8/31/18
Quintilian, and J.S. Watson. Institutes of Oratory. Edited by Lee Honeycutt, 2010. Kindle Electronic Edition. Book 12 Chapter 5.
Quintilian sums up the tools of the orator in XII.5. He compares them more to weapons of war than to an artist’s tools (Quintilian XII.5.1). But above all, the orator needs a steady mind. He cannot afford to be distracted (Quintilian XII.5.2). The message needs to be communicated clearly and without flinching (Quintilian XII.5.3). The orator who is utterly confident in his art and who also has a naturally good ability will be outstanding (Quintilian XII.5.6).