Institutio Oratoria

Quintilian

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria, Volume 1-4. Butler, Harold Edgeworth, translator. Cambridge, Mass; London: Harvard University Press, William Heinemann Ltd., 1920-1922.

Rutilius also in addition to the figures found in other authors adds, παρομολογία [*]( The advancement of some stronger argument after the concession of some other point to our adversary. ) ἀναγκαῖον [*](See IX. ii. 106.) ἠθοποιΐα [*](See IX. ii. 58.)

v7-9 p.505

δικαιολογία, [*]( The statement of the justice of our cause in the briefest possible form. ) πρόληψις, [*](See IX. ii. 16.) χαρακτηρισμός [*](Description of character or manners.) βραχυλογία, [*](See IX. iii. 50.) παρασιώπησις [*]( The statement that we refrain from saying something, though making it perfectly clear what it is. ) παῤῥησία [*](Freedom of speech.) of which I say the same. I will pass by those authors who set no limit to their craze for inventing technical terms and even include among figures what really comes under the head of arguments.

With regard to genuine figures, I would briefly add that, while, suitably placed, they are a real ornament to style, they become perfectly fatuous when sought after overmuch. There are some who pay no consideration to the weight of their matter or the force of their thoughts and think themselves supreme artists, if only they succeed in forcing even the emptiest of words into figurative form, with the result that they are never tired of stringing figures together, despite the fact that it is as ridiculous to hunt for figures without reference to the matter as it is to discuss dress and gesture without reference to the body.