time to gather her reserve forces, and when the tree or the well is reopened, a

stronger flow is the result.

 

Use the same common sense with your mind. If you would make a thought

particularly effective, pause just before its utterance, concentrate your

mind-energies, and then give it expression with renewed vigor. Carlyle was

right: "Speak not, I passionately entreat thee, till thy thought has silently

matured itself. Out of silence comes thy strength. Speech is silvern, Silence is

golden; Speech is human, Silence is divine."

 

Silence has been called the father of speech. It should be. Too many of our

public speeches have no fathers. They ramble along without pause or break. Like

Tennyson's brook, they run on forever. Listen to little children, the policeman

on the corner, the family conversation around the table, and see how many pauses

they naturally use, for they are unconscious of effects. When we get before an

audience, we throw most of our natural methods of expression to the wind, and

strive after artificial effects. Get back to the methods of nature--and pause.

 

_2. Pause Prepares the Mind of the Auditor to Receive Your Message_

 

Herbert Spencer said that all the universe is in motion. So it is--and all

perfect motion is rhythm. Part of rhythm is rest. Rest follows activity all

through nature. Instances: day and night; spring--summer--autumn--winter; a

period of rest between breaths; an instant of complete rest between heart beats.

Pause, and give the attention-powers of your audience a rest. What you say after