You share an opinion. Someone responds, not by addressing your point, but by dismissing you. “What do you know?” they scoff. That’s an ad hominem attack – Latin for “against the person.” When people can’t counter your ideas, they often go after you instead. But as Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “It is only when they cannot answer your reasons, that they wish to knock you down.” Insults don’t win arguments – they end them. If

Rhetoric isn’t just for debate teams or politicians – it’s for all of us, every day. Whether you’re making a case at work, talking with a friend, or asking for what you need, how you communicate matters. Lee Iacocca once said: “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” Clear, persuasive communication helps ideas land and relationships grow. So next time you speak your mind,

In any disagreement, how we respond matters just as much as what we believe. The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne observed: “He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.” Raising our voices, interrupting, or mocking doesn’t make our argument stronger – it makes it easier to ignore. Poor disagreement erodes relationships and shuts down dialogue. True persuasion comes from reason, not volume. Next time you find yourself in

In any disagreement, we face a choice: do we argue to win, or do we converse to understand? Former President Gerald Ford put it simply: “We can disagree without being disagreeable.” Disagreeing well isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about handling it with respect. It means listening before responding, challenging ideas without attacking people, and seeking clarity rather than victory. Rhetoric isn’t just about persuasion; it’s about dialogue. The ability to disagree well is essential for meaningful

The Roman statesman Cicero once said: “To say the right thing in the right way at the right time is a secret of success.” Words shape our lives. They open doors, forge connections, and inspire action. Yet too often, we speak without strategy—without considering how our words affect others or whether they truly serve our goals. Rhetoric, the art of speaking well, isn’t just for politicians and poets. It’s for anyone who wants to be