Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak.
Interpretation
What this quote means
When arguments are weak, speakers tend to be more passionate to compensate.
Cicero's quote suggests that orators or speakers often exhibit greater fervor and intensity in their delivery when the strength of their argument is lacking. This is indicative of a common human tendency to overcompensate for deficiencies in reasoning or evidence, often attempting to persuade through emotion rather than logical clarity. It serves as a reminder to critically evaluate the substance of what is being said rather than being swayed by passionate rhetoric alone.
Themes
OratoryDebatePersuasionRhetoricPower
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate club meeting when discussing the nature of arguments.
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