Square in the eye

In the recent BBC documentary about oratory Tony Benn, the veteran British politician, said he is not convinced by speaking and rhetoric. He said he always likes to look a man who is speaking square in the eye and ask these questions:

1. Does he believe what he is saying?

2. Does he know what he is talking about?

3. Why is he saying it?

4. Why is he saying it to me?

5.  Why is he saying it to me now?

It was the second time in a week (the first was a documentary on Radio 4 on great parliamentary speeches) that I heard him say this so I decided to ponder the thought awhile.......