Eloquence Quote by N.D. Wilson
“Narrative living is the beginning of rhetoric.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Storytelling Animal by N.D. Wilson, 2015
Rhetoric starts with living a narrative life, shaping reality through stories.
In simple terms: Live a story to influence rhetoric.
Key Takeaway
Live intentionally to shape discourse.
Themes
storytelling
identity
communication
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Personal branding
- public speaking
- teaching
- writing
Key Concepts
narrative identity
rhetorical theory
self-construction
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your life story affect your persuasion?
- What narratives do you want to craft?
A Different Perspective
Narratives can be misused to manipulate.
![“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/img-quotes/059/kenneth-burke-22616_action_the-most-characteristic-concern-of-rheto_169251.jpg)
![“[T]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political society. And voluntarily, through the private interaction of individuals and associations - what we can call civil society. ... In a civil society, you…” quote by Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b8b/ed-crane-39299_affair_t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways_34431.jpg)
