The Lives and Opinions of Eminent PhilosophersDiogenes Laertius
Philosophy
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Diogenes Laertius
Philosophers, Ancient -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient
LIX. Of rhetoric he speaks of six species. For when orators exhort the
people to make war upon or to form alliances against any one, this
species of oratory is called exhortation. When they persuade the people
not to make war, or to form alliances, but to keep quiet, this kind of
rhetoric is called dissuasion. The third species of rhetoric, is when any
one says that he has been injured by some one else, and impeaches that
person as guilty of many crimes; for this species is called accusation.
The fourth kind of rhetoric is called defence, when a man shows that he
has done no wrong, and that he is not guilty of anything out of the way.
Such a kind of speech they call a defence. The fifth species of rhetoric,
is when any one speaks well of another, and shows him to be virtuous and
honourable; and this kind is called encomium. The sixth species, is when
any one shows that another person is worthless; and this kind is called
blame. So that rhetoric is divided into encomium and blame, exhortation
and dissuasion, accusation and defence.
Speaking correctly is divided under four heads. One, the saying what is
right; one, the saying as much as is right; thirdly, the saying it to the
proper people; and fourthly, the saying it at the proper time. Now as to
the saying what is right, that is the saying what will be advantageous
both to the speaker and to the hearer. The saying as much as is right, is
saying neither more nor less than what is sufficient. The saying it to
the proper people, is supposing one is speaking to one’s elders who are
mistaken in any point, the using expressions proper to be addressed to
those older than one’s self; or, on the other hand, if one is addressing
those younger, then the using language such as is suitable to young
people. The saying it at the proper time, is speaking neither too soon
nor too late; for if one does, one will err and speak improperly.
LX. Beneficence is divided under four heads. For it may be exerted
either in money, or by personal exertion, or by knowledge, or by words.
In money when any one assists those who are in want, so as to put them
at ease with respect to money. And men benefit one another by personal
exertion when they come upon those who are being beaten and assist them.
Again, those who instruct, or heal, or who teach any good thing, benefit
others by their knowledge; and when one person comes down to the court
of justice as an advocate for another, and delivers some speech full of
sense and good feeling in his behalf, that man assists his friend by
words. So that there is one beneficence which is displayed in money,
another in personal exertion, a third by means of knowledge, and the
fourth kind by words.
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