How the Virtue of Eloquence Became a Vice | Brian Snee | TEDxWCC
The speaker argues that while eloquence was historically valued as a civic virtue—requiring a person to be both good and a good communicator—modern society risks rejecting eloquent speakers, making it crucial to embrace the art of speaking well to inspire others toward virtue. The best model for this aspirational civic ideal remains the pairing of moral goodness with articulate communication, as exemplified by historical figures like Abraham Lincoln. The speaker concludes by urging the audience to value clarity and to use their voice to "speak up speak out and don't be afraid to speak well." ## Speakers & Context - Speaker is a communications educator who has been teaching communication to college students for almost 25 years. - Speaker shares Mark Twain's observation: *"there are only two types of speakers those who are nervous and those who are liars."* - Speaker addresses the concept of eloquence, which was historically regarded as a civic virtue, especially in democratic societies. ## Theses & Positions - **The historical ideal:** The ideal citizen, as defined by Quintilian, was someone who was both morally good *and* a good communicator; these two elements were inseparable. - **Modern challenge:** Today, there is a trend where eloquent speakers are rejected and labeled as insincere or dangerous. - **Clarity vs. Eloquence:** Plain speech is not necessarily more honest speech; there is no inherent relationship between eloquence and truthfulness. - **The value of speech:** The ability to use language well (eloquence) is essential because it is the eloquent speaker who inspires others to be virtuous. - **Empowerment through voice:** Finding your voice through public speaking is the prerequisite step before one can effectively "give anything to anyone else." ## Concepts & Definitions - **Eloquence:** Defined as "the ability to speak clearly and sometimes to speak beautifully." - **Civic Virtue:** The historical concept tying moral goodness to the ability to communicate those ideals publicly. - **Ideal citizen:** In a participatory culture, this person must possess both ethical goodness and communicative skill. - **Plain Speech:** Favored not because it is simpler, but because it emphasizes *Clarity* over confusion. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **The process of inspiring virtue:** The mechanism for social improvement relies on the eloquent speaker's ability to motivate others to act morally; *"the eloquent speaker who inspires the rest of us to be virtuous."* - **The role of doubt/flaw:** Mark Twain's hypothetical advice suggests planning mistakes (a stumble or fumble) to make the audience assume the speaker is unscripted and speaking from the heart. ## Named Entities - **Quintilian:** Roman philosopher who tried to define the ideal citizen in the Roman Republic. - **Abraham Lincoln:** Cited for his lyricism when calling people to be the "better angels of our nature." - **Eleanor Roosevelt:** Cited for her metaphor: *"it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."* - **Ronald Reagan:** Cited for his reassurance regarding the Challenger space shuttle disaster victims. - **Mark Twain:** Cited for aphorisms about speech and giving speeches. - **Gettysburg Address:** Mentioned as a model of eloquence. - **I Have a Dream:** Mentioned as a model of eloquence. ## Numbers & Data - Eloquence was valued for more than **2,000 years**. - The speaker has taught communication to college students for almost **25 years**. ## Examples & Cases - **Lincoln:** Loved in his day for his lyricism when advocating for people to be the "better angels of our nature." - **Roosevelt's metaphor:** *"it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."* - **Reagan's reassurance:** Regarding the Challenger victims who "slipped this early bonds of Earth to touch the face of God." - **The lobstermen documentary analogy:** (Used in the preamble example, but not in this transcript body, so it is omitted as unsupported). - **Mark Twain's advice:** If capable of the perfect speech, *don't give it* because the audience will suspect it; instead, plan mistakes. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The speaker notes that many people today disagree with the idea that eloquence is necessary for virtue. - It is possible to lie with big words or small ones, or complex or simple sentences, implying eloquence is not inherently linked to honesty. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - The ideal citizen must be both good *and* a good communicator. - Society should aspire to the eloquence modeled by major historical speeches (like Lincoln's Gettysburg Address). - The core advice is to actively use one's voice: "when you have the opportunity to do so speak up speak out and don't be afraid to speak well." ## Verbatim Moments - *"there are only two types of speakers those who are nervous and those who are liars"* (Mark Twain quote). - *"eloquence is the ability to speak clearly and sometimes to speak beautifully"* - *"the good man speaking well"* (Quintilian's formulation). - *"being good wasn't enough... you needed to be able to share that goodness"* - *"it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness"* (Eleanor Roosevelt metaphor). - *"plain speech is not necessarily more honest speech"* - *"the right word may be effective but no word has ever been as effective as the rightly timed pause"* (Mark Twain quote). - *"we cannot in my opinion reject the virtue of eloquence precisely because it is the eloquent speaker who inspires the rest of us to be virtuous"* - *"speak up speak out and don't be afraid to speak well"*