Long before speeches, presentations, or debates, rhetoric begins with something far more human: the search for the right words at the right moment. This elegant reflection explores why rhetoric is not merely an academic discipline, but a formative art that cultivates wisdom, judgment, and the ability to speak truthfully and beautifully for the good of others.
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February 25, 2026
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Set Free to Speak
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Read on SubstackLong before speeches, presentations, or debates, rhetoric begins with something far more human: the search for the right words at the right moment. This elegant reflection explores why rhetoric is not merely an academic discipline, but a formative art that cultivates wisdom, judgment, and the ability to speak truthfully and beautifully for the good of others.
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Contributing Writer
Kevin is the founder of Ecclesial Schools Initiative and the co-author of The Liberal Arts Tradition.
During my years at TIME magazine, the newsroom had a rule of thumb: If something happens once, it’s news. Twice is a coincidence. Three times? That’s a trend.
What if the life you long for is formed one teaspoon at a time? In this episode of Composed, Christine Perrin speaks with classicist, writer, and homeschooling mother Nadya Williams about the small patterns that fill a life: reading aloud on the couch, gathering friends around books and snacks, welcoming children into imperfect homes, and writing in the margins of family life. Together they explore motherhood, Christian human dignity, education, AI, and the hope of building a humane culture through local, faithful, ordinary practices. For mothers who feel stretched thin and are hungry for wisdom, this conversation offers a gentle invitation to begin with one small good thing.
The test has a strong focus on classical literature, promoting “influential authors and ideas that have shaped history and culture.”