Quintilian's Institutes of Oratory

Index to Book 11

Chapter 1

Of speaking with propriety; in different causes, § 1-5. In different parts of the same cause, 6, 7. The orator's chief consideration is, what is becoming, 8-11. What is becoming is generally found in union with what is expedient, 12-14. Vanity and self-applause always unbecoming in an orator, 15-17. Whether Cicero is chargeable with this fault, 18-24. But an orator may sometimes express confidence, 25, 26. Yet not so as to declare that his judgment must be infallible, 27, 28. Other faults in orators noticed, 29, 30. Different kinds of orator are suited to different speakers, 31-38. An orator should also adapt his style to the characters of those for whom he pleads, 39-42. He must also vary it to suit those to whom he addresses himself, 43-45. He must also have regard to time and place, 46-48. To the nature of the cause, 49-56. To the characters of those to whom he is opposed, 57-67. How he may sometimes avoid offending those against whom he speaks, 68-74. How the judge may be conciliated, 75-77. How an orator may notice points in which he is conscious that he himself, or his party, is vulnerable, 78-83. How he may touch on delicate subjects, 84. How he may soften his language in an attack on any one, 85-90. Excess in every respect to be avoided, 91. Different kinds of oratory find favor with different audiences, 92, 93.

Chapter 2

Of the memory; necessity of cultivating it, § 1-3. Its nature, and remarkable powers, 4-10. Simonides was the first that taught an art of memory, 11-16. What method of assisting the memory has been tried by orators, 17-23. Its insufficiency for fixing a written or premeditated speech in the mind, 24-26. A more simple method recommended, 27-39. The greatest of all aids to the memory is exercise, 40-43. Whether an orator should write his speeches, and learn them by heart word for word, 44-49. Remarkable examples of power of memory, 50, 51.

Chapter 3

Of delivery; the effect of it, and qualifications necessary to excellence in it, § 1-9. Some have asserted that the study of delivery is useless, 10-13. Of the voice, its natural excellences and defects, 14-18. Care that should be taken of the voice, 19-23. Exercise of it necessary, 24-29. Of pronunciation and delivery; pronunciation should be clear, 30-34. Distinct, 35-39. Graceful and agreeable, 40-42. Of equality and variety in the tone of the voice, 43-52. Of the management of the breath, 53-56. Of falling into a singing tone, 57-60. Of appropriate pronunciation and delivery, 61-64. Of gesture, 65-68. Of decorum, 69-71. Of the countenance, 72-81. Of the management of other parts of the body, 82-87. Of imitation; must not be in excess, 88-91. Of certain common gestures and attitudes of the hands and fingers, 92-116. Of faulty and unbecoming gestures, 117-130. Of habits in which many speakers indulge, 131-136. Of dress, and the management of the toga, 137-149. An orator must adapt his delivery to his subject, and to the characters of those before whom he speaks; various remarks on decorum in speaking, 150-176. But everything cannot be taught, and an orator must consult his own powers and qualifications, 177-184.


Lee Honeycutt (honeycuttlee@gmail.com) Last modified:5/21/2004