Richard Armour Quotes

What convinces is conviction. Believe in the argument you're advancing. If you don't you're as good as dead. The other person will sense that something isn't there, and no chain of reasoning, no matter how logical or elegant or brilliant, will win your case for you.

The gifts of nature are necessary; but they are not sufficient to make a complete orator without art and study.

In order to make a good speech you must have something to say and you have to believe it.

...sensation of rightness, of saying the right thing atthe right time to the right person, that too-raresensation of having the right thing to say and believing it.

Honesty is one part of eloquence. We persuade others by being in earnest ourselves.

No amount of facts in his head can compensate for the lack of fire on his lips.

I always believed that I have something important to say and I said it.

I wish I could talk like Donald Trump or Steve Wynn. Hell, I'd love it.

I'm pretty grounded on my own passion - writing books, you know, doing programs, speaking around the country. And I love what I do.

I was telling the truth. I feel like we got that point across.

I'm satisfied with the way 'The Room' turned out, and I don't want to change anything.

I often begin a thought with spirit and finish it with nonsense. The chain of my argument often escapes me, and when lost can seldom be retrieved. These faults are so overpowering that I should sink into perpetual silence were it not that sometimes in ardor of debate, when my feelings are wound up to a high tone, elocution pours itself along with unusual rapidity, and I have passages which would not shame a good speaker; this is the only thing that makes me tolerable to others or to myself.

A man may lack everything but tact and conviction and still be a forcible speaker.

Henry Clay's eloquence did not consist, as many fine specimens of eloquence do, of types and figures, of antitheses and elegant arrangements of words and sentences, but rather of that deeply earnest and impassioned tone and manner which can proceed only through conviction in the speaker of the justice and importance of his cause. This it is that truly touches the chords of sympathy; and those who heard Mr. Clay never failed to be moved by it, or ever after forgot the impression. All his [oratorical] efforts were made for practical effect. He never spoke merely to be heard.

No one can speak well, unless he thoroughly understands his subject.

Be sincere, be brief, be seated.

An orator is a man who says what he thinks and feels what he says.

You can often tell the difference between a singer that grows up in the church and one that just can sing. There's a connection to love and support and care. You feel good when you hear it. You feel the people have so much conviction in what they're singing. They believe it, so you believe it.

When I speak, I am well articulated.

That's what distinguishes the pros from people involved in amateur theatre. You just go out and do it again and again.

Confidence is what I'm looking for! Comfortable and confident in the things you say. I feel like, for me, that's the hardest part, the confidence.

I'm not that guy in the suit, speaking the Queen's English. I don't need to be. I've done enough. I can go on 'Newsnight' as me.

Look at my record - I always bring a finish.

I think, for me, one of the things I've been blessed with is the ability to speak with clarity.

Ordinary people can be very articulate and very eloquent.