What is as pleasant to know and hear as a speech adorned and refined with wise thoughts and significant words? Or as powerful and magnificent as when one speech changes the movement of the people, the restraint of the judges, the dignity of the Senate?
Marcus Tullius Cicero, in his works, has left us valuable examples of rhetorical writings and speeches that continue to inspire those who aspire to become skilled speakers. In his book “On the Orator,” presented as a discussion and dialogue, Cicero addresses almost every aspect of oratory, creating one of the most renowned manuals on rhetoric.
It is essential for the speaker to touch the souls of the audience as intended; this can only be achieved if the speaker understands the various ways, means, and types of speech that can influence human souls in different directions. These insights lie deep within the hidden and concealed heart
“No one can ignite the hearts of listeners with their speech or silence the fervor of those already ignited, except the one who understands the nature of all things, human nature, and the core principles of thinking. Thus, a speaker must necessarily study philosophy.
“Therefore, speakers have a duty to discuss what is good or bad, desirable or avoidable, honorable or shameful, useful or useless. They should speak about virtues like justice, self-control, wisdom, greatness of spirit, nobility, loyalty, friendship, duty, reliability, and other virtues, as well as their opposing vices, and about the state, authority, military skill, political systems, and human nature.
An excellent speaker, who is also a virtuous person, brings honor to the entire state. On any subject that can be a topic of discussion, whoever claims to be a speaker must speak well or renounce the title of speaker.”
Who can more passionately encourage virtue than a speaker? Who can more sharply critique the vices and flaws that corrode society and individuals? We believe that only a person deeply versed in philosophy can achieve this. Who else can denounce wickedness so powerfully, comfort pain so gently, or entrust immortality to history, the witness of time, the light of truth, the living memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity?
Because the art of speaking is one of the greatest virtues; and although all virtues are equal and equitable to each other, some shine more brightly in their outward appearance, as is the case with the ability to speak. This ability, when greater, must be associated with goodness and supreme wisdom. Offering the wealth of oratory to individuals lacking these virtues would not create speakers but would be akin to handing weapons to lunatics. The ancient Greeks regarded this method of thinking, expressing thoughts, and the ability to speak as wisdom.
…the true scope of oratory encompasses the origin, action, and changes of all things, virtues, duties, and the entire nature upon which human character, spirit, and life are based. It determines customs, laws, and rights, governs the state, and expresses itself ornamented and rich on any subject, no matter what it relates to. But just as nature has arranged for most things, so it is with speech: that which carries the greatest benefit also possesses the greatest dignity and attractiveness.
Woe to those who seek to acquire the qualities of a good speaker without delving into these depths.
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It is important that those who listen are touched in their soul in the way that the speaker would like them to be touched; this can never be achieved if the speaker does not know in what ways, with what means, and with what type of speech they can influence human souls in this or that direction. And these things lie deep in the hidden and secret philosophy of the heart…
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No one can ignite the hearts of the listeners with speech or diminish the fervor of those already inflamed, except for the one who has understood the essence of the nature of all things, the human character, and the principles of thinking, which means that the speaker must necessarily study philosophy.
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Therefore, we consider it his duty to speak about what things are good or bad, what should be desired or avoided, what is honorable and what is shameful. Useful or useless, then about virtue, justice, self-control, prudence, greatness of spirit, nobility, loyalty, friendship, duty, reliability, and other virtues and their opposing vices, and also about the state, government, military skill, state organization, human nature…
An excellent speaker, who is also a good person, brings honor to the entire state.
On everything that can be a subject of discussion among people, someone who proclaims themselves as a speaker must speak well or renounce the title of a speaker.
Who can more passionately encourage virtue than a speaker, who can more sharply deflect from wrongdoing, who can more vigorously reproach evildoers, who can more beautifully praise the good? Whose attack can more powerfully break greed, whose comfort can more gently calm pain? And whose voice, besides that of a speaker, could entrust immortality to history, which is the witness of time, the light of truth, the living memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of the past?
For the art of speaking eloquence is one of the greatest virtues; and although all virtues are equal and equivalent to each other, one is still more beautiful and brilliant in its external appearance than the other, as is the case with this ability…
And the greater this ability is, the more it needs to be tied to goodness and supreme wisdom. If we were to make the wealth of oratory available to people who do not possess these virtues, we would not make them speakers, but, in a way, we would hand weapons to madmen. The ancient Greeks called this method of thinking and expressing thoughts and the ability to speak wisdom.
The true scope of oratory is such that it encompasses the origin, action, and changes of all things, virtues, duties, and the entire nature on which human character, spirit, and life are based, that it determines customs, laws, and rights, that it governs the state, and that it expresses itself embellished and rich on any topic it relates to.
But just as nature has organized most things, so it is with speech, that What carries the greatest benefit also has the greatest amount of dignity and attractiveness.