Phrases for Public Speakers and Paragraphs for Study Part 1

Phrases for Public Speakers and Paragraphs for Study.

by Compiled by Grenville Kleiser.

TO THE STUDENT

The experienced public speaker acquires through long practise hundreds of phrases which he uses over and over again. These are essential to readiness of speech, since they serve to hold his thought well together and enable him to speak fluently even upon short notice.

This book is one of practise, not theory. The student should read aloud daily several pages of these phrases, think just what each one means, and whenever possible till out the phrase in his own words. A month's earnest practise of this kind will yield astonis.h.i.+ng results.

He should also study the paragraphs, reprinted here from notable speeches, and closely observe the use made of climax and other effects.

The phrase and the paragraph are the princ.i.p.al elements in the public speaker's English style, and the student will be amply repaid for any time he devotes to their a.n.a.lysis.

GRENVILLE KLEISER

USEFUL PHRASES

A further objection to Again, can we doubt Again, we have abundant instances Alas! how often All experience evinces that All that I have been stating hitherto All that is quite true.

All this, I know well enough All this is unnatural because All we do know is that Am I mistaken in this?

Amid so much that is uncertain And, again, it is to be presumed that And, finally, have not these And, further, all that I have said And hence it continually happens And hence it is that And here, in pa.s.sing, let us notice And here observe that And if I know anything of And if it is further asked why And I sometimes imagine that And I wish also to say that And, in fact, it is And it is certainly true And it may be admitted that And just here we touch the vital point in And let me here again refer to And now it begins to be apparent And now we are naturally brought on to And now we are told And pursuing the subject And so again in this day And so, in like manner And strange to say And such, I say, is And the same is true of And the whole point of these observations is And this is manifestly true Any thoughtful man can readily perceive As far as my experience goes As for me, I say As it were At first it does seem as tho At this very moment, there are At times we hear it said.

Be it so.

Be true to your own sense of right.

Believe me, it is quite impossible for But all is not done.

But bear in mind that But by no kind of calculation can we But do not tell me that But further still But here we take our stand.

But I am not quite sure that But I digress.

But I do not desire to obtrude a But I recollect that But I shall go still farther.

But I submit whether it But I will not dwell on But I will not pause to point out But if you look seriously at facts But in any case But in fact there is no reason for But is it in truth so easy to But is it rationally conceivable that But it is fitting I should say But, it may be urged, if But lest it should still be argued that But let it be once understood that But let us suppose all these But look at the difference.

But my idea of it is But now, I repeat, But now, lastly, let us suppose But now let us turn to But now, on the other hand, could But now some other things are to be noted But somehow all is changed!

But the question for us is But to go still further But waiving this a.s.sumption But we dwell too long But we have faith that But what is the motive?

But what then?

But with us how changed!

But why do we speak of But you may say truly But you must remember

Can there be a better ill.u.s.tration than Can you doubt it?

Certainly, I did not know Compare now the case of

Did time admit I could show you Does anybody believe that Do you dream that Do not entertain so weak an imagination Do not misunderstand me.

Enough has been said of Even apart from the vital question of Everybody has to say that

Few people will dispute First, sir, permit me to observe For instance, For instance, there surely is For my part, I can say that I desire For the sake of clearness For this simple reason For what?

Fortunately I am not obliged From time to time

Happily for us Has the gentleman done?

Have we any right to such a He can not do it.

Heaven forbid!

Hence, I repeat, it is Hence it is that Hence, too, it has often, been said Here I have to speak of Here I wish I could stop.

Here it will be objected to me Here let me meet one other question History is replete with How are we to explain this How do you account for I acknowledge the force of I admire the indignation which I admit it.

I admit, that if I allude to I am advised that already I am aware that I am distinctly maintaining I am expecting to hear next I am going to suggest I am in sympathy with I am justified in regarding I am led to make one remark I am mainly concerned with I am myself of opinion that I am naturally led on to speak of I am no friend to I am not arguing the I am not ashamed to acknowledge I am not complaining of I am not denying that I am not disposed to deny I am not going to attempt to I am not here to defend the I am not insensible of I am not justifying the I am not speaking of exceptions.

I am not trying to absolve I am obliged to mention I am perfectly astounded at I am perfectly confident that I am perfectly indifferent concerning I am persuaded that I am quite certain that I am sanguine that those who I am speaking to-night for myself.

I am sure, at least, that I am sure you will allow me I am sure you will do me the justice I am told that the reason I am well aware that I am willing to admit that I appeal to you on behalf of I ask how you are going to I ask myself I ask, then, as concerns the I ask your attention to this point.

I a.s.sume that the argument for I a.s.sume, then, that I beg not to be interrupted here I beg respectfully to differ from I beg to a.s.sure you I believe I speak the sentiment of I believe in it as firmly as I believe in the I believe you feel, as I feel, that I can not believe it.

I can not but feel that I can not do better than I can not even imagine why I can not, therefore, agree with I can not very well I can scarcely conceive anything I carry with me no hostile remembrance.

I certainly do not recommend I come now to observe I come, then, to this I conclude that it was I confess I can not help agreeing with I confess my notions are I confess that I like to dwell on I confess truly I dare say I dare say to you I differ very much from I do not absolutely a.s.sert I do not believe that I do not blush to acknowledge I do not contend that I do not forget that I do not know on what pretense I do not mean to propose I do not mean to say I do not mistrust the future.

I do not overlook tho fact that I do not pretend to believe I do not question this.

I do not stand here before you I do not think it unfair reasoning to I do not vouch for I do not want to argue the question of I do not wish to be partial.

I do not wish you to suppose that I do not yield to any one I entirely agree upon this point.

I fear I only need refer to I firmly believe that I grant, of course, that I grant that there are I grant, too, of course, that I have all along been showing I have already alluded to I have already said, and I repeat it I have always argued that I have another objection to I have appealed to the testimony I have a right to think that I have been interested in hearing I have been requested to say a word, I have heard it said recently I have hitherto been adducing instances I have indicted I have listened with pleasure to I have never been able to understand I have never fancied that I have no confidence, then, in I have no desire in this instance I have no doubt that it is I have only to add that I have read of the I have said that I have so high a respect for I have spoken of I have the confident hope that I have the strongest reason for I have to appeal to you I heartily hope and trust I hope I have now made it clear that I hope you will acquit me of I insist that you do not I invite you to consider I know it is not uncommon for I know that there is a difference of I know that this will sound strange I know well the sentiments of I know whereof I speak.

I leave it to you to say.

I marvel that I may as well reply I may be told that I may say further that I may take it for granted I mention them merely I merely indicate I must beg leave to dwell a moment I must fairly tell you that I must now beg to ask I myself feel confident I often wonder I only wish to recognize I pa.s.s by that.

I pa.s.s, then, from the question of I personally doubt whether it I plainly and positively state I point you to I proceed to inquire into I quote from I read but recently a story I really can not think it necessary to I recollect that I rejoice at the change that I remember once when I reply with confidence that I rest my opinion on I said just now I see no objection to I see no reason to doubt I shall ask you one question I shall attempt to show I shall content myself with asking I shall not suffer myself to I shall not undertake I shall presently show I shall sum up what has been said.

I shall, then, merely sum up I share the conviction of I should hold myself obliged to I should not like to hold the opinion I speak in the most perfect honesty I speak only for myself.

I suppose most men will recollect I take leave to say I take the liberty of I think I am right in saying I think I can demonstrate that I think it impossible that I think it our duty I think it well not to be disputed that I think, on the contrary, that I think that this is a great mistake.

I think these facts show that I think we should be willing to I trust it will not he considered ungenerous I trust we are not the men to I turn now to another reason why I undertake to say I use the word advisedly.

I venture to a.s.sert that I venture to say I venture to think I want to invite your attention to I want to know whether I was astonished to learn I was forcibly struck with one remark I was very much struck with I will allow more than this readily.

I will answer, not by retort, but by I will call to mind this I will go no further I will not attempt to note the I will not enter into details I will not go into the evidence of I will not stop to inquire whether I will show you presently I will speak but a word or two more.

I will suppose the objection urged I wish I could state I wish to call your attention to I wish to know I wish to say something about I wish to observe that I would not he understood as saying I would not, indeed, say a word to extenuate If any man were to tell me If any one is so short-sighted If I had my share If I hesitate, it is because If I insist on this point here If I mistake not the sentiment of If I must give an instance of this If I read the signs of the time aright If I were asked what it is that If other evidence be wanting If, perchance, one should say If such a thing were possible If such feelings were ever entertained If such is the fact, then If there is a man here If we accept at all the argument If we are conscious of If we find that If we resign ourselves to facts If you want to find out what If you wish the most conclusive proof In a broader and a larger sense In a sense, and a very real sense In answer to this singular theory In like manner In order to carry out In proof of this drift toward In proportion as In proportion, then, In pursuance of these clear and express In saying all this, I do not forget In something of a parallel In such cases In support of this claim In support of what I have been saying In the first place In the first place, then, I say In the first place there is In the last resort In the light of these things In this connection In this point of view, doubtless In this situation, let us In this respect they are In view of these facts, I say In what I have to say Is it fair to say that Is it not evident that Is it not quite possible that Is it said that Is not that the common sentiment?

Is there any reason for It affords me unusual pleasure It is but too true that It can scarcely be imagined that It can not be too often repeated It certainly follows, then, It does not appear to me It has been maintained that It has been more than hinted that It has been said, and said truly, It has sometimes been remarked that It is a common observation that It is a curious fact that It is a fact patent to any one that It is a melancholy fact that It is a notorious fact that It is a thing commonly said that It is a very serious matter.

It is a very serious question It is also to be borne in mind It is amazing that there are any among us It is an additional satisfaction It is an undeniable truth that It is apparent that It is certain that It is certainly not sufficient to say It is difficult to conceive that It is exceedingly unlikely that It is historically certain that It is in effect the reply of It is in quite another kind, however, It is, indeed, commonly said It is more difficult to It is necessary to account for It is no more than fitting that It is not a good thing to see It is not a wise thing to It is not alleged It is not chiefly, however, It is not for me here to recall It is not, however, It is not long since I had occasion It is not my purpose to discuss It is not necessary that I define It is not proposed to It is not surprizing that It is not to be denied that It is not told traditionally It is not true that It is not wonderful that It is observable enough It is of little consequence It is of importance that It is of very little importance what It is quite true that It is related of It is singular that It is the most extraordinary thing that It is to my mind a It is true, indeed, that It is well known that It is well that we clearly apprehend It is wholly unnecessary It is worthy of remark It looks to me to be It may be a matter of doubt It may be shown that It may be suggested that It may be supposed that It may in a measure be true that It may not be improper for me to suggest It must be borne in mind that It must be confest that It must be recollected that It need hardly be said that It remains for us to consider It remains to It remains to be shown that It reminds me of an anecdote It seems a truism to say It seems now to be generally admitted It should also be remembered that It should be remembered It so happens that It was my good fortune It was not so It was under these circ.u.mstances It were foolish to talk of It were rash to say It will be easy to cite It will be found, in the second place, It will be observed also that It will be well to recall It will not surely be objected It would be misleading to say It would be no less impracticable to It would be vain to seek It would do no good to repeat It would seem that

Largely, I have no doubt, it is due Let it be repeated Let it be for an instant supposed Let me add that Let me ask who there is among us Let me explain myself by saying Let me ill.u.s.trate Let me instance in one thing only Let me put the subject before you Let me say one word further.

Let me tell you Let me tell you a very interesting story Let no one suppose that Let the truth be said outright Let these instances suffice Let us bear in mind that Let us consider that Let us go a step further.

Let us say frankly Let us see whether Let us stand together.

Let us look a little at Let us take an example in Let us take, first of all,

Make no mistake.

Men are often doubtful about Moreover, I am sure, Moreover, I believe that Much has been said of late about My antagonism is only aroused when My answer is, that My belief is that My own opinion is

Nay, further than this, Need I speak of Neither is it true that Nevertheless, we must admit Next I give you the opinion of Next I observe that No man who listens to me underrates No matter what No, no.

No objection can be brought against the No one realizes this more No one will, with justice, say No one will question No one would take the pains to challenge the No wonder, then, that n.o.body really doubts that Nor am I, believe me, so arrogant as Nor can we imagine that Nor is this surprizing Nor, lastly, does this Not a few persons demand Not many words are required to show Not quite so.

Not so here.

Nothing is more certain than Nothing less.

Now, after what I have said, Now apply this to Now do you observe what follows from Now for one moment let us Now I have done.

Now, I proceed to examine Now I want to ask whether Now it is evident Now let us observe what Now, mark it.

Now, on the other hand, let me Now perhaps you will ask me Now we come to the question

Observe, if you please, that Occasionally it is whispered that Of course, it will be said that Of no less import is Of the final issue I have no doubt.

On the contrary On the one hand On the other hand On the other hand, you will see On the whole, then, I observe One word more and I have done.

Once more, how else could One fact is clear Only a few days ago Our position is that Our position is unquestionable.

Over and over again it has been shown that

Perhaps, sir, I am mistaken in Perhaps the reason of this may be Permit me to add another circ.u.mstance Permit me to remind you Please remember that if