[10]
Consequently those who, although holding the same
general view of rhetoric, have regarded it as the
power of persuasion by speaking, pride themselves on
their greater exactness of language. This definition
is given by Gorgias, in the dialogue1 mentioned
above, under compulsion from the inexorable logic of
Socrates. Theodectes agrees with him, whether the
treatise on rhetoric which has come down to us
under his name is really by him or, as is generally
believed, by Aristotle. In that work the end of
rhetoric is defined as the leading of men by the
power of speech to the conclusion desired by the orator.
1 Gorg. p. 452 E.
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