True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Honesty is one part of eloquence. We persuade others by being in earnest ourselves.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Eloquence is vehement simplicity.
—Richard Cecil
You have such strong words at command, that they make the smallest argument seem formidable.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The finest eloquence is that which gets things done; the worst is that which delays them.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945) British Liberal Statesman
If any thing I have ever said or written deserves the feeblest encomiums of my fellow countrymen, I have no hesitation in declaring that for their partiality I am indebted, solely indebted, to the daily and attentive perusal of the Sacred Scriptures, the source of all true poetry and eloquence, as well as of all good and all comfort.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
To acquire immunity to eloquence is of the utmost importance to the citizens of a democracy.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Eloquence is logic on fire.
—Lyman Beecher (1775–1863) American Presbyterian Clergyman
There is not less eloquence in the voice, the eye, the gesture, than in words.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Eloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the desires and affections, captivating the willing hearers, and subduing their understanding.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Eloquence is relative.—One can no more pronounce on the eloquence of any composition, than on the wholesomeness of a medicine without knowing for whom it is intended.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
Eloquence is in the assembly, not merely in the speaker.
—William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806) British Prime Minister
There is no eloquence without a man behind it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Brevity is a great charm of eloquence.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Great is the power of eloquence; but never is it so great as when it pleads along with nature, and the culprit is a child strayed from his duty, and returned to it again with tears.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
The truest eloquence is that which holds us too mute for applause.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
True eloquence does not consist in speech.—It cannot be brought from far.—Labor and learning may toil for it in vain.—Words and phrases may be marshalled in every way, but they cannot compass it.—It must consist in the man, in the subject, and in the occasion.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Today it is not the classroom nor the classics which are the repositories of models of eloquence, but the ad agencies.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
In an easy matter. Anybody can be eloquent.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
They are eloquent who can speak low things acutely, and of great things with dignity, and of moderate things with temper.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
The pleasure of eloquence is, in greatest part, owing often to the stimulus of the occasion which produces it—to the magic of sympathy which exalts the feeling of each, by radiating on him the feeling of all.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
True eloquence consists in saying all that is proper, and nothing more.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
It is of eloquence as of a flame; it requires matter to feed it, and motion to excite it; and it brightens as it burns.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Talking and eloquence are not the same.—To speak and to speak well are two things.—A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
There is no more sovereign eloquence than the truth in indignation.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
He talked on for ever; and you wished him to talk on for ever.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Action is eloquence; the eyes of the ignorant are more learned than their ears.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Eloquence is the transference of thought and emotion from one heart to another, no matter how it is done.
—John Bartholomew Gough (1817–86) Anglo-American Temperance Orator
The manner of speaking is full as important as the matter, as more people have ears to be tickled than understandings to judge.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
When a man gets talking about himself, he seldom fails to be eloquent and often reaches the sublime.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
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