For rhetoric, he could not ope His mouth, but out there flew a trope; And when he happen'd to break off I' th' middle of his speech, or cough, H' had hard words,ready to show why, And tell what rules he did it by; Else, when with greatest art he spoke, You'd think he talk'd like other folk, For all a rhetorician's rules Teach nothing but to name his tools.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Butler mocks rhetoricians who learn names of tools but gain no real ability to speak well.
- In plain terms
- Knowing speech rules does not make you speak well.
- What can you take from it?
- Theory without practice is useless.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you know rules or speak well?
- What tools do you actually use?
Another view
Rules can help; this targets rote memorization without application.
More from Samuel Butler
He was in LOGIC a great critic, Profoundly skill'd in analytic; He could distinguish, and divide A hair 'twixt south, and south-west side: On either which he w…
Permalink to quote #3 For he could coin, or counterfeit New words, with little or no wit; Words so debas'd and hard, no stone Was hard enough to touch them on; And when with hasty n…
Permalink to quote #5 When civil fury first grew high, And men fell out, they knew not why; When hard words, jealousies, and fears, Set folks together by the ears, And made them fig…
Permalink to quote #2
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