- NEW!
by Galeanda on April 22nd, 2008
A weapon is only mighty for that one period of time, that bullet, that stab of the knife, that bomb going off and only people within it's range. But the pen can affect people now, and for many years to come. The pen is about words and words are more dangerous than any weapon, and as a weapon the tongue is the most powerful. A pen or word can still the guns, or set them loose. It can destroy or ban them or sign the order to produce more.
by Im Alec has abandoned this account on April 17th, 2008
Only one person has ever launched nuclear weapons in anger, President Harry Truman. Did he do so with the pen, or with the sword? Did he sign an executive order, or did he threaten to kill his officers if they didn't launch the attacks?
by Nick on April 16th, 2008
Not true. The written propaganda by dictators, political fanatics and their cronies have killed more people than any single weapon would be capable of, and that includes an A-bomb.
by buttman on April 17th, 2008
With a pen the history of a people could be erased; or
at the very least altered enough to creat confusion
or do literary damage to it beyond recognition.
by Vampyre Bat on April 17th, 2008
I sure do. Every major political movement has started with the written word. Most major religions have texts. Hitler wrote Mein Kampf while sitting in prison. A thought unrecorded is a thought unremembered. Yes the pen moves the heart. The heart moves the hand and the hand holds the sword...you see?
by PharFigNewton on April 17th, 2008
The idea of the pen being mightier than the sword holds with the idea of how powerful a person's words can be.
In literal meaning, a person with an automatic weapon can easily kill a man with a pen. But so can a man with a sword.
The real power of the pen is in influence, as well. If something is printed in the paper, everyone can read it and choose to support the story. The man with the pen can then have hundreds of people backing him up. If you had that sword or weapon, would you really attack a man with a pen who has the support of hundreds?
by The Mess on February 17th, 2009
I think the real power lies in the quote, "Gun control is a steady hand."
by Brian I on September 13th, 2008
That is certainly true in some countries. The USA and Afghanistan spring to mind.
by palmagma on July 18th, 2008
The 21st Century equivalent of this old saying could be:
"The internet is mightier than the bomb."
Or put another way:
"Education beats indoctrination, incarceration and detonation."
But yes, the spirit of the old saying is true as ever.
by Natter91 on April 22nd, 2008
Imagine this situation.
You encounter a tribe of 10,000 cannibals with a modern arsenal of weapons who want to wipe out the rest of the human race. Now you've got two choices:
(A) You can get your automatic weapon and take on the cannibal tribe yourself.
(B) You use your pen to write to a newspaper (or use the Internet, or any kind of writing) which publishes the story and brings attention to the cannibals, causing the military to come with tanks and planes and, of course, many automatic weapons.
Which do you think has more power here?
by I Just Changed My Name on April 22nd, 2008
Well if they did their homework they person that was talking about the pen and the sword thing would have know they were actually talking about writing.
by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on April 22nd, 2008
It's a difference between strategy and tactical. Strategy is the planning and use of the pen, and tactical is use of the weapon. I've been in the position where a pen stroke has caused me to encounter automatic weapons fire, as well as use weapons fire (not a big fan of automatic weapons, I like controlled fire). So at an individual level, weapons fire is mighty, but the reason for it is a pen used by someone higher up.
by geckrest on February 16th, 2009
But if you think inversely, the weapon makes the pen.
A lawless country full of weapons does more damage than a law filled (ruled by the pen) country without weapons
by QueenR eats the Terminator for breakfast on September 13th, 2008
General Douglas MacAurthur.
yes I do think it is true. If a country have their mind set on invading you, no amount of diplomacy will save you.
When the diplomats fail, the soldiers take over.
by IrishSoulSurfer on March 9th, 2009
Automatic weapons will fade. Words are timeless, assuming literacy.
by Marky Mark on March 9th, 2009
No. You can't convince anyone that you are right and make them support your cause by using automatic weapons ...but the written word can influence people and events even after the writer has passed on.
by joshuafelix101 on July 11th, 2010
Yes; because the pen can only be mighty if people are willing to follow it, the weapons will always be mighty because they can kill you. (By the way, who do you think enforces what the pen writes, people with weapons.)
by Alte Rego on March 9th, 2009
If the pen is mightier than the sword, then he who lives by the sword should die by the pen.
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Comments
now that is the kind of answer i have been looking for.
by Wannabe Superhero on April 24th, 2008
Thank you very much:-)
by Galeanda on April 24th, 2008
nooo... thank you. ive been looking for this kind of answer for the longest time ever.
by Wannabe Superhero on April 24th, 2008