Quintilian

Quintilian, Institutio oratoria ed. Burman (Leiden 1720), frontispiece

Quintilian (Latin: Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, c. 35 – c. 100 AD) was a Roman rhetorician and educator who became one of the most renowned teachers of oratory in the late 1st century. Born in Hispania, he moved to Rome to study and then to teach rhetoric. Quintilian's most significant contribution to the history of educational theory is his work Institutio Oratoria (The Orator's Education), a comprehensive treatise on the training of the orator, in which he discusses the formation of an orator from infancy through to the mature phase of their career.

Life

Quintilian was born in Calagurris (now Calahorra, Spain) in Hispania. Little is known about his early life, but he moved to Rome to study rhetoric under the guidance of renowned teachers. He became a successful advocate in the courts and was later appointed by Emperor Vespasian to establish a public school of rhetoric. Quintilian took this role seriously, aiming to mold not just skilled orators but also morally upright citizens.

Works

The Institutio Oratoria is Quintilian's magnum opus, consisting of twelve books that outline a complete system of rhetoric from the cradle to the height of a rhetorical career. This work is notable for its comprehensive approach, covering topics such as the moral and ethical training of the orator, the importance of a broad education, and the specific skills of speech-making. Quintilian emphasizes the integration of theory and practice, as well as the importance of natural talent being nurtured by education.

Quintilian also believed in the moral purpose of education, arguing that the ideal orator should be vir bonus dicendi peritus – a good man skilled in speaking. His educational philosophy was influential in the Renaissance and contributed to the humanist tradition.

Legacy

Quintilian's influence on the theory and practice of education, particularly rhetorical education, was profound. His work was rediscovered during the Renaissance and became a standard text on rhetoric during the early modern period. His emphasis on moral integrity and the development of character, as well as his comprehensive approach to education, have had a lasting impact on educational theory.

Quintilian's ideas also contributed to the development of Western educational thought, influencing educators and theorists through the centuries. His belief in the importance of a well-rounded education, which includes the study of literature, history, and moral philosophy, remains relevant today.

See Also

• Rhetoric
• Education in the Roman Empire
• Oratory
• Classical education