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Persuasion is achieved by the speaker's personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him credible. We believe good men more fully and more readily than others: this is true generally whatever the question is, and absolutely true where exact certainty is impossible and opinions are divided.
Aristotle
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Persuasion relies heavily on the speaker's character and credibility.

Aristotle highlights the importance of a speaker's character in the art of persuasion. He suggests that audiences are more likely to trust and believe in messages conveyed by individuals they perceive as credible and virtuous. This principle holds particularly true in situations where opinions differ or certainty cannot be established, emphasizing the role of ethical character in influencing others.

Themes

PersuasionCredibilityCharacterSpeechTrust

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote during a public speaking workshop to emphasize the importance of personal integrity.

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