Success Quote by Pliny the Younger
““Being lately engaged to plead a cause before the Court of the Hundred, the crowd was so great that I could not get to my place without crossing the tribunal where the judges sat. And I have this pleasing circumstance to add further, that a young nobleman, having had his tunic torn, an ordinary occurrence in a crowd, stood with his gown thrown over him, to hear me, and that during the seven hours I was speaking, whilst my success more than counterbalanced the fatigue of so long a speech. So let us set to and not screen our own indolence under pretence of that of the public. Never, be very sure of that, will there be wanting hearers and readers, so long as we can only supply them with speakers and writers worth their attention.””
About This Quote
Source Letter: Epistulae, Book 5, 100 AD
Public speaking demands perseverance, audience engagement, and quality content; success depends on compelling speakers and writers.
In simple terms: Good speakers attract listeners.
Key Takeaway
Focus on delivering valuable content.
Themes
public speaking
perseverance
audience
content
writing
Mood
reflective
instructive
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political forums
- academic lectures
- community meetings
- media broadcasts
Key Concepts
rhetoric
communication
civic duty
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a speaker worth listening to?
- How can you keep listeners engaged over long periods?
A Different Perspective
Even great speakers can be ignored if the audience is indifferent.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
![“[Pliny the Elder] used to say that “no book was so bad but some good might be got out of it.” quote by Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13e/pliny-the-younger-15981_books_pliny-the-elder-used-to-say-that-no-book_691761.jpg)
