Rhetorical Techniques 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.

There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory

If you're explaining, you're losing.

A mediocre speech supported by all the power of delivery will be more impressive than the best speech unaccompanied by such power.

The reality is [Donald] Trump is just better at this game than they are. Blaming the media may be a convenient foil, but the reality is, he's played the free media game better than they have. He has used the personal attack meme against them and literally created memes about them. They need to figure out how to play this game.

In taste and imagination, in the graces of style, in the arts of persuasion, in the magnificence of public works, the ancients were at least our equals.

It is not sufficient to know what one ought to say, but one must also know how to say it.

You have no right to go before a public without an adequate technique, just because you feel. Anything feels - a leaf feels, a storm feels - what right have you to do that? You have to have speech, and it's a cultivated speech.

Successful argument is a communication between the acknowledged authority of both parties to the argument.

Many believe that Hillary Clinton was channeling President Obama during her recent speech in New York City. She focused on equality, justice, and how hard it was for her growing up as a young black man in Hawaii.

Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.

Men of great conversational powers almost universally practise a sort of lively sophistry and exaggeration which deceives for the moment both themselves and their auditors.

[M]ere knowledge of the truth will not give you the art of persuasion.

The receipt to make a speaker, and an applauded one too, is short and easy. Take common sense quantum sufficit; add a little application to the rules and orders of the House [of Commons], throw obvious thoughts in a new light, and make up the whole with a large quantity of purity, correctness and elegancy of style. Take it for granted that by far the greatest part of mankind neither analyze nor search to the bottom; they are incapable of penetrating deeper than the surface.

The orator puts off his individuality, and is then most eloquent when most silent. He listens while he speaks, and is a hearer along with his audience.

There is a truth and beauty in rhetoric; but it oftener serves ill turns than good ones.

You can "prove" anything on the verbal level, just be accepting the necessary axioms at the beginning.

In public speaking, we must appeal either to the prejudices of others, or to the love of truth and justice. If we think merely of displaying our own ability, we shall ruin every cause we undertake.

"Win" is about the specific use of specific words to connect you to your employer or employees, politicians to voters - and frankly, to help people win debates, have discussions, and improve the level of communication.

I bless the gods for not letting my education in rhetoric, poetry, and other literary studies come easily to me, and thereby sparing me from an absorbing interest in these subjects.

Persuasive communication involves enthusiasm, animation, audience participation, authenticity and spontaneity.

I think, you know, we always tell candidates, show, don't tell, what you're all about. I think Hillary Clinton's speech was an important speech that people are going to look at and they're going to see not just the attacks on Donald Trump, but also her admission that maybe she'd been part of the polarization problem as well and she could do better.

The rhetoric is the first step, it coarsens attitudes

Explaining is a difficult art. You can explain something so that your reader understands the words; and you can explain something so that the reader feels it in the marrow of his bones. To do the latter, it sometimes isn't enough to lay the evidence before the reader in a dispassionate way. You have to become an advocate and use the tricks of the advocate's trade.

The laurels of an orator who is not a master of literary art wither quickly.