--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most characteristic concern of…" description: "\"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 wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/kenneth-burke-22616_action_the-most-characteristic-concern-of-rheto_169251.jpg" --- # The most characteristic concern of rhetoric \[is\] the… ![“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 by human agents to form attitudes or to induce actions in other human agents.” quote by Kenneth Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/kenneth-burke-22616_action_the-most-characteristic-concern-of-rheto_169251.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/kenneth-burke-22616_action_the-most-characteristic-concern-of-rheto_169251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/kenneth-burke-22616_action_the-most-characteristic-concern-of-rheto_169251.jpg) > “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 by human agents to form attitudes or to induce actions in other human agents.” [Kenneth Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-burke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rhetoric functions as a tool for shaping attitudes and prompting actions, often serving political agendas through strategic language use. **In simple terms:** Rhetoric shapes thoughts and actions for political aims. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate language to uncover hidden motives. Themes politics communication influence ethics power Mood critical analytical skeptical Type theoretical academic practical When to use this quote - public speeches - advertising campaigns - political debates - media analysis Key Concepts rhetoric theory social manipulation critical theory Questions to Reflect On - What ethical limits should guide persuasive speech? - How can audiences resist manipulative rhetoric? A Different Perspective Rhetoric can manipulate, risking ethical breaches and misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Concern Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern-rhetoric-1835207/) [Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Function Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-rhetoric-1835208/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric/) [Rhetoric Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric-manipulation-1835209/) [Rhetoric Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric-use-1835210/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [Rhetoric, which is the use of language to inform or persuade, is very important in shaping public opinion. We are very easily fooled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/rhetoric-which-is-the-use-of-language-to-inform-or-persuade-is-very/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [Wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric, and wherever there is rhetoric, there is meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-burke/wherever-there-is-persuasion-there-is-rhetoric-and-wherever-there-is/) [Kenneth Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-burke/) > [Rhetoric is rooted in an essential function of language itself, a function that is wholly realistic and continually born anew: the use of language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-burke/rhetoric-is-rooted-in-an-essential-function-of-language-itself-a/) [Kenneth Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-burke/) > [The notion of directing a film is the invention of critics - the whole eloquence of cinema is achieved in the editing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-notion-of-directing-a-film-is-the-invention-of-critics-the-whole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Eloquence is a painting of thought; and thus those who, after having painted it, add something more, make a picture instead of a portrait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/eloquence-is-a-painting-of-thought-and-thus-those-who-after-having/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Philosophy may be dodged, eloquence cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-quinet/philosophy-may-be-dodged-eloquence-cannot/) [Edgar Quinet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-quinet/) > [Eloquence is the appropriate organ of the highest personal energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/eloquence-is-the-appropriate-organ-of-the-highest-personal-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“What is called eloquence in the forum is commonly found to be rhetoric in the study.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-called-eloquence-in-the-forum-is-commonly-found-to-be/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Forensics is eloquence and reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/forensics-is-eloquence-and-reduction/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Your goodness must have some edge to it -- else it is none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/your-goodness-must-have-some-edge-to-it-else-it-is-none/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Drudgery, calamity, exasperation, want, are instructors in eloquence and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/drudgery-calamity-exasperation-want-are-instructors-in-eloquence-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [ \[T\]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-crane/t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways-to-order-social-affairs/) [Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-crane/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## More by Kenneth Burke > [Man is rotten with perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-burke/man-is-rotten-with-perfection/) [Kenneth Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-burke/) > [“It's more complicated than that." 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