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

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

I asked of my dear friend Orator Prig:
"What's the first part of oratory?" He said, "A great wig."
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I asked of my dear friend Orator Prig:
"What's the first part of oratory?" He said, "A great wig."
"And what is the second?" Then, dancing a jig
And bowing profoundly, he said, "A great wig."
"And what is the third?" Then he snored like a pig,
And puffing his cheeks out, he replied, "A great wig."

We fear that the glittering generalities of the speaker have left
an impression more delightful than permanent.
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We fear that the glittering generalities of the speaker have left
an impression more delightful than permanent.
- Franklin J. Dickman,

For rhetoric, he could not ope
His mouth, but out there flew a trope.

For rhetoric, he could not ope
His mouth, but out there flew a trope.

The Orator persuades and carries all with him, he knows not how;
the Rhetorician can prove that he ought read more

The Orator persuades and carries all with him, he knows not how;
the Rhetorician can prove that he ought to have persuaded and
carried all with him.

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with
ease.
[Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien read more

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with
ease.
[Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien s'enonce clairement,
Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisement.]

Glittering generalities! They are blazing ubiquities.

Glittering generalities! They are blazing ubiquities.

Yet through delivery orators succeed,
I feel that I am far behind indeed.
[Ger., Allein der Vortrag read more

Yet through delivery orators succeed,
I feel that I am far behind indeed.
[Ger., Allein der Vortrag macht des Redners Gluck,
Ich fuhl es wohl noch bin ich weit zuruck.]

There is no true orator who is not a hero.

There is no true orator who is not a hero.