Body Quote by Gorgias
“The effect of speech upon the condition of the soul is comparable to the power of drugs over the nature of bodies. For just as different drugs dispel different secretions from the body, and some bring an end to disease and others to life, so also in the case of speeches, some distress, others delight, some cause fear, others make the hearers bold, and some drug and bewitch the soul with a kind of evil persuasion.”
About This Quote
Source Rhetoric Treatise, 4th century BCE
Speech can manipulate the soul like drugs, causing various emotional and behavioral effects.
In simple terms: Words can drug the mind.
Key Takeaway
Use speech responsibly.
Themes
communication
influence
ethics
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political persuasion
- therapy
- education
Key Concepts
rhetoric
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we discern genuine from manipulative speech?
- What safeguards protect against harmful rhetoric?
A Different Perspective
Manipulative speech can erode trust.
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