Grenville Kleiser

Grenville Kleiser – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Discover the life and writings of Grenville Kleiser (1868–1953), a North American author and specialist in public speaking. Explore his biography, works, philosophy, and notable quotes to inspire your own voice.

Introduction

Grenville Kleiser (1868–1953) was an influential author, teacher, and lecturer whose works centered on public speaking, self-improvement, eloquence, and effective communication. He believed that speaking well is a craft to be cultivated daily, and his numerous books, guides, and compilations have remained resources for orators, students, and professionals seeking clarity and confidence in expression.

Early Life, Family & Background

Kleiser was born in 1868 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In 1894, he married Elizabeth Thompson. August 27, 1953 in New York City.

Though detailed accounts of his childhood and formal education are limited in public records, his professional affiliations suggest strong grounding in rhetoric, literature, and oratory traditions.

Career & Major Works

Instructor and Public Speaking

Kleiser served as an instructor in Public Speaking at Yale Divinity School, Yale University, training ministers, students, and public speakers. His role there reflected the intersection of oratory, moral persuasion, and public address.

Much of his later literary work appears aimed at bridging theory and application—making public speaking, effective conversation, and persuasive speech accessible to a wider audience.

Prolific Author & or

Kleiser’s bibliography is extensive. He wrote, compiled, and edited numerous books on speech, expression, vocabulary, and inspiration. Some highlights include:

• How to Speak in Public (1906)

• Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience (1908)

• Kleiser's Complete Guide to Public Speaking (1915)

• Talks on Talking (1916)

• The Training of a Public Speaker (1920)

• Model Speeches for Practise (1920)

• Something to Say: And How to Say It (1920)

• Word Power: How to Develop It (1920)

• Make Your Life Worth Living (later work)

• Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases (as a practical handbook of expressions)

He also edited collections such as The World’s Great Sermons (multiple volumes)

His collected works ranged from practical “how-to” manuals to compilations and exercises in phraseology, oratory, and public address.

Philosophy & Approach

Kleiser’s core belief was that eloquence is not an innate gift but a skill to be learned, practiced, and refined. He emphasized consistency, ethical purpose, clarity, and the influence of thought on speech.

A few principles threading through his work:

• Practice and habit: Many of his writings stress daily, small steps—like exercising vocal control, expanding vocabulary, drafting speeches, and reading aloud.

• Moral integrity and persuasion: He often linked the speaker’s character (honesty, altruism, good intentions) with their persuasive power. A speaker free from suspicion of selfish motives gains credibility.

• Utility and service: Kleiser saw communication not as ornament but as service—to inform, move, uplift, and connect. Many of his pieces on inspiration, ideals, and daily life reflect this orientation.

• Language awareness: He regarded word choice, phrase rhythm, and the habitual “language environment” as windows into character and culture.

Thus, Kleiser’s work is a mix of rhetorical theory, self-help, and inspiration, all grounded in the practical goal of making people more confident, clear, and ethical speakers.

Notable Quotes

Below are several representative quotes attributed to Grenville Kleiser, which capture his mindset and writing style. (Note: as with many historical authors, attribution and exact wording may vary across sources.)

“Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.”

“There are many fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances. But the only time that is yours is the present.”

“By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character.”

“You can develop good judgment as you do the muscles of your body – by judicious, daily exercise.”

“It is often better to have a great deal of harm happen to one than a little; a great deal may rouse you to remove what a little will only accustom you to endure.”

“Defeat isn’t bitter if you don’t swallow it.”

“The habit of being uniformly considerate toward others will bring increased happiness to you.”

“Do not let trifles disturb your tranquility of mind. Life is too precious to be sacrificed for the nonessential and transient. Ignore the inconsequential!”

These quotes reflect Kleiser’s concern with inner discipline, perspective on adversity, kindness, and the use of humor and calm as stabilizing forces.

Legacy & Influence

Though Grenville Kleiser is not a household name today, his work has continued quietly in rhetorical education, public speaking manuals, and inspirational anthologies. Some aspects of his legacy include:

• Longevity of his texts: Several of his works are still available in digital libraries (e.g. through Project Gutenberg, HathiTrust, Online Books) and used for public speaking practice.

• Accessible rhetoric tradition: He represents a strand of early 20th-century practical rhetoric that bridged academic instruction and popular self-improvement—serving preachers, teachers, professionals, and lay speakers.

• Resource for modern speakers: Many of his compilations (model speeches, phrase collections) remain useful tools for speechwriting, vocabulary enrichment, and stylistic examples.

• Inspirational voice: Beyond rhetoric, his texts on daily ideals and character sit in the tradition of American inspirational literature nearly parallel to early self-help authors.

While his influence is less conspicuous today, those interested in the art of speech, classical rhetoric, and motivational writing still refer to Kleiser’s work as a historically rich resource.

Lessons We Can Draw from Kleiser

1. Eloquence is cultivated, not merely inherited
   Kleiser’s career supports the view that speaking well is a craft built through disciplined practice, not a gift reserved for a few.

2. Character underpins persuasion
   He reminds us that integrity, sincerity, and goodwill are essential to influencing others meaningfully.

3. Small daily habits matter
   His emphasis on “doing a little every day”—vocabulary, reading aloud, drafting, refining—shows that cumulative growth often outpaces grand gestures.

4. Facing adversity with perspective
   Quotes like “defeat isn’t bitter if you don’t swallow it” encourage resilience and refusing to internalize failure.

5. Clarity over adornment
   Kleiser often favored clear, forceful thought over ornamental verbosity—teaching speakers to aim for effective communication, not mere elegance.

Conclusion

Grenville Kleiser stands among the productive voices of practical rhetoric and inspiration in the early 20th century. Though his name may not be widely known today, his influence survives in speech manuals, motivational anthologies, and the ideas he championed: that eloquence is teachable, character is persuasive, and each person can grow bit by bit into better communication.

If you’d like, I can prepare a detailed annotated bibliography of Kleiser’s most influential works, or compare his approach with other rhetoric teachers (e.g. Dale Carnegie, Cicero, John Dewey). Which would you prefer?