KNOWLEDGE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE

Knowledge of the civil law will, likewise, be necessary for the orator

whom we have described, and together with it knowledge of the customs

and religion of the commonwealth of which he may take charge, for how

shall he be able to give counsel in public and private deliberations if

ignorant of the many things which happen together particularly to the

establishment of the State? And must he not falsely aver himself to be

the patron of the causes he undertakes, if obliged to borrow from

another what is of greatest consequence in these causes, in some measure

like those who repeat the writings of poets? And how will he accomplish

what he has so undertaken if the things which he requires the judge to

believe, he shall speak on the faith of another, and if he, the reputed

helper of his clients, shall himself stand in need of the help of

another?

The Training of a Public Speaker · 第 90 / 109 题