Argument Quote by Randal Marlin
“Aristotle writes that persuasion is based on three things: the ethos, or personal character of the speaker; the pathos, or getting the audience into the right kind of emotional receptivity; and the logos, or the argument itself, carried out by abbreviated syllogisms, or something like deductive syllogisms, and by the use of example.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Persuasion: Theory and Practice, Randal Marlin, 2010
Effective persuasion blends credibility, emotional appeal, and logical argument, using examples and concise reasoning.
In simple terms: Persuasion needs character, emotion, and logic.
Key Takeaway
Balance ethos, pathos, and logos.
Themes
communication
influence
logic
Mood
analytical
educational
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- marketing pitches
- debates
- leadership talks
Key Concepts
rhetoric
ethos
pathos
logos
examples
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you strengthen your ethos?
- What story evokes the right emotion?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on one element weakens impact.
![“After Portia has trapped Shylock through his own insistence upon the letter of the law of Contract, she produces another law by which any alien who conspires against the life of a Venetian citizen forfeits his goods and places his life at the Doge’s mercy. […] Shakespeare, it seems to me, was…” quote by W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/25c/w-h-auden-2-7412_antisemitism_after-portia-has-trapped-shylock-through_382814.jpg)
