Eloquence

But I am at a loss to know how to proceed with the rest of my speech—what topic to take up first and what next;

But as I observed not only the intolerant feeling toward the teaching of eloquence on the part of those who are churlish toward everyone, but the truculent attitude towards it on the part of my fellow-citizens in general, I began to be afraid that the truth regarding me personally might be overlooked and that I might suffer some harm from the common prejudice against the sophists.

“For they see most of the sophists, excepting those who have embraced your life and ways, showing off their oratory in the public assemblies or in private gatherings, contesting against each other, making extravagant professions, disputing, reviling each other, omitting nothing in the language of abuse, but in effect damaging their own cause and giving license to their auditors, now to ridicule wh …

O Muses, and eloquence, and Athens!

Libanius to Basil Every bishop is a thing hard to angle for;

for, with Basil praising me, I hold the prize of victory over all.

and, generally speaking, there is no institution devised by man which the power of speech has not helped us to establish.

for the same arguments which we use in persuading others when we speak in public, we employ also when we deliberate in our own thoughts;

however, I regard those as the best and most worthy of a king, and most appropriate to me, which give directions on good morals and good government;