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The Whole Truth
101. Gesticulation
At Mr. Thrale's, in the evening, he
repeated his usual
paradoxical declamation against action in publick speaking.
Johnson: "Action can have no effect upon reasonable
minds. It may augment noise, but it never can enforce argument.
If you speak to a dog, you use action; you hold up your hand
thus, because he is a brute; and in proportion as men are
removed from brutes, action will have the less influence on
them.:
Boswell: Life
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1,830. Communication;
Gesticulation
"It is a complaint which has been made from time to time, and
which seems to have lately become mroe frequent, that English
oratory, however forcible in argument, or elegant in expression,
is deficient and inefficacious, because our speakers want the
grace and energy of action."
Johnson: Idler #90 (January 5, 1760)
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1,831. Communication;
Gesticulation
"If I could once find a speaker in Change Alley raising the price
of stocks by the power of persuasive gestures, I should very
zealously recommend the study of his art; but having never seen
any action by which language was much assisted, I have been
hitherto inclined to doubt whether my countrymen are not blamed
too hastily for their calm and motionless utterance."
Johnson: Idler #90 (January 5, 1760)
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1,833. Communication;
Gesticulation
"When the Frenchman waves his hands and writhes his body in
recoun ting the revolutions of a game at cards, or the
Neopolitan, who tells the hour of the day, shews upon his fingers
the number which he mentions, I do not perceive that their manual
exercise is of much use, or that they leave any image more deeply
impressed by their bustle and vehemence of communication."
Johnson: Idler #90 (January 5, 1760)
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1,834. Communication;
Gesticulation
"Upon men intent only upon truth, the arm of an orator has little
power; a credible testimony, or a cogent argument, will overcome
all the art of modulation, and all the violence of
contortion."
Johnson: Idler #90 (January 5, 1760)
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