rhetoric

Be a worthy worker and work will come.

whoever approaches his goal dances

Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.

In spite of his Cold War credentials, Kennedy still believed in the power of words.

In this era of public survival through continuous storytelling, people want someone who might surprise them.

Parables release the adrenaline of urgency into our bloodstream.

If we do not touch the heart, we will soon weary the ear.

The author characterizes Hamilton's tone in the Federalist papers by saying that he never spoke of problems but of being at the last stage in the crisis.

Talk about presidents "taking" the country hither and yon is part of the foam of presidential elections.

He uses the nice old words so rich in tradition to be sure I know he means it.

John F. Kennedy responded, as he often did when at his best, skillfully mixing dollops of wit with, self-deprecation, and the principle of not-really-going-near-the-question.

The art of oratory was considered part of the equipment of a statesman.

The author's alliterative description of politics since the 1960 presidential debates: "Government by Gotcha".

It is useful to remember that no matter where we turn, there is rarely any shortage of elevated ideals to accompany the resort to violence.

Republicans know well that a change of rhetorical pace is necessary. But efforts by their leaders to damp down the bellicosity of newly elected Tea Party types is running into the fact that the Tea Partiers have only the high volume setting on their amplifiers, just like Palin. They're like a couple having a fight at a funeral; politely sotto voce, then suddenly bursting out fortissimo with their plaints and accusations.

You can sway a thousand men by appealing to their prejudices quicker than you can convince one man by logic.

Rhetoric abounds in the cemeteries of reason.

House Speaker Thomas Reed could destroy an argument or expose a fallacy in fewer words than anyone else. His language was vivid and picturesque. He had a way of phrasing things which was peculiarly apt and peculiarly his own.