Cicero, Orations Vol. 1

Wherefore, since eloquence consists of these things, which some can attain through a man’s greatest genius with the highest industry and labor, while others—if they have not been bestowed by nature—we cannot forge for ourselves by any method, nothing should be considered more difficult than the praise of speaking, and nothing rarer to be found than a perfect orator. But the more difficulties there are proposed for this glory, the more it behooves everyone to strive so that they may attain it; and if anyone has attained it, he should be considered more admirable and, as it were, a certain god among men. For what among all human things approaches more closely to the power of the gods than being able to injure enemies when you wish, to be of help to friends, to bring opponents around to your own opinion, and to confirm, console, or exhort those who agree; and to drive those you wish, even against their will, to pity, to hatred, or to any movement of the soul whatsoever? These are, of course, the things which men judge not to be accomplished by human force, but to be something divine. And in this matter, there are those who admire the Greeks most of all, and place them far above the talents of our own people. And indeed, since it happened no less in every other kind of study, Greece always abounded in a wealth of the greatest orators. Although we read that there were many among the Romans who were most powerful in speaking, who attained everything through eloquence, yet many of these left nothing at all committed to writing; and of those