Dover-court, all speakers and no hearers. [ Proverb ]

The string that jars
When rudely touch'd, ungrateful to the sense,
With pleasure feels the master's flying fingers,
Swells into harmony and charms the hearers. [ Rowe ]

Were there no hearers there would be no backbiters. [ English Proverb, collected by George Herbert ]

He has oratory who ravishes his hearers while he forgets himself. [ Lavater ]

Eloquence dwells quite as much in the hearts of the hearers as on the lips of the orator. [ Lamartine ]

Such was the force of his eloquence, to make the hearers more concerned than he that spake. [ Denham ]

The art of declamation has been sinking in value from the moment that speakers were foolish enough to publish, and hearers wise enough to read. [ Colton ]

Eloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the fancy or the affections, captivates the willing hearers, and subdues their understanding. [ Hume ]

Eloquence, when at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the fancy or the affections, captivates the willing hearers, and subdues their understanding. Happily, this pitch it seldom attains. [ Hume ]

If our eloquence be directed above the heads of our hearers, we shall do no execution. By pointing our arguments low, we stand a chance of hitting their hearts as well as their heads. In addressing angels, we could hardly raise our eloquence too high; but we must remember that men are not angels. [ Colton ]

Under the influence of music we are all deluded in some way; we imagine that the performers must dwell in the regions to which they lift their hearers; we are reluctant to admit that a man may blow the most soul-animating strains from his trumpet and yet be a coward; or melt an audience to tears with his violin, and yet be a heartless profligate. [ H. W. Hillard ]