The Power of Humility

If you go before an audience without any preparation or previous knowledge of your subject, you ought to be self-conscious. Washington Irving once introduced Charles Dickens at a dinner given in the latter's honor. In public speech as an electricity there is a positive and a negative force. Either you or your audience are going to possess the positive factor. If you assume it you can almost invariably make it yours. Assume mastery of your audience. Be courageous. It lies within you to be what you will. Make yourself become incompetent. Reflect that your audience will not hurt you. The brave is no fear, but they do not yield to their audience pluckly. So cast out for fear, when