Isaac D'Israeli, a 19th-century British writer and scholar once said, "The wisdom of the wise, and the experience of ages, may be perpetuated by quotation." We can't be entirely sure, but there is a good chance he was referring to speaking as the best man at his old frat brother's wedding. Even if not, he is onto something: A good quotation can set the stage for a good speech, or even close one out in style, encapsulating your feelings and thoughts, passing on your unique wisdom and experience to the newlyweds and the assembled masses.
Because you are nothing if not wise, as is evidenced by your trip to our website, it's good that you are thinking of the best ways to use quotes and not just dropping them into your speech, willy-nilly. A good quote is a powerful tool, but only when, like most power tools, used safely and with great care. First, there is the matter of usage. You want the quote to be a seamless entry-point or concluding illustration of the speech's main points. It should pique interest, perk ears, incite a smile, or even moisten the eyes. But, most important, it should do so smoothly. It needs-critically-a good lead-in ("I wish I had come up with these fitting words on my own, but Neil Diamond said it best when he said, 'Good times never felt so good.'"- the intro to that quote is a good lead-in. Whether you are a "Sweet Caroline" fan or not (and, really, who isn't?) you should be able to see how that construction could be a smooth jumping-off point for the unbridled wisdom and unfettered hilarity yet to come in the rest of your speech.
Next, there is the matter of substance. Where do you find a good quote? Well, we have plenty of examples throughout the Speech Builder of quotes about love and marriage, both funny and profound, tearfully emotional and just plain goofy. Check some out here. Also, think about your dear friend getting married-who are his heroes? Who does he like to read or listen to? Who does he quote? Whether it's from Brett Favre or Bob Dylan, working in a quote from one of his idols is always a good choice, giving the audience that knows of his interest a good anchor for the rest of your speech.
Bounce around the site for many more suggestions of good quotes, and examples on how to use them. Before we go, though, we offer a final word of advice: It is often a neat and effective trick, at the conclusion of your speech, to try to loop back (smoothly of course) to a quote you perhaps used at the beginning. It is never the easiest feat, but I have faith that, with our help, and armed with a killer quotation, you can find a way to perpetuate the wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages. Like that.