Aristotle Quotes

Rhetoric is the counterpart of logic; since both are conversant with subjects of such a nature as it is the business of all to have a certain knowledge of, and which belong to no distinct science. Wherefore all men in some way participate of both; since all, to a certain extent, attempt, as well to sift, as to maintain an argument; as well to defend themselves, as to impeach.

An orator is the worse person to tell a plain fact.

Rhetoric and dialectics can't change what I have learned from observation and experience.

I may challenge the whole orations of Demosthenes and Cicero, and of any more eminent orator, if Europe has furnished more eminent, to produce a single passage superior to the speech of Logan

I'm not good at throwing around rhetoric.

Logic is the art of convincing us some truth.

I wasn't a great debater.

Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.

Persuasion is clearly a sort of demonstration, since we are most fully persuaded when we consider a thing to have been demonstrated.

Rhetoric is cheap, evidence comes more dearly.

Logic! Good gracious! What rubbish!

Facts are not liberals' strong suit. Rhetoric is.

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.

Logic is the technique by which we add conviction to truth.

In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.

A statement is persuasive and credible either because it is directly self-evident or because it appears to be proved from other statements that are so.

The aim of the sculptor is to convince us that he is a sculptor; the aim of the orator, is to convince us that he is not an orator.

He who wants to persuade should put his trust, not in the right argument, but in the right word.

Mr. Lincoln is one of Nature’s orators, using his rare powers solely and effectively to elucidate and to convince, though their inevitable effect is to delight and electrify as well.

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

A witty statesman said, you might prove anything by figures.

Use your logick, and then your rhetorick. Rhetorick without logick, is like a tree with leaves and blossoms, but no root; yet I confess more are taken with rhetorick than logick, because they are catched with a free expression, when they understand not reason. Logick must be natural, or it is worth nothing at all: Your rhetorick figures may be learned.

A good orator is pointed and impassioned.

Logic can become enormously difficult, and it would undoubtedly be well to produce more assurance in its use.

Political speeches are a particularly low form of rhetoric.