Life is not so simple, it’s complex of many elements, where
each of those plays its own role. Good speakers and outstanding speeches
are not simple as well. I’ve heard a lot of good speakers, everyone from that
category has his or her strong and weak sides. Nevertheless, none of good
speaker is just an only things, either ethos, or pathos, or even logos. There
is one person in my mind whom I think about as a speaker who deserves any kind
of admiration. From my perspective good speaker becomes good when his speech is
logically correct, emotionally motivated and weighty due speaker’s personality.
It is just impossible to be a good speaker and operate with only one of
those elements. Here is why.
Every speech persuades particular goal, which is to do or not
to do a certain kind of deed. Emotions can’t be the only key to successful in
speech, because feeling come and go, but any accomplishment requires
persistence.
Emotions, which Aristotle refers to as pathos, are like a primer cap that starts fire of passion and get challenge to be triumphed over. However, if challenge that speaker offers to his listeners is tough and acceptance of the call requires making a step, there should be convenient element, which usually is logic or logos.
Logic or development of idea requires preparation, education, and research. All
of those elements could easily sink your message in boring facts, and lifeless
arguments.
Nevertheless, we can’t reject that many prospective speakers buried
themselves by acting opposite to what they tried to teach. That’s where ethos
or trustworthiness of the speaker takes first place. Even though the best
person of the world gives a speech, but the one that has nothing in common with
logic and emotions, his speech will not reach its goal and people will go
without experiencing any changes in their life. Audience’s heart will stay
untouched. I really think that a good speaker should follow logic, call for
emotions, and be ready to say “I’m what I teach”. I find all three
elements every time while listening to my favorite speaker. That’s why I really
doubt that I would mention him as outstanding speaker if his speeches lack any
of those elements. I always keep in mind and applying those elements to
persuade other. In case I intentionally or not miss any of those element I find
it challenging to convince anyone listen to me. Once I left a job, which was in
car sales, because my own expectation of products quality didn’t match what I
saw and had to sell. I really think that to persuade someone you need to
believe in it on your side.
