Propaganda, Persuasion, Rhetoric, and Argument

Choose four quotes that you like and understand from this document (identify them by number you don't have to write them all out). Choose one of the four quotes from this document to analyze. Don't just pick the first one. You need to find one that you understand and can analyze in depth, using real world or personal examples as support for your views. Be sure to relate what they are saying to what we are talking about in terms of propaganda, persuasion, rhetoric, and argument.

            Four quotes I like: 161, 166, 170, 178

170. Can there be a more horrible object in existence than an eloquent man not speaking the truth. ~THOMAS CARLYLE.

            In this quote Thomas Carlyle is describing a man who is good with rhetoric in persuading people to believe false information. This eloquent man could be The Party in 1984. The Party made up lies every day, and changed history every day. Then, they told the people these lies. These people believed the lies out fear of what would happen to them if they didn’t. The false information presented to the people could easily be believed. The historical documents were changed. The historical pictures were changed. There was nothing for the people to look back to in order to find truth. This eloquence allowed The Party to have the total control they had.  

            Another example of eloquent men not speaking the truth is Santa Claus. Santa does not exist; however, parents do everything in their ability to make their children believe, and they succeed. Now, believe in Santa is not an awful thing, but it does show an example of eloquence. Children all over the world believe in Santa because their parents persuaded the children he exists.

            A horrible example of an eloquent man not speaking the truth is Hitler. He convinced the Nazi’s, and other countries that Jews were evil and that he could created the perfect Aryan race. He convinced some Jews that they were evil, too. To be able to make a group of people believe they are bad and evil takes eloquence. What Hitler did was terrible; approximately 11 million people, not just Jews, died in his reign. His rhetoric abilities had to have been strong to support his largely incorrect opinions.

            One must have rhetoric skills to support their facts and arguement, and facts to support what they are saying. If a person has strong rhetoric abilities, are eloquent, they can persuade many people to believe what every they want to say, whether or not truth is contained.