English Composition and Rhetoric Quotes

“Terror is a powerful agent in overcoming the contumacious and self willed disposition, and is made use of in government, in religion, and in education.

The passion may be excited by the mere prospect of great suffering, but still more effectually by unknown dangers, uncertainties, and vast possibilities of evil, in matters keenly felt by the hearers.

The approach of unexperienced calamities is out to engender panic. Under a plague or epidemic people may be easily frightened into measures that in cool moments they would repudiate.

The sick and the depressed can readily be inspired with religious and moral terrors. History furnishes many examples of political oratory succeeding through the excitement of terror.”
― Alexander Bain, English Composition and Rhetoric