Episode 52 - Quintilian's Handbook: Crafting the Citizen-Orator

We open the definitive handbook on the education of a great speaker: Quintilian’s Institutio Oratoria. Published around 95 CE, this comprehensive text emphasizes that the ultimate goal of rhetoric is to cultivate a moral purpose. Quintilian argued that an orator’s skill must be matched by their virtue. This episode explores his vision of the "citizen-orator," a person who uses the power of speech for the betterment of society.

This deep dive unpacks Quintilian's detailed curriculum for life, from the development of character to the mastery of style. We examine why he believed that a good person speaking well was the ultimate ideal. His teachings provide a powerful counterpoint to the idea of persuasion as a tool for personal gain. Instead, he presents a vision of communication as a form of civic duty and ethical responsibility.

This is more than a lesson in public speaking; it’s an exploration of how to live a life of principle and impact. We reveal how Quintilian’s ancient wisdom can guide us in becoming more effective and ethical communicators today.