Humility is not the personal discount that we must offer in the presence of others—­against this old interpretation there has been a most healthy modern reaction.  True humility any man who thoroughly knows himself must feel; but it is not a humility that assumes a worm-like meekness; it is rather a strong, vibrant prayer for greater power for service—­a prayer that Uriah Heep could never have uttered.

Washington Irving once introduced Charles Dickens at a dinner given in the latter’s honor.  In the middle of his speech Irving hesitated, became embarrassed, and sat down awkwardly.  Turning to a friend beside him he remarked, “There, I told you I would fail, and I did.”

If you believe you will fail, there is no hope for you.  You will.

Rid yourself of this I-am-a-poor-worm-in-the-dust idea.  You are a god, with infinite capabilities.  “All things are ready if the mind be so.”  The eagle looks the cloudless sun in the face.

Assume Mastery Over Your Audience

In public speech, as in electricity, there is a positive and a negative force.  Either you or your audience are going to possess the positive factor.  If you assume it you can almost invariably make it yours.  If you assume the negative you are sure to be negative.  Assuming a virtue or a vice vitalizes it.  Summon all your power of self-direction, and remember that though your audience is infinitely more important than you, the truth is more important than both of you, because it is eternal.  If your mind falters in its leadership the sword will drop from your hands.  Your assumption of being able to instruct or lead or inspire a multitude or even a small group of people may appall you as being colossal impudence—­as indeed it may be; but having once essayed to speak, be courageous. BE courageous—­it lies within you to be what you will. MAKE yourself be calm and confident.

Reflect that your audience will not hurt you.  If Beecher in Liverpool had spoken behind a wire screen he would have invited the audience to throw the over-ripe missiles with which they were loaded; but he was a man, confronted his hostile hearers fearlessly—­and won them.

In facing your audience, pause a moment and look them over—­a hundred chances to one they want you to succeed, for what man is so foolish as to spend his time, perhaps his money, in the hope that you will waste his investment by talking dully?

Concluding Hints

Do not make haste to begin—­haste shows lack of control.

Do not apologize.  It ought not to be necessary; and if it is, it will not help.  Go straight ahead.

Take a deep breath, relax, and begin in a quiet conversational tone as though you were speaking to one large friend.  You will not find it half so bad as you imagined; really, it is like taking a cold plunge:  after you are in, the water is fine.  In fact, having spoken a few times you will even anticipate the plunge with exhilaration.  To stand before an audience and make them think your thoughts after you is one of the greatest pleasures you can ever know.  Instead of fearing it, you ought to be as anxious as the fox hounds straining at their leashes, or the race horses tugging at their reins.