A FOREWORD
The efficiency of a book is like that of a man,
In one important respect: its attitude toward its subject is the
First source of its power.
A book may be full of good ideas well
Expressed, but if its writer views his subject
From the wrong angle even his
Excellent advice may prove to be ineffective.
This book stands or falls by its authors' attitude toward
Its subject. If the best way to teach oneself or others to
Speak effectively in public is to fill the mind with
Rules, and to set up fixed standards for the interpretation of
Thought, the utterance of language,
The making of gestures,
And all the rest, then this book will be limited in
Value to such stray ideas throughout its pages as may
Prove helpful to the reader−−as an effort to enforce a
Group of principles it must be
Reckoned a failure, because it is then untrue.
It is of some importance, therefore,
To those who take up this volume with open mind that they should see
Clearly at the out−start what is the thought that at once
Underlies and is builded through this structure. In plain
Words it is this:
Training in public speaking is not a matter
Of externals−−primarily; it is not a matter of
Imitation−−fundamentally;
It is not a matter of conformity to
Standards−−at all. Public speaking is public
Utterance, public issuance, of the man himself;
Therefore the first thing both in time and in importance is that
The man should be and think and feel things that are
Worthy of being given forth. Unless there be something of
Value within, no tricks of training can ever make of
The talker anything more than a machine−−albeit a highly
Perfected machine−−for the delivery of other men's
Goods. So self−development is fundamental in our plan.
The second principle lies close to the first:
The man must enthrone his will to rule over his thought, his
Feelings, and all his physical powers,
So that the outer self may give perfect, unhampered expression to the
Inner. It is futile, we assert,
To lay down systems of rules for voice
Culture, intonation, gesture, and what not,
Unless these two principles of having something to
Say and making the will sovereign have at least begun to
Make themselves felt in the life.
The third principle will, we surmise,
Arouse no dispute: No one can learn how to speak who does not first
Speak as best he can.
That may seem like a vicious circle in
Statement, but it will bear examination.
Many teachers have begun with the how. Vain effort!
It is an ancient truism that we learn to do by doing. The
First thing for the beginner in public speaking is to
Speak−−not to study voice and gesture and the rest. Once
He has spoken he can improve himself by
Self−observation or according to the criticisms of those who hear.
But how shall he be able to criticise himself?
Simply by finding out three things: What are the qualities which
By common consent go to make up an effective
Speaker; by what means at least some of these qualities may
Be acquired; and what wrong habits of speech in
Himself work against his acquiring and using the qualities
Which he finds to be good.
Experience, then, is not only the best teacher,
But the first and the last. But experience must be a dual
Thing−−the experience of others must be used to
Supplement, correct and justify our own experience; in this
Way we shall become our own best critics only
After we have trained ourselves in self−knowledge, the
Knowledge of what other minds think,
And in the ability to judge
Ourselves by the standards we have come to
Believe are right. "If I ought," said Kant, "I can."
An examination of the contents of this volume will
Show how consistently these articles of faith have been
Declared, expounded, and illustrated.
The student is urged to begin to speak at once of what he knows. Then
He is given simple suggestions for self−control,
With gradually increasing emphasis upon the power of the
Inner man over the outer. Next,
The way to the rich storehouses of
Material is pointed out. And finally, all the
The Art of Public Speaking
The Art of Public Speaking