Quotes About Eloquence

A true leader should have the power to begin, the eloquence to communicate, the patience to execute and the wisdom to evaluate. Without one, he remains a slave to he who possesses it.

To me, a wicked man who is also eloquent seems the most guilty of them all. He'll cut your throat as bold as brass, because he can dress up murder in handsome words.

A witty woman is a treasure a witty beauty is a power.

Prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness; not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it; not figures of speech, but earnestness of soul.

I think thy horse will sooner con an oration than thou learn a prayer without book.

Men of few words are the best men.

For they are yet ear-kissing arguments.

All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth.

He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument.

Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation,Figures pedantical.

For these fellows of infinite tongue, that can rime themselves into ladies' favors, they do always reason themselves out again.

I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:I am no orator, as Brutus is;But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man.

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief.

A rhapsody of words.

A good mouth-filling oath.

Be thou the tenth Muse.

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens.

Well-written words are music.

Choice word and measured phrase, above the reachOf ordinary men.

Choice word, and measured phrase; above the reach   Of ordinary men; a stately speech!

The short words are best, and the old words are the best of all.

I think "No comment" is a splendid expression. I am using it again and again. I got it from Sumner Welles.

My great-grandfather used to say to his wife, my great-grandmother, who in turn told her daughter, my grandmother, who repeated it to her daughter, my mother, who used to remind her daughter, my own sister, that to talk well and eloquently was a very great art, but that an equally great one was to know the right moment to stop.

All I insist on, and nothing else, is that you should show the whole world that you are not afraid. Be silent, if you choose; but when it is necessary, speak—and speak in such a way that people will remember it.