you may give the prominent place to ideas you wish to emphasize.

 

"But," says someone, "is it not more honest to depend the inherent interest in a

subject, its native truth, clearness and sincerity of presentation, and beauty

of utterance, to win your audience? Why not charm men instead of capturing them

by assault?"

 

_Why Use Force?_

 

There is much truth in such an appeal, but not all the truth. Clearness,

persuasion, beauty, simple statement of truth, are all essential--indeed, they

are all definite parts of a forceful presentment of a subject, without being the

only parts. Strong meat may not be as attractive as ices, but all depends on the

appetite and the stage of the meal.

 

You can not deliver an aggressive message with caressing little strokes. No! Jab

it in with hard, swift solar plexus punches. You cannot strike fire from flint

or from an audience with love taps. Say to a crowded theatre in a lackadaisical

manner: "It seems to me that the house is on fire," and your announcement may be

greeted with a laugh. If you flash out the words: "The house's on fire!" they

will crush one another in getting to the exits.

 

The spirit and the language of force are definite with conviction. No immortal

speech in literature contains such expressions as "it seems to me," "I should

judge," "in my opinion," "I suppose," "perhaps it is true." The speeches that