[42]
The same points have to be observed with respect
to those for whom we plead: for our tone will vary
with the character of our client, according as he is
distinguished, or of humble position, popular or the
reverse, while we must also take into account the
differences in their principles and their past life.
As regards the orator himself, the qualities which
will most commend him are courtesy, kindliness,
moderation and benevolence. But, on the other
hand, the opposite of these qualities will sometimes
be becoming to a good man. He may hate the bad,
be moved to passion in the public interest, seek to
avenge crime and wrong, and, in fine, as I said at
the beginning,1 may follow the promptings of every
honourable emotion.
1 See ยง 14.
Quintilian. With An English Translation. Harold Edgeworth Butler. Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1922.
The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.
An XML version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer Perseus any modifications you make. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system.