I'm not one for those motivational speeches. I've always been

Hear the steady words of Carey Price, a guardian of the net and a man of quiet strength: “I'm not one for those motivational speeches. I've always been more of an example guy.” In this simple confession lies a truth as old as time itself: that words may stir, but actions endure; speeches may inspire for a moment, but example instructs for a lifetime. The world has always been filled with voices, but it is those who live their values, who embody their discipline, who lead without needing to command, that truly shape the course of others.

At the heart of his saying is the supremacy of example over rhetoric. Price does not dismiss the power of motivational speeches outright, but he declares his own path to influence: action. To stand firm in the face of trial, to show perseverance through silence, to embody calm in the midst of chaos—these are his speeches. They are speeches written not in words but in deeds, not in echoes but in legacies. For the greatest oration is often the life one lives.

History gives us countless proofs of this principle. Think of George Washington, who in the brutal winter of Valley Forge shared the hunger and cold of his soldiers. He gave no grand speeches in those nights, but his presence, his example of endurance and sacrifice, breathed hope into an army that might otherwise have dissolved. Or recall Mahatma Gandhi, who led not by fiery speeches alone but by fasting, walking, and living in simplicity. His actions were sermons that needed no translation, speaking to hearts across the world. Like Price, these leaders understood that example is the purest form of persuasion.

Price’s words also remind us of the danger of hollow rhetoric. Too often, those who speak the loudest are those whose deeds fail to match their promises. The ancients called this hypocrisy: the gap between word and deed. But the one who lives by example speaks in a language that cannot lie. His teammates see in him consistency, reliability, and quiet strength. They follow not because of what he says, but because of what he is. In this, Price teaches us that true leadership is not measured by the volume of one’s voice, but by the weight of one’s character.

There is humility woven into his confession as well. He does not seek the spotlight, nor the honor of being seen as a grand orator. He finds his strength in discipline, in work, in quiet demonstration. This humility is itself part of his power. For when a man claims nothing for himself but simply does his duty, others take notice, and his influence spreads naturally. Leadership that is sought often crumbles; leadership that is lived becomes eternal.

The deeper meaning of his words is this: to influence others, you do not always need to speak—you need to live. If you wish to teach courage, live courage. If you wish to teach perseverance, live perseverance. If you wish to inspire, be the living proof of the values you wish to see in others. This is the way of the “example guy”—to let his very life become the lantern for those who walk behind him.

What lesson, then, must we take from Carey Price’s words? It is this: let your actions speak. Do not rely solely on speeches, nor wait for perfect words to inspire others. Begin by living with integrity, by practicing consistency, by showing strength when it matters most. Lead by example in your home, your work, your friendships. For those who walk with you will remember less of what you said, and far more of what you did.

Thus let this teaching endure: words may pass, but example remains. Carey Price reminds us that the truest form of leadership is not found in lofty speeches, but in the quiet, daily testimony of a life well-lived. Be therefore the example—live your values so clearly that no speech is needed, and others will be moved to follow. In this way, your life itself will become the greatest oration of all.