Michael Eric Dyson

Obviously, Jay-Z is one of the greatest entertainers of the world today. Not only is he a remarkable rhetorical genius, he's also a man of deep sympathy and empathy for those who are lost and vulnerable, but especially under-educated youth of all cultures and stripes.

American Author

Leo Ornstein

Now, there are sometimes making a connection between one section and another that sometimes you do want to see the pattern because it helps you to lead into the next thing - it's a rhetorical thing, where you just see how the pattern has to go into the next thing.

American Composer

Gary Bauer

If one is going to change the definition of marriage to be, quote, 'same sex,' then there is absolutely no valid argument constitutionally or rhetorically you can make against multiple people getting married. These are radical social changes.

American Public Servant

Meghan Daum

In the world of opinion writing, there's something called the 'to be sure' paragraph. A sort of rhetorical antibiotic, it seeks to defend against critics by injecting a tiny bit of counter-argument before moving on with the main point.

James Redfield

I grew up in a little Methodist church that was very rural, very community support-oriented, made up of great people who talked about love and grace and the spiritual experience, but only in rhetorical terms.

P. J. O'Rourke

Abstract anger is great for rhetorical carrying on. You can go on endlessly about the post office, but it doesn't mean you're mad at your mailman.

American Comedian

Hugh Sidey

The problems seem so easy out there on the stump. Deficits shrink with a rhetorical flourish.

American Journalist

Mario Cuomo

There's something about rhetorical violence that is ugly and worrying.

American Politician

Mark Udall

Genuine dialogue, not rhetorical bomb-throwing, leads to progress.

Clifford Geertz

Meaning is socially, historically, and rhetorically constructed.

American Scientist

Emphasizes the strength of words to convince or motivate listeners in speeches.

Public Speech Influence

Focuses on delivery style just as much as the message itself.

Not Just Content

Aims to persuade rather than to inform, prioritizing effect over clarity.

Persuasion Over Information

Used to emphasize a point strongly, rather than to get an answer.

Emphasis Technique

Signals the speaker doesn't expect a response—understand it's rhetorical.

Expect No Answer

Used to provoke thought or introduce a topic in conversation.

Conversational Tool

Enhances writing with creativity, using language imaginatively.

Creative Expression

Something is rhetorical when it's not meant to be interpreted at face value.

Not Literal

Often paired with metaphors and similes for a dramatic effect.

Stylistic Device

 pay-as-you-go is one of the most dominant forces of economic activity in the world. So I'm going to talk about innovation in Africa, which I think is the purest form, innovation out of necessity. But first, I'm going to ask you some other questions. You don't have to put your hands up. These are rhetorical.

Toby Shapshak: You don't...

 And I say this rhetorically, because of course by just about any standard we would have to concede that this is, of course, a piece of music, but I put this here now because, just to set it in your brains for the moment, because we're going to return to this question. It's going to be a kind of a refrain

The mad scientist of...

 All of these concepts, as rhetorically florid as they are, share this basic assumption, which is that an idea is a single thing. It's something that happens often in a wonderful, illuminating moment. But, in fact, what I would argue and what you really need to begin with

Where good ideas come...

 justice, equality, freedom, dignity, prosperity -- but the path we've chosen looks so much like the one I walked away from four years ago. We've broken the world into us and them, only emerging from our bunkers long enough to lob rhetorical grenades at the other camp.

I grew up in the...

 to tell the world what was afoot the secretary-general made the occasional reference in speeches but mostly his conduct mirrored his approach to all other issues involving women and enfeebled rhetorical moment followed by virtually no implementation whatsoever

Advocating for gender...

 But this claim is a rhetorical trap hidden behind a political bias. See, some have decided a priori what kinds of changes they want to see, and only such changes can be called political reform. The truth is, political reforms have never stopped.

Eric X. Li: A tale of...

 and rhetorical power than I can tell it better and spread it further. It goes something like this. We are born into a pitiless universe, facing steep odds against life-enabling order and in constant jeopardy of falling apart.

Is the world getting...

 Anything that distracts you is going to kick you out of flow and prevent you from having fun. And what's the number one source of distraction for most of us, these days? Oh, thank you. It was rhetorical, but yes, your phones.

Why Having Fun Is the...

 And finally, you can demonstrate disinterest, or that you're not motivated by personal gain. Logos is the use of logic and reason. This method can employ rhetorical devices such as analogies, examples,

How to use rhetoric to...

 Avoid starting with famous quotations, dictionary definitions or rhetorical questions. Consider the historical context of your topic, or an anecdote or some larger idea or concept.

Rhetorical