spite of stumbling--but never because of it.

 

On the other hand, one of the most important means of developing power in public

speaking is to pause either before or after, or both before and after, an

important word or phrase. No one who would be a forceful speaker can afford to

neglect this principle--one of the most significant that has ever been inferred

from listening to great orators. Study this potential device until you have

absorbed and assimilated it.

 

It would seem that this principle of rhetorical pause ought to be easily grasped

and applied, but a long experience in training both college men and maturer

speakers has demonstrated that the device is no more readily understood by the

average man when it is first explained to him than if it were spoken in

Hindoostani. Perhaps this is because we do not eagerly devour the fruit of

experience when it is impressively set before us on the platter of authority; we

like to pluck fruit for ourselves--it not only tastes better, but we never

forget that tree! Fortunately, this is no difficult task, in this instance, for

the trees stand thick all about us.

 

One man is pleading the cause of another:

 

"This man, my friends, has made this wonderful sacrifice--for you and me."

 

Did not the pause surprisingly enhance the power of this statement? See how he

gathered up reserve force and impressiveness to deliver the words "for you and