Big questions and values
These are the prompts people remember answering. Meaning, courage, regret, forgiveness, what you would want to be remembered for. Each one is anchored to something concrete so it stays speakable in two minutes: one belief you changed, one thing you would tell your younger self, one rule you live by.
Draw one at random140 topics in this category. Press Practice next to any topic to load it into the timer.
- Tell us about a time you did the right thing when no one would have noticed.EasyPractice
- What does a good life mean to you in one sentence, and why that sentence?MediumPractice
- Describe the moment you realized someone you admired was only human.MediumPractice
- Convince us that regret is more useful than guilt.HardPractice
- If you could keep only one memory from this year, which would you protect?EasyPractice
- Courage is usually quiet rather than loud — agree or disagree?MediumPractice
- Tell us about a small kindness someone showed you that you still think about.EasyPractice
- Which is the better teacher: winning or losing? Defend your pick.MediumPractice
- Describe the version of yourself you hope exists ten years from now.MediumPractice
- What is one thing you forgave yourself for, and how long did it take?MediumPractice
- Argue that being trustworthy matters more than being interesting.HardPractice
- If time could be given as a gift, who would get an extra hour of yours?EasyPractice
- Tell us about a rule you follow that nobody ever taught you.EasyPractice
- What would you want a stranger to notice about how you treat people?MediumPractice
- Describe a moment when patience cost you something, and whether it was worth it.HardPractice
- Convince us that having enough is a skill, not a feeling.HardPractice
- Name one thing you would refuse to do for any amount of money, and why.MediumPractice
- Is it braver to speak up or to stay and listen? Take a side.MediumPractice
- Tell us about an apology you gave that changed a relationship.MediumPractice
- What is the most useful thing failure has ever taught you?EasyPractice
- Explain the difference between a dream and a plan, using your own life.MediumPractice
- If your habits were a résumé, what job would they qualify you for?HardPractice
- Agree or disagree: people should be judged on effort more than results.MediumPractice
- Tell us what you would put in a time capsule for someone born today.MediumPractice
- What does loyalty require of you when a friend is clearly wrong?MediumPractice
- Describe the last time one conversation changed your mind about something.MediumPractice
- Convince us that boredom is good for a person.HardPractice
- If success were measured in rest, how would your life score?HardPractice
- Tell us about a promise you made to yourself and actually kept.EasyPractice
- Which matters more in a leader: honesty or steadiness? Defend your answer.MediumPractice
- What is one tradition you would keep forever, and one you would let go?MediumPractice
- Describe a time being wrong in public turned out to be good for you.MediumPractice
- Argue that curiosity is a moral quality, not just a personality trait.HardPractice
- Tell us about an object you own that carries far more meaning than money.EasyPractice
- Suppose everyone is doing their best — how would that change your day?HardPractice
- Describe the last time you chose the harder path on purpose.MediumPractice
- If you could uninvent one convenience to make people kinder, what goes?HardPractice
- Tell us who taught you what fairness looks like.EasyPractice
- Should we admire ambition as much as we do? Make your case.HardPractice
- What is worth being stubborn about?MediumPractice
- Describe a compliment that quietly rearranged how you see yourself.MediumPractice
- Convince us that saying no is a form of generosity.HardPractice
- If this year of your life had a chapter title, what would it be?EasyPractice
- Tell us about a time you gave someone a second chance.EasyPractice
- What do you think most people get wrong about happiness?MediumPractice
- Describe something you once wanted badly and no longer want at all.EasyPractice
- Agree or disagree: character shows most clearly in how a person handles waiting.HardPractice
- Tell us about advice you resisted for years and finally used.MediumPractice
- What legacy can a person leave in a single afternoon?MediumPractice
- Describe how you decide when to quit something.MediumPractice
- If you could make one virtue contagious, which one would you spread?MediumPractice
- Tell us about a moment when nature made your problems feel smaller.EasyPractice
- Is gratitude a feeling you have or a practice you build? Take a stance.HardPractice
- What is the kindest thing anyone has said about your work?EasyPractice
- Describe the person you would call at 3 a.m. and how they earned that.EasyPractice
- Convince us that keeping a small promise beats making a grand gesture.MediumPractice
- Which tells you more about someone: their words or their calendar?HardPractice
- Share a time you were generous and it cost you nothing at all.EasyPractice
- What one question would you ask to learn who someone really is?MediumPractice
- Describe an ordinary day you would happily live over again.EasyPractice
- If regret were a currency, what have you spent the most of it on?HardPractice
- Agree or disagree: knowing yourself matters more than improving yourself.HardPractice
- Tell us about a standard you hold yourself to that others find strange.MediumPractice
- What is one thing your younger self was completely right about?EasyPractice
- Describe a fear you outgrew and how you noticed it was gone.EasyPractice
- Make the case that comfort is the real enemy of growth.HardPractice
- Tell us about a decision you made in five seconds that shaped years.EasyPractice
- What does respect look like when you strongly disagree with someone?HardPractice
- Describe how you would like to be remembered by the people you work with.MediumPractice
- If you could deliver one apology you still owe, who would receive it?MediumPractice
- Convince us that ambition and contentment can live in the same person.HardPractice
- Tell us about a time you kept a secret that was not yours to share.EasyPractice
- What is the most honest thing you have ever had to say out loud?MediumPractice
- Describe a small ritual that keeps you grounded.EasyPractice
- Should we forgive people who never apologize? Argue your position.MediumPractice
- Tell us about a talent you were given and how you use it for others.EasyPractice
- Imagine no one could ever praise you: what would you do differently?HardPractice
- Time is not spread evenly across a life — how has that shaped your choices?HardPractice
- If your values were a packing list, which three items never leave home?MediumPractice
- Agree or disagree: kindness under stress is the only real test of kindness.MediumPractice
- Tell us about a time you were trusted with more than you felt ready for.MediumPractice
- What belief do you hold that you cannot fully explain?HardPractice
- Describe a lesson you learned from someone much younger than you.MediumPractice
- Convince us that being ordinary is badly underrated.HardPractice
- Which costs more: telling the difficult truth or living with the silence?HardPractice
- Tell us about something you made that outlived your interest in it.MediumPractice
- What is the difference between confidence and self-respect?HardPractice
- Describe a place that made you want to be a better person.MediumPractice
- If you had to defend your favorite way to spend a free evening, what is your argument?MediumPractice
- Tell us about a grudge you finally put down.EasyPractice
- What responsibility comes with being lucky?MediumPractice
- Describe how you would explain integrity to a curious ten-year-old.MediumPractice
- Agree or disagree: the stories we repeat about ourselves eventually become true.HardPractice
- Recall a compliment you should have given someone and never did.MediumPractice
- What is one hard thing you are glad you did not avoid?MediumPractice
- Describe a moment when doing less turned out to be the brave choice.HardPractice
- If you could add one sentence to every job description, what would it say?HardPractice
- Convince us that patience is a form of respect.HardPractice
- Tell us about a time you were the only person willing to speak up.MediumPractice
- What part of your life would you most want a young person to copy?MediumPractice
- Describe the last time you felt genuinely proud of yourself.EasyPractice
- Is it possible to be too honest with a friend? Take a position.MediumPractice
- Tell us about a book, song, or film that changed how you treat people.EasyPractice
- Pick the sentence you would want on the first page of your biography.MediumPractice
- Describe how you decide who deserves your attention on a busy day.HardPractice
- If effort and talent had to split the credit, how would you divide it?HardPractice
- Tell us about a saying from your family or friends that still guides you.EasyPractice
- What does it actually mean to be generous with credit?MediumPractice
- Describe a time when winning felt worse than you expected.EasyPractice
- Agree or disagree: everyone should keep at least one unprofitable hobby.MediumPractice
- Tell us what you would say to a nervous beginner in something you love.EasyPractice
- What is the bravest ordinary thing a person can do?MediumPractice
- Being liked and being respected are not the same — which do you chase?HardPractice
- Convince us that some questions are better left unanswered.HardPractice
- If you could protect one part of childhood for future generations, what is it?HardPractice
- Own up to a mistake you would happily make again, and tell us why.MediumPractice
- Name what you would sacrifice for more time, and what you would never trade.MediumPractice
- Describe a person whose quiet example shaped you more than any speech.EasyPractice
- Should ambition come with an expiration date? Argue for or against.HardPractice
- Tell us about a moment you chose honesty over sounding impressive.MediumPractice
- What do you owe to people you will never meet?HardPractice
- Describe the last thing that made you feel genuine awe.EasyPractice
- Make the case that everyone should be taught how to apologize properly.MediumPractice
- Tell us about a possession you gave away and never once missed.EasyPractice
- Which is harder to build: a good habit or a good reputation?HardPractice
- What does growing up mean once you are already grown?MediumPractice
- Describe a value you inherited and one you chose entirely for yourself.MediumPractice
- If you had to teach one class to everyone, what would you teach and why?MediumPractice
- Tell us about a time you were forgiven more generously than you deserved.EasyPractice
- What is the smallest change that made the biggest difference in your life?EasyPractice
- Describe how you would spend a day designed entirely around what you value.MediumPractice
- Agree or disagree: it is better to be curious than to be certain.HardPractice
- Tell us about a piece of advice you now believe is simply wrong.MediumPractice
- What is something worth doing badly, and why do it anyway?HardPractice
- Recall the last time you let someone change your plan and were glad.MediumPractice
- Convince us that legacy is built in habits, not in monuments.HardPractice
- If you had one hour of anyone's undivided attention, what would you ask?HardPractice
- Tell us about a moment when a stranger's decency caught you off guard.EasyPractice
- What would you want the people closest to you to say you were like on ordinary days?MediumPractice
- Describe the promise you would make to your future self today.MediumPractice
More
Other categories
- One-word speech topicsThe purest form of the exercise.220 topics
- Travel, food and adventure speech topicsJourneys, meals, weather, getting lost, the best seat in a familiar place.140 topics
- Speech topics about family, friends and relationshipsFamily, friendship, mentors, neighbors, the people who taught you something without meaning to.140 topics