Every writer dreams of writing a book that will touch people.
Eloquence may set fire to reason.
If the story is good enough, if it's imaginative enough, if it's moving enough it is going to reach deeper than the level of sheer information and change somebody's life two degrees. That is an enormous achievement.
The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.
The best book, like the best speech, will do it all - make us laugh, think, cry and cheer - preferably in that order.
I just think when you read something that's magnetic that pulls you into it or resonates with you, whatever that may be, that's always a positive thing.
Few speeches which have produced an electrical effect on an audience can bear the colorless photography of a printed record.
5th Earl of Rosebery
Gesturing with his body and head rather than with his arms, he grew very impassioned and seemed transfigured. Then the inspiration that possessed him took possession of his hearers also. His speaking went to the heart because it came from the heart. I have heard celebrated orators who could start thunders of applause without changing any man’s opinion. Mr. Lincoln’s eloquence was of the higher type, which produced conviction in others because of the conviction in others because of the conviction of the speaker himself.
The people only understand what they can feel; the only orators that can affect them are those who move them.
I receive really powerful personal letters. I think that always takes the cake. It blows me away... some of the comments. Someone will come and I sense their whole tone and energy when they're handing me this letter.
