re: Giving speech on fall of Rome

How can I start it off to catch audiences attention? Any ideas?

Open with this:


“The history of nations shows that the cycle of the body politic slowly but surely undergoes change . . .

It progresses –
From bondage to spiritual faith
From spiritual faith to courage
From courage to freedom
From freedom to abundance
From abundance to selfishness
From selfishness to complacency
From complacency to apathy
From apathy to fear
From fear to dependency
From dependency to bondage.”