Quotes About Persuasion

For he who lives as passion directs will not hear argument that dissuades him, nor understand it if he does; and how can we persuade one in such a state to change his ways?

Further, the orator should be able to prove opposites, as in logical arguments;

Rhetoric then may be defined as the faculty of discovering the possible means of persuasion in reference to any subject whatever.

Now the proofs furnished by the speech are of three kinds. The first depends upon the moral character of the speaker, the second upon putting the hearer into a certain frame of mind, the third upon the speech itself, in so far as it proves or seems to prove. [4]

rhetoric was to be surveyed from the standpoint of philosophy.

since we are most strongly convinced when we suppose anything to have been demonstrated; that rhetorical demonstration is an enthymeme

I have spoken, you have heard, you have the facts, judge

even if we possessed the most accurate scientific knowledge, we should not find it easy to persuade them by the employment of such knowledge. For scientific discourse is concerned with instruction, but in the case of such persons instruction is impossible; our proofs and arguments must rest on generally accepted principles, as we said in the Topics, when speaking of converse with the multitude.

not that we should do both (for one ought not to persuade people to do what is wrong), but that the real state of the case may not escape us, and that we ourselves may be able to counteract false arguments, if another makes an unfair use of them.

However, it is not the same with the subject matter, but, generally speaking, that which is true and better is naturally always easier to prove and more likely to persuade.

It is thus evident that Rhetoric does not deal with any one definite class of subjects, but, like Dialectic, [is of general application]; also, that it is useful; and further, that its function is not so much to persuade, as to find out in each case the existing means of persuasion.

The orator persuades by moral character when his speech is delivered in such a manner as to render him worthy of confidence; for we feel confidence in a greater degree and more readily in persons of worth in regard to everything in general, but where there is no certainty and there is room for doubt, our confidence is absolute. But this confidence must be due to the speech itself, not to any preconceived idea of the speaker's character;

They are the ones who are responsible for the fact that decrees and not laws are authoritative, by referring everything to the populace. They end up becoming powerful by having the populace be in authority over everything, while they themselves have authority over the opinion of the populace, since the multitude is persuaded by them. Also

logographos, a writer of speeches for others to use

there is no gain in being persuaded not to be hot or in pain or hungry or the like, since we shall experience these feelings none the less.

Il y a trois causes qui font que l'orateur persuade son auditoire, parce qu'il y a trois causes qui déterminent notre acquiescement, en dehors des démonstrations. Ces trois causes sont : la raison, la probité et la bienveillance.

But people are most likely to think that they can do wrong without paying the penalty if they are good speakers or men of affairs or have wide experience of litigation, or if they have many friends, or if they are rich.

Beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction.

Gustavo Solivellas dice: La habilidad de exponer una idea es tan importante como la idea en sí misma (Aristóteles)

When you have a well developed body and you're confident, you see people bending your way, wanting to be on your side, wanting to do things for you.

No tiene importancia alguna lo que usted haga en este mundo. La cuestión es lo que pueda usted hacer creer a los demás que usted ha realizado.

What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence," returned my companion, bitterly. "The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done?

He picked up a towel to dry his hair. You coming to work out? Yes. You want me to reset the machine? No, I want to ride you until you're begging me for mercy. Clearing her throat, she tried to shove that imagine out of her mind.

Jonas, I told him, you are not to listen any more to Cousin Charles, and Jonas regarded me in wide-eyed astonishment, that I should attempt to make decisions for him.