Thomas Love Peacock Quotes

A witty saying proves nothing.

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

Ridicule is more powerful than any argument.

The object of oratory alone is not truth, but persuasion.

My favorite comedians are just presenting an argument, and they're doing it in a funny way.

Politics and acting are very closely tied. The job is to convince.

Let any man speak long enough, he will get believers.

The speeches to be wary of are those that begin with I'm just going to say a few words.

In oratory the will must predominate.

The best way to make the most serious point in the world is to be as unserious as possible.

Sometimes a witticism has no truth behind it.

Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.

He steps on stage and draws the sword of rhetoric, and when he is through, someone is lying wounded and thousands of others are either angry or consoled.

Charm is a way of getting the answer 'Yes' without asking a clear question.

Nobody has a magic lamp which can tell you in advance whether what you say will be effective in persuading an audience.

Most people don't have the power of persuasion.

It is true the orator may make a myriad replica of his own passion out of those who listen to him. But that does not prove he is right or they are not fools.

You'd better get your laugh while you're making your point, or you won't be doing it very long.

Eloquence, n. The art of orally persuading fools that white is the color that it appears to be. It includes the gift of making any color appear white.

Words are potent weapons for all causes, good or bad.

In argument, truth always prevails finally; in politics, falsehood always.

The joke is mightier than the sword.

All politicians are to some extent salesmen.

I have a doctorate in fine arts from Knox College in Illinois. All I did was give a speech, and now everybody has to call me Dr. Colbert.

Some eloquence is like a magic.