Oratory is the masterful art. Poetry, painting, music, sculpture

Host: The sunset was a mix of rich reds and burnt oranges, pouring through the tall, arched windows of the old library. The soft hum of the evening buzzed in the background, but inside, the atmosphere was one of deep contemplation. Jeeny sat at the edge of a wooden desk, her eyes focused on an open book, yet her thoughts seemed distant. Jack stood nearby, his arms crossed, looking out over the cityscape. He was lost in thought, but his mind was at war with a new idea, something that had unsettled him, something powerful.

Jeeny: “You seem far away tonight. What’s on your mind, Jack?”

Jack: “I keep thinking about that quote. The one from David Josiah Brewer. About oratory being the masterful art. It’s strange, don’t you think? Of all the ways humans communicate, he says oratory rules above poetry, music, painting, even architecture. It’s like he’s saying words have more power than anything else.”

Jeeny: “Well, don’t you think there’s truth in that? A single speech can change the course of history. Think about Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream,’ or Winston Churchill’s speeches during the war. Words have the power to move people, to make them believe in something greater than themselves. It’s not just about what’s said—it’s about how it’s said.”

Jack: “I get it, but still, words seem so… temporary. Music, painting—those things are timeless, they live on in a way that speeches don’t. A good painting can stay in a gallery for centuries, but how long does a speech last? It’s the moment that matters, and then it fades.”

Jeeny: “That’s true, but in that moment, the orator holds the room. He doesn’t just speak—he commands. He controls the conversation, shapes the minds of everyone who’s listening. It’s a kind of magic. You can feel it when a great speaker takes the stage—they dominate the space, they don’t just speak to people, they move them.”

Jack: “But don’t other forms of art do that too? Think about a piece of music—it doesn’t even need words to make you feel something deep, something that can’t be expressed in speech. Music doesn’t just talk to the mind; it speaks to the soul.”

Jeeny: “True. Music speaks to the heart, and poetry speaks to the soul, but oratory—oratory speaks to everything. It’s a whole system of persuasion. It can change not just how we feel, but how we act, how we think, how we see the world. A speech can ignite a movement, start a revolution, or calm an entire nation. A great orator doesn’t just create emotion, they create change.”

Jack: “I get that, but still, I don’t know if I buy the idea that oratory is more powerful than everything else. Architecture, for example—it’s not just about buildings, it’s about shaping the world. A great building can change the way people live, change their experience of a place. That’s real power.”

Jeeny: “But even architecture depends on oratory. The visionaries who built the world’s most famous landmarks—they spoke their ideas into existence. It wasn’t just about the bricks and the steel; it was about convincing others to see the value in their ideas. The orator is the one who inspires the builder, the artist, the thinker.”

Jack: “So you think an orator can convince someone to build something as monumental as the Eiffel Tower or the Pyramids? Just with words?”

Jeeny: “Yes, I do. Look at how leaders inspire change. Look at the speeches that define eras. The orator doesn’t just create art—they create action. Art is meant to inspire, yes, but oratory compels. It moves beyond the auditory to the very core of our decision-making. They convince us, make us believe in something greater.”

Jack: “But what about the artists, Jeeny? The ones who make the work that speaks without words. The painters, the musicians—aren’t they doing the same thing?”

Jeeny: “They are. But they’re doing it in a different way. What the orator does is unique. They don’t just communicate through the senses, they dominate the minds of their listeners. Poetry, music, and painting inspire, they create beauty, but oratory is a tool of power. The orator leads the way. The orator rules the room, and for that moment, they are the master.”

Host: The room seemed to hold its breath, the quiet of the library punctuated only by the distant hum of the city. Jeeny’s voice had taken on an almost hypnotic quality, and Jack was listening with a new understanding. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought. Jeeny watched him, sensing that the seed had been planted.

Jack: “I guess I can see it now. The orator doesn’t just speak—they command. They create a world within the space of their words. They make us believe in things we never thought possible, in ways that no painting, no song, no sculpture ever could.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. That’s what makes oratory the masterful art. It’s not just about what’s said; it’s about the power behind the words. It’s about the ability to shape the world around you, to move hearts, to compel minds, and to command action.”

Jack: “You know, I think you might be right. Oratory does have something that no other art form has. It’s not just about beauty; it’s about changing everything.”

Host: The last rays of sunlight faded, leaving behind the quiet calm of the evening. Jack and Jeeny sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling between them like the last notes of a symphony. Outside, the city continued its endless motion, but inside, the room was still, filled with the echoes of powerful words that could, indeed, change the world.