登陆注册
5362600000180

第180章

A rhetorician of times past said, that to make little things appear great was his profession. This was a shoemaker, who can make a great shoe for a little foot. --[A saying of Agesilaus.]-- They would in Sparta have sent such a fellow to be whipped for making profession of a tricky and deceitful act; and I fancy that Archidamus, who was king of that country, was a little surprised at the answer of Thucydides, when inquiring of him, which was the better wrestler, Pericles, or he, he replied, that it was hard to affirm; for when I have thrown him, said he, he always persuades the spectators that he had no fall and carries away the prize.--[Quintilian, ii. 15.-- The women who paint, pounce, and plaster up their ruins, filling up their wrinkles and deformities, are less to blame, because it is no great matter whether we see them in their natural complexions; whereas these make it their business to deceive not our sight only but our judgments, and to adulterate and corrupt the very essence of things. The republics that have maintained themselves in a regular and well-modelled government, such as those of Lacedaemon and Crete, had orators in no very great esteem. Aristo wisely defined rhetoric to be "a science to persuade the people;" Socrates and Plato" an art to flatter and deceive." And those who deny it in the general description, verify it throughout in their precepts. The Mohammedans will not suffer their children to be instructed in it, as being useless, and the Athenians, perceiving of how pernicious consequence the practice of it was, it being in their city of universal esteem, ordered the principal part, which is to move the affections, with their exordiums and perorations, to be taken away. 'Tis an engine invented to manage and govern a disorderly and tumultuous rabble, and that never is made use of, but like physic to the sick, in a discomposed state. In those where the vulgar or the ignorant, or both together, have been all-powerful and able to give the law, as in those of Athens, Rhodes, and Rome, and where the public affairs have been in a continual tempest of commotion, to such places have the orators always repaired. And in truth, we shall find few persons in those republics who have pushed their fortunes to any great degree of eminence without the assistance of eloquence.

Pompey, Caesar, Crassus, Lucullus, Lentulus, Metellus, thence took their chiefest spring, to mount to that degree of authority at which they at last arrived, making it of greater use to them than arms, contrary to the opinion of better times; for, L. Volumnius speaking publicly in favour of the election of (Q. Fabius and Pub. Decius, to the consular dignity:

"These are men," said he, "born for war and great in execution; in the combat of the tongue altogether wanting; spirits truly consular. The subtle, eloquent, and learned are only good for the city, to make praetors of, to administer justice."--[Livy, x. 22.]

Eloquence most flourished at Rome when the public affairs were in the worst condition and most disquieted with intestine commotions; as a free and untilled soil bears the worst weeds. By which it should seem that a monarchical government has less need of it than any other: for the stupidity and facility natural to the common people, and that render them subject to be turned and twined and, led by the ears by this charming harmony of words, without weighing or considering the truth and reality of things by the force of reason: this facility, I say, is not easily found in a single person, and it is also more easy by good education and advice to secure him from the impression of this poison. There was never any famous orator known to come out of Persia or Macedon.

同类推荐
  • The Critique of Pure Reason

    The Critique of Pure Reason

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝三元玉京玄都大献经

    太上洞玄灵宝三元玉京玄都大献经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 八关斋经

    八关斋经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • From This World to the Next

    From This World to the Next

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 盂兰盆经疏

    盂兰盆经疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 盗—天

    盗—天

    楚离歌,生于军人世家,人们口中的‘将门虎女’,却偏以考古为名行盗墓之事,秉着见坟就挖,见墓就盗的原则纵横黑白两道,被视为盗墓界的一朵奇葩当神秘的‘楼兰古尸’出世震惊考古盗墓两界众说纷纭之时,她却因一块楼兰漠玉,意外的揭开了悬垂千古的旷世之谜!手握泣血的金色面具,铭刻符咒的沙漠之眼,聆听远古的天籁梵音,再次睁眼,世界已大不同,是意外也好,是宿命也罢,至此,天长水阔,纵身山岳搏风云,离歌一曲震九霄!————“妈的,居然把姐扔乱坟岗,坑都不挖一个,看我不挖你祖坟,盗你灵宝,毁你战家灵脉…”且看一个小小盗墓贼如何在异世混得风生水起人神皆嫉,向世人演绎大道三千,我便是道的传奇神话!========================================================其实,这只是一个女人在异世女扮男装带着小兽盗天窃地四处挖坑寻宝演绎没有最彪悍只有更彪悍无耻便无敌的故事!========================================================【抢劫……】离歌看了眼自己身上的破布衣衫,用枪捅了捅对方的脑袋:“给我把身上值钱的都交出来,衣服给我脱了……”“你、你想干什么……”男子声音轻颤,脑中闪过一连串不好的画面。“别给我墨迹,脱是不脱?小猴子,上!”“你、你别过来,我,我脱……”待对方脱完:“你,把他的衣服扒下来……”……良久之后,看着两具交叠在一起的身躯,小猴子终于感觉到了自家主人的邪恶,与此同时有感而发:“主人,我…我觉得我们当强盗比盗墓更省事。”【盗墓……】“该死的,离歌,你给我滚出来……”吼声震天,地动山摇,鸟惊鼠窜。“师傅你找我,何事?”离歌从洞内探出头,抖了抖身上的灰尘。“你是不是去过后山?”“是。”看着眼前头顶冒烟一脸铁青的师傅,离歌乖乖的点了点头。“祖师爷的坟你也敢挖,墓你也敢盗!你这个逆徒……”灵宝道人看着眼前唯一的徒弟,悔得肠子都青了。“师傅,我这是寻自己的道,盗亦有道,入宝山岂能空手而回!”离歌一脸严肃,振振有词的答道。“你、你、你……我要被你气死了我……”“师傅,挖坑我在行!”……【救人……】离歌看了眼身前这群极其嚣张自诩正道的术师,再看向脚边被人打得吐血两升却依旧惦记着让自己快走自称贫道的家伙,轻轻一叹,蹲下身:
  • 树叶过河

    树叶过河

    划船不用桨一生全靠浪~划船不用桨一生全靠浪~划船不用桨一生全靠浪~划船不用桨一生全靠浪~,测试修改简介是否会生效
  • 快穿之繁花予卿

    快穿之繁花予卿

    “将一世繁花赠予卿”我万万年的人生一丝趣味也无,直到遇见你,我想,我的人生,不会无趣了。何其有幸遇见你,此后,我只属于你。
  • 生死“中介”人

    生死“中介”人

    当今社会,很多职业有“中介”人,房产租赁、银行贷款、汽车代驾、婚姻介绍等,其实都是一种有利益的商业中介人,甲方乙方中间人三者之间存在经济利益,“中介”人从中受益,当事人也得到该得的利益,这是一种新兴职业。可生与死这样的事,也逐渐产生了“中介” 人。有人叫他们“劝捐员”,专业称谓是“器官捐献协调员”。协调员一边要协调病人以及家属捐献器官,另一边,要与医疗评估组织联系评估器官是否可用后,并立即手术取出有效器官,按照分配原则安放到器官衰竭的病人身上。
  • 类证活人书

    类证活人书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 摄大乘论抄

    摄大乘论抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诺贝尔文学奖获奖作家散文精品

    诺贝尔文学奖获奖作家散文精品

    诺贝尔文学奖是世界上对文学作品的最高肯定,是世界各国文化的精髓。 《诺贝尔文学奖获奖作家散文精品》共收录百年来诺贝尔文学奖获奖作家的散文精品70余篇,为所有读者提供一份可供学习、欣赏、借鉴的世界散文经典之作。该书1995年出版过,现经整理后再版。 《诺贝尔文学奖获奖作家散文精品》由毛信德和李孝华担任编著。
  • 木叶之尸魂界抽奖系统

    木叶之尸魂界抽奖系统

    少年获得尸魂界系统穿越到火影世界。“你们这些家伙,把生死当成什么了!动不动就玩什么秽土转生,死了的家伙……统统给我老老实实当死神啊混蛋!”在火影世界建立尸魂界,让生死重回秩序。忍界流传着这样一个名字,斩魄死神——照美岸然。你可能战胜他的刀,但永远不可能战胜他的嘴!“黑绝,你妈炸了!”
  • 穿越万界从斗破苍穹开始

    穿越万界从斗破苍穹开始

    萧阳一苏醒来,突然发现自己穿越了,还变成了小孩,而穿越的地方竟然还是斗破苍穹世界的萧家,想着萧家未来的一大堆强敌,像云岚宗啊还好,魂殿魂族的话,是会死人的甚至是生不如死(萧阳躲在角落瑟瑟发抖Σ(°△°|||)︴)。为了活得好好的,萧阳决定借走萧炎的所有机缘,同时,萧阳觉醒了自己的金手指,万界至高系统……重生斗破苍穹,身怀绝世系统,穿越诸天万界,抢尽主角机缘。让我们一起看看萧阳如何在强者如云的斗气大陆生存呢!目前经历位面:斗破苍穹
  • 你的老婆很傲娇

    你的老婆很傲娇

    俗话说:牙医虐我千百遍,我待牙医如初恋。婚前被牙医虐,她白芷千算万算没算到婚后还要被牙医虐。问白芷婚前怕什么,答:天不怕地不怕,就怕老妈逼相亲。问白芷婚后怕什么,答:天不怕地不怕,就怕腹黑男王臣。第一话,白芷:“你是不是喜欢我?”王臣:“不喜欢。”白芷:“那还好,我也不喜欢你,如果你喜欢我,我会很内疚的。”王臣脸上流过几道黑线。第二话,白芷:“老实交代,上次在你休息室里坐着的漂亮姐姐和你什么关系。”王臣:“没关系。”白芷:“你骗人,我都看见她对你眉来眼去了,还不承认。”王臣:“我的整颗心都被你占的满满的,装不下别人了。”白芷得意的拍了拍他的头,像对小孩一样说:“乖,睡觉吧。”第三话,王臣想要躺床上休息,白芷死活不让。拽着被子占了一大半的地方。“白芷,你又抽什么疯?”掀开被子就躺到里面。“什么味道?”白芷特别尴尬。“我刚刚放了个臭屁。”看着脸越来越黑的王臣,白芷心虚的说:“我都让你先别进来了。”总之白芷自从遇到王医生以后,老虎变成猫。都市,甜宠,总之是一个腹黑牙医与糊涂女作家的故事