Born Quote by Kenneth Burke

The most characteristic concern of rhetoric [is] the manipulation of men's beliefs for political ends…the basic function of rhetoric [is] the use of words…

— Kenneth Burke

Rhetoric, which is the use of language to inform or persuade, is very important in shaping public opinion. We are very easily fooled by…

— Ray Comfort

“Rhetoric is communication that attempts to coordinate social action...Its goal is to influence human choices on specific matters that require immediate attention”

— Gerard Hauser

The duty of rhetoric is to deal with such matters as we deliberate upon without arts or systems to guide us, in the hearing…

— Aristotle

Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. This is not a function of…

— Aristotle

Since we want not emancipation from impulse but clarification of impulse, the duty of rhetoric is to bring together action and understanding into a…

— Richard M. Weaver

Rhetoric in serious discourses is like the flowers in corn; pleasing to those who come only for amusement, but prejudicial to him who would…

— Jonathan Swift

Rhetoric is useful because truth and justice are in their nature stronger than their opposites; so that if decisions be made, not in conformity…

— Aristotle

“Grammar is like the walls and bumpers of a pinball machine. Rhetoric is like the flippers of a pinball machine. You control the flippers.…

— Neal Stephenson

The design of Rhetoric is to remove those Prejudices that lie in the way of Truth, to Reduce the Passions to the Government of…

— Mary Astell

As the base rhetorician uses language to increase his own power, to produce converts to his own cause, and to create loyal followers of…

— Thomas Szasz

Rhetoric is the counterpart of logic; since both are conversant with subjects of such a nature as it is the business of all to…

— Aristotle