Appears Quote by Aristotle
“A statement is persuasive and credible either because it is directly self-evident or because it appears to be proved from other statements that are so.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Rhetoric, Book III, 4th century BC
A claim gains persuasiveness when it is obvious on its own or when it is logically derived from other accepted statements.
In simple terms: Credibility comes from self‑evidence or logical support.
Key Takeaway
Build arguments on clear premises.
Themes
rhetoric
logic
credibility
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- debate
- writing
- teaching
- policy making
Key Concepts
self‑evidence
deductive reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- What premises do you accept without question?
- How can you test the self‑evidence of a claim?
A Different Perspective
If premises are flawed, the conclusion remains weak.
