WIST Quotations

Beecher, Lyman -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:15:32 +0000

Eloquence is logic on fire.

Lyman Beecher (1775-1863) American minister, preacher, abolitionist
(Attributed)

This phrase is widely attributed to Beecher, but I cannot find a primary source. It is possible the overall phrase is from a combination of different Beecher comments about Theodore Weld (1803-1895), one of the founders of the American abolitionist movement. Beecher one time described Weld being "as eloquent as an angel, and as powerful as thunder." More significantly, James Monroe, an Oberlin faculty member, mentioned Beecher and Ward in a lecture about early abolitionists (published in 1897):

I was never so fortunate as to hear Theodore D. Weld ; but I constantly met those who had heard him, and all reports justified Dr. Lyman Beecher's description of his eloquence as "logic on fire."

Both or just the latter reference could have synthesized the attributed full Beecher quote, pairing "eloquence" to an actual phrase of Beecher's.

In 1848, the phrase "logic on fire," attributed to Beecher, shows up.

In 1881, it's recalled that "Set your logic on fire" was a common advice of Beecher's.

Throughout the latter half of the 19th Century, the phrase "logic on fire" is applied to the speaking ability of various preachers and orators, often without reference to Beecher, but, when it is attributed, it is to.

In summary, while "logic on fire" when speaking of eloquence or speaking style appears to be Beecher's (primary source unknown), the actual phrase starting with "Eloquence is" cannot be pinnned down as clearly.

Orwell, George -- Essay (1939), “Charles Dickens,” sec. 6, Inside the Whale (1940-03-11)

Dave — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:45:15 +0000

The thing that drove Dickens forward into a form of art for which he was not really suited, and at the same time caused us to remember him, was simply the fact that he was a moralist, the consciousness of “having something to say.” He is always preaching a sermon, and that is the final secret of his inventiveness. For you can only create if you can care.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1939), “Charles Dickens,” sec. 6, Inside the Whale (1940-03-11)
(Source)

Smith, Sydney -- Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith, by His Daughter, Lady Holland, Vol. 1, ch. 3 (1855)

Dave — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:59:28 +0000

To this cause of the unpopularity of sermons may be added the extremely ungraceful manner in which they are delivered. The English, generally remarkable for doing very good things in a very bad manner, seem to have reserved the maturity and plenitude of their awkwardness for the pulpit.

Sydney Smith (1771-1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit
Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith, by His Daughter, Lady Holland, Vol. 1, ch. 3 (1855)
(Source)

Herbert, George -- Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 337 (1640 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 15:22:07 +0000

When the Foxe preacheth, beware your geese.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 337 (1640 ed.)
(Source)

Graham, Billy -- “Billy Graham: America Is Not God’s Only Kingdom,” Parade Magazine (1 Feb 1981)

Dave — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 05:30:04 +0000

I told him to preach the Gospel. That’s our calling. I want to preserve the purity of the Gospel and the freedom of religion in America. I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. Liberals organized in the ’60s, and conservatives certainly have a right to organize in the ’80s, but it would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.

Billy Graham (1918-2018) American evangelist, revivalist, author [William Franklin Graham Jr.]
“Billy Graham: America Is Not God’s Only Kingdom,” Parade Magazine (1 Feb 1981)
(Source)

A comment Graham said he gave to Jerry Falwell, head of the Moral Majority. Usually quoted in an abbreviated version:

I don't want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.

West, Rebecca -- This Real Night (1984)

Dave — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:33:19 +0000

“What, did St. Francis preach to the birds?” asked Kate. “Whatever for? If he really liked birds he would have done better to preach to cats.”

Rebecca West (1892-1983) British author, journalist, literary critic, travel writer [pseud. for Cicily Isabel Fairfield]
This Real Night (1984)
(Source)

Ouida -- Wisdom, Wit, and Pathos, “Friendship” (1884)

Dave — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 23:28:22 +0000

There is nothing that you may not get people to believe in if you will only tell it them loud enough and often enough, till the welkin rings with it.

Ouida (1839-1908) English novelist [pseud. of Maria Louise Ramé]
Wisdom, Wit, and Pathos, “Friendship” (1884)
(Source)

"Welkin" is an obsolete word for "heavens."

Brown, Rita Mae -- Starting from Scratch (1989)

Dave — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 18:30:05 +0000

Moral passion without entertainment is propaganda, and entertainment without moral passion is television.

Rita Mae Brown (b. 1944) American author, playwright
Starting from Scratch (1989)
(Source)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- “Self-Reliance,” Essays: First Series (1841)

Dave — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 01:17:50 +0000

I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
“Self-Reliance,” Essays: First Series (1841)

Richter, Jean-Paul -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 01:53:07 +0000

The virtues, like the body, become strong more by labor than by nourishment.

Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825) German writer, art historian, philosopher, littérateur [Johann Paul Friedrich Richter; pseud. Jean Paul]
(Attributed)

Quoted in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895).

Roosevelt, Theodore -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 24 May 2016 13:56:33 +0000

Yes, Haven, most of us enjoy preaching, and I’ve got such a bully pulpit!

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
(Attributed)

In George Haven Putnam, The Works of Theodore Roosevelt, Vol. 9, Introduction (1926). Roosevelt's reply when, during his first presidential term, Putnam accused him of tending to preach to people.

Beecher, Henry Ward -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:14:21 +0000

You may get a large amount of truth into a brief space.

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American clergyman and orator
(Attributed)

Thoreau, Henry David -- Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 6 “Visitors” (1854)

Dave — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 17:05:05 +0000

Finally, there were the self-styled reformers, the greatest bores of all.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 6 “Visitors” (1854)
(Source)

Keillor, Garrison -- Lake Wobegon Days (1985)

Dave — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:33:36 +0000

I think if the church put in half the time on covetousness that it does on lust, this would be a better world for all of us.

Garrison Keillor (b. 1942) American entertainer, author
Lake Wobegon Days (1985)

Twain, Mark -- Hannibal Courier-Post (6 Mar 1835)

Dave — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:48:02 +0000

No sinner is ever saved after the first twenty minutes of a sermon.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Hannibal Courier-Post (6 Mar 1835)

Shakespeare, William -- Hamlet, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 50ff (1.3.50-55) (c. 1600)

Dave — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:18:35 +0000

OPHELIA:But, good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,
Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads
And recks not his own rede.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Hamlet, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 50ff (1.3.50-55) (c. 1600)
(Source)

Smith, Sydney -- Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith, by His Daughter, Lady Holland, Vol. 1, ch. 3 (1855)

Dave — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:34:35 +0000

Preaching has become a bye-word for long and dull conversation of any kind; and whoever wishes to imply, in any piece of writing, the absence of everything agreeable and inviting, calls it a sermon.

Sydney Smith (1771-1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit
Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith, by His Daughter, Lady Holland, Vol. 1, ch. 3 (1855)
(Source)

Smith, Sydney -- Sermon (1824-03-28), “The Judge That Smites Contrary to the Law”

Dave — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:41:02 +0000

The object of preaching is, constantly to remind mankind of what mankind are constantly forgetting; not to supply the defects of human intelligence, but to fortify the feebleness of human resolutions.

Sydney Smith (1771-1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit
Sermon (1824-03-28), “The Judge That Smites Contrary to the Law”
(Source)

On Acts 23:3. Preached in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, York.

Pratchett, Terry -- Bromeliad No. 2, Diggers, ch. 3 (1990)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Bromeliad No. 2, Diggers, ch. 3 (1990)
(Source)

Ericsson, Graham -- Journal (undated)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

There is no good cause for religious persecution. No convert is true who comes to the faith through pain and fear. All persecution does is plant seeds of doubt amongst the hearts of the faithful as to the truth of their cause.

Graham Ericsson (b. 1961) American technologist, writer, aphorist
Journal (undated)