Roman Oratory: Cicero and Quintilian on Public Speaking

The Evolution of Roman Oratory

Introduction to Public Speaking in Rome

Oratory, the art of public speaking, requires a political system that respects freedom of expression. During the Republic, therefore, the speech was held in high esteem. In contrast, under the Empire, freedom of speech was curtailed, and oratory lost its political importance, being taught only theoretically in the schools of rhetoric.

Republican Oratory: The Age of Cicero

With Cicero, oratory reached its highest elevation, both practically and theoretically. Living during the final years of the Republic, his abilities allowed him to reach the highest magistracies. He left us perfect speeches in which the Latin language displayed all its splendor and purity.

Cicero's Rhetorical Philosophy and Works

Cicero believed that the perfect orator required a combination of three factors: innate natural disposition, culture, and extensive technical knowledge of speech, used to please, to move, and to persuade.

He wrote a large number of speeches, including:

• The Verrines (against Verres, the governor accused of embezzlement).
• The Catiline Orations (in which he denounced the conspiracy of Catiline).
• The Philippics (against Mark Antony).

In addition, he wrote speeches for the defense of private citizens (such as Pro Archia Poeta) and a series of treatises on rhetoric:

• Brutus
• De Oratore
• Orator

His speeches highlighted a concern for the purity of language and imparted symmetry and rhythm to the sentence to better preserve the audience's attention. Cicero was considered the prince of Latin literature. As a speaker, he utilized all the resources of his talent to please, move, and persuade, often employing dramatic or ironic tones for the occasion. As a writer, his speeches possess amazing literary value and have trained humanists throughout history.

Imperial Oratory: The Influence of Quintilian

With the Empire, political rights and freedom of expression were abolished. Oratory receded and took refuge in the rhetorical schools, becoming an art without any actual practical projection. In these schools, students underwent two types of exercises:

• The Controversiae (simulated court proceedings).
• The Suasoriae (simulated advice given to a famous historical or mythological figure).

Quintilian's Struggle Against Decline

The Hispanic Quintilian struggled against the decline of Roman oratory. He blamed the degeneration on the neglect of the classics, especially Cicero, and called for a broad general education. He insisted that the exercises in rhetorical schools should be based in reality, contrary to the trend of discussing issues that were totally foreign and unreal.

Quintilian's originality lies in the fact that he did not separate morality from eloquence; for him, a good speaker must also be an honest man.