The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they
are, as it were, a natural art, the rules read more

The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they
are, as it were, a natural art, the rules of which are
infallible; and the simplest man with passion is more persuasive
than the most eloquent without it.

Its Constitution--the glittering and sounding generalities of
natural right which make up the Declaration of Independence.

Its Constitution--the glittering and sounding generalities of
natural right which make up the Declaration of Independence.

Besides, as is usually the case, we are much more affected by the
words which we hear, for though read more

Besides, as is usually the case, we are much more affected by the
words which we hear, for though what you read in books may be
more pointed, yet there is something in the voice, the look, the
carriage, and even the gesture of the speaker, that makes a
deeper impression upon the mind.
[Lat., Praeterea multo magis, ut vulgo dicitur viva vox afficit:
nam licet acriora sint, quae legas, ultius tamen in ammo sedent,
quae pronuntiatio, vultus, habitus, gestus dicentis adfigit.]

With little art, clear wit and sense
Suggest their own delivery.
[Ger., Es tragt Verstand und rechter read more

With little art, clear wit and sense
Suggest their own delivery.
[Ger., Es tragt Verstand und rechter Sinn,
Mit wenig Kunst sich selber vor.]

We fear that the glittering generalities of the speaker have left
an impression more delightful than permanent.
read more

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

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.

Fire in each eye, and papers in each hand,
They rave, recite, and madden round the land.

Fire in each eye, and papers in each hand,
They rave, recite, and madden round the land.

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.

It is a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against
another man's oration,--nay, it is a very read more

It is a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against
another man's oration,--nay, it is a very easy matter; but to
produce a better in its place is a work extremely troublesome.