Rhetoric is not neutral

Rhetoric is not neutral. It never has been. Martin Luther King and Adolf Hitler. Two masters of rhetoric. Two completely different human beings. Every speech, every presentation, every strategic message carries a moral charge, whether we acknowledge it or not. When rhetoric is joined to ethics, it can persuade, inspire and motivate. It builds trust. […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 302) – Martin Luther King Jr.

“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” Martin Luther King Jr.
50th Anniversary of the Death of Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, 4 April 2018, marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. He was assassinated on 4 April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 39 years old. On 3 April 1968, the day before his assassination, King delivered his final speech, entitled I Have Been to the Mountaintop. The entire speech is […]
Celebrating Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"

On 28 August 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most famous speeches in history, I Have a Dream. I write this post on the 53rd anniversary of that momentous occasion. Recently, I was in Washington to deliver a talk at a convention. While there, […]
Rhetorical Devices: Antithesis

This post is part of a series on rhetoric and rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link. For a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of how to write a speech outline, please see this post. Device: Antithesis Origin: From the Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning “against” and θέσις (thesis) meaning “position”. In plain English: Contrasting two […]
Rhetorical Devices: Metaphor

This post is part of a series on rhetoric and rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link. For a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of how to write a speech outline, please see this post. Device: Metaphor Origin: From the Greek μεταφορά (metaphora), meaning “transfer”. In plain English: Comparing two things (that are often […]
Rhetorical Devices: Diacope

This post is part of a series on rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link. For a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of how to write a speech outline, please see this post. Device: Diacope Origin: From the Greek διακοπή (thiakhopi), meaning “cut in two”. In plain English: Repetition of a word or […]
Rhetorical Devices: Erotema

This post is part of a series on rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link. For a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of how to write a speech outline, please see this post. Device: Erotema Origin: From the Greek ερωτημα (erotema), meaning “question”. In plain English: A question that is asked without […]
Rhetorical Devices: Hypophora

This post is part of a series on rhetoric and rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link. For a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of how to write a speech outline, please see this post. Device: Hypophora Origin: From the Greek ὑπόϕορά (hypofora), meaning “carrying under” or “putting under”. In plain English: Asking […]
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