“Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.” ~ Martin Fraquhar Tupper
By Paul Barton
We talked about the power of the pause in Tip No. 2. This video clip of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing the United Nations is the longest pause I’ve ever heard in a speech. It may be the longest pause ever in a recorded speech. In addition to the 45-second pause, there are some other pauses and rhetorical devices used in this speech. Give it a listen and then let us know what you think.
Putting politics aside, what do you think of this dramatic use of a pause? Is it effective? Please let us know what you think in the comments below.