Rhetoric is useful because the true and the just are…
“Rhetoric is useful because the true and the just are naturally superior to their opposites, so that, if decisions are improperly made, they must owe their defeat to their own advocates; which is reprehensible. Further, in dealing with certain persons, 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.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Rhetoric works when truth and justice are evident, exposing poor decisions, but some people cannot be persuaded by facts alone.
In simple terms: Truth and justice win, but some resist facts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of rational persuasion.
Themes
ethics
communication
logic
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- legal arguments
- public policy
- education
- personal conflict
Key Concepts
rhetoric
truth
justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle audiences who reject factual arguments?
- When is it ethical to abandon rational persuasion?
A Different Perspective
Not all audiences accept logical evidence; emotions may dominate.