider where in your written or spoken communication a quote would enhance the message, provide inspiration, and influence the thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors of your audience. This will help you select an appropriate quote to match your objective.
Choose quotes carefully.
“We are as much informed of a writer's genius by what he selects as by what he originates.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Quotation and Originality," Letters and Social Aims, 1876
Quotes can be found on any topic with a quick internet search. Look at a variety of sources to find the most appropriate quotes to use. Over time you will identify sources of quotes that are trustworthy.
Select several potential quotes in your search. Wait to make your final selection until the rest of your content is finished.
Keep a physical or electronic file of quotes to use on various topics.
Cite quotes clearly and accurately.
The most effective quotes are cited, providing not only the author’s name but possibly adding their credentials and where the words were first stated.
Always check and double-check the source of all quotes. Quotes are often misattributed.
For example, there is no evidence that Marie Antoinette ever said, “Let them eat cake!” If you want to use a phrase that the source is in question, make that decision thoughtfully and disclose the lack of evidence.
One of the most often misquoted people is Mark Twain. For example, a quote commonly attributed to Twain is: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” It was written in 1907 by author Maurice Switzer, not Twain.
Avoid using anonymous quotes or ones in which the author is unknown.
Deliver quotes effectively.
Position the quotes so they capture the attention and imagination of your audience. In writing, they are often set apart to stand out. In speaking, draw attention to the use of a quote by clearly stating the source, usually before stating the quote.
Quotes can be included at any point in communication but use no more quotes than are needed for the impact you desire. Too many quotes are as problematic as not enough. Well-selected quotes enhance your message, they should not take its place.
Do you use quotes in your communication?
If so, are you maximizing the value they can add to your messages?
If not, should you consider the power of well-selected quotes to inspire and influence?
I have used quotes in my speaking and writing for decades – in speeches, in college lectures, in blog posts, on social media, in articles for print, and in books. Why? Because quotes are an easy and effective way to inspire and influence an audience.
“Anatole France frankly advised, "When a thing has been said and said well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it." Yes, indeed, but do more. Copy many well-said things. Pierce them together. Assimilate them. Make the process of reading them a way to form the mind and shape the soul. As anthologies can never be complete, we will never exhaust the ways quotations can enrich our lives.” ~ Gary Saul Morson, The Words of Others: From Quotations to Culture, 2011
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