Quintilianus, a Roman rhetorician, wrote the twelve- volume textbook concerning rhetoric known as Institute of Oratory. His work primarily deals with the theory and practice of rhetoric. He defines rhetoric as “a good man in speaking”. He doesn’t refer to rhetoric as something that only serves for the purpose of politics and persuasion for the truth but rather sees it as an art. He believed “no man, unless he be good, can ever be an orator.” However, there are many situations in which someone can be using rhetoric, yet one might disagree in the point they are trying to communicate. Even though one is not persuaded, one can still acknowledge that the person used great rhetoric skills. Adolf Hitler was far from truthful but was still considered one of the greatest orators in history. Unfortunately, when it all boils down, oratory is an unrestricted art that will always be used by others to gain power or advantage of others in society. In a perfect world only good people would be the ones to persuade others.
Cicero wrote De Oratore to describe the ideal orator and imagine him as a moral guide of the state. He understood that the power of persuasion was the ability to manipulate others in critical political decisions. One man’s powerful words can be so influential and can affect a community as a whole with solely persuasion. He believed that a perfect orator should have moral principles as well as being an expert of rhetorical technique and knowledge. This is similar to Quintilian’s belief that moral and ethical development is the most important aspect of oratory and rhetorical skill.
Quintilian viewed Cicero as the “perfect orator” even though others disagreed. In the Second Oration Cicero gave a speech to the Romans about Lucias Sergius Caralina’s plot of overthrowing the Roman government. He wanted justice and was willing to do whatever it took to protect the people even if it took speaking against the government to protect his nation. During his second oration, he tells the Romans to fight against the evil. He knew that he could “fix and heal” these people, but only if they wish to hear him through his speech. Cicero was a wise man because he spoke to the people in a way that would benefit them. By appealing to their emotions, he persuaded many people to believe in him. At one point in his speech, he bent the truth in order to attract the people’s attention and gain their support. This supports Quintilian belief of,
“Reason may find cause to justify even that which appears objectionable when first stated—that a good man, in defending a cause, may sometimes incline to withhold the truth from the judge. If anyone feels surprised that I advance this opinion (though this is not mine in particular, but that of those whom antiquity acknowledged as the greatest masters of wisdom), let him consider that there are many things which are rendered honorable or dishonorable, not by their own nature, but by the causes which give rise to them.”
In my opinion, a perfect orator should always speak with the truth because if one is not honest the truth will eventually come out and people will lose your trust. Unfortunately, sometimes one must lie a minor lie in order to sound appealing to others especially when you have competition. Socrates believed that good rhetoric involves connecting with your audience and having knowledge in what it is you will be speaking about. I agree with him because if you plan on persuading others about something and you are not knowledgeable on that subject, you will look like foolish.
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