by KevinW42 on October 23rd, 2006

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If actions are stronger than words, why is the pen mightier than the sword?

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Answers. 148 helpful answers below.

by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on November 17th, 2006
A sword can only kill one person at a time and tends not to be very persuasive in the long run.
A pen can tell many people with many swords to kill many people, or turn many citizens against their rulers.
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by onzanzabarsands on November 20th, 2006
Obviously none of you hae been stabbed with a pen! Small, precise, fits between your ribs. Let's just say I would have rather had a clean sword slice than the jagged pen stabbing I got.
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by AntigoneRising on October 23rd, 2006
Hmmm...I'm not sure your analogy serves, as neither a pen nor a sword is an action or word. Both are objects - nouns.

The act of writing is an action, it is expressing an idea. A sword can harm bodies, but the written word can change hearts and minds.
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by LeMeThink on January 15th, 2007
You use this proverb to say that you can solve problems or achieve your purpose better and more effectively through communication with words than by violence with weapons.
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by Anonymous on November 26th, 2006
Actions when timed correctly, can turn the tide of revolution or war. Take Hitler and Napoleon and their invasions into Russia. Had they timed it better both may have had success with dire consequences. The pen on the other hand symbolizes an idea or concept whose time has come. Thats why poets, writers, and other intellectuals are murdered during revolutions and times of civil unrest. Its also why books and documents are burned or censored. Ideas created by the pen can be very detrimental to a dictator or anyone who struggles to control great masses of people through fear and intimidation.
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by Anonymoose on November 20th, 2006
The phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword" can have many meanings. I like to take the example of the Declaration of Independance. Americans fought long and hard for their freedom with guns and swords. But the mightiest act of all came when a group of men got together and wrote the Declaration of Independance. In this document, America's forefathers were making a strong statement against England. With that declaration, they declared their intent to be a freed from the crown. That document did much to attain freedom for New England. Because of that document, America is a free country. The hearts and souls of those under the rule of the British crown were poured out with that pen. And thus America was born, not because of the might of the sword (or gun), but because what was poured out onto that parchment with that pen was the might, strength, and desires of a people fighting to be free.
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by ChrisDG on January 15th, 2007
In addition to Everest's excellent answer, if you think about what you have achieved in your life. Education, qualifications, a job, marriage, the ability to drive, penpals, even those people you send CHirstamd cards to but never manage to meet up with. How much of that could you accomplish with a sword rather than a pen?
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by joethejoeguy on November 22nd, 2006
"actions are stronger than words" means that it means more to do something than to say you will do it. "the pen is mightier than the sword" means that writing (the bible for exaple) can change the world more than using force.
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by Perryman on October 24th, 2006
The written word is a powerful thing. Sometimes, spoken words disappear in the air as if they were vapor. The written word can stand out as a bold witness years later. Ready to speak again when the reader comes across it.
By spoken word, civilizations have passed down their legends and thus stayed alive for centuries.
The civilizations that we know best though are the ones that have had their story written down and preserved for us.
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by EL1 2 on January 15th, 2007
Today's the perfect day to ask that question.

If, instead of giving speeches, MLK tried to violently confront the government, how effective do you think he would have been?

The sword is a temporary item. It is the servant of an idea.

The pen creates permanence. It helps to create ideas.
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by bowlinggreen on January 5th, 2007
Because you can harm one person at a time with a sword, but words (printed, spoken, radio, TV, internet) can reach many many people at once and influence them to help change the couse of things.
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by tomsims on December 19th, 2006
Words can change the way people think and even change their hearts. Swords and other weapons can only restrain, intimidate, and control while they are being brandished. Words can effect permanent change; swords are temporary "fixes" at best.
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by Capt. Jack Sparrow GALCIY on July 22nd, 2007
Very deep question!
If we were gonna turn this into a sort of rock, paper, scissors, I'd take the "A picture is worth a thousand words!" to block.

Many here have made GOOD points, Action IS important, but a formal declaration of war can kill many more than a single sword.

But proof of an atrocity(in a picture) can move many to action faster than someone telling about it in writing.
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by JudithLover on January 10th, 2007
You can kill and write with a pen but you cant write with the sword ;)
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by Aelfward on January 5th, 2007
Actions are stronger than words, but words are more insidious.
And while it takes years of training to be any good with a sword, and years of trainging to be really good with a pen, what the pen writes can be picked up and used by anyone, even someone with no training at all for years or even centuries after the author has turned to dust. Especially if someone makes copies...
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by six2dfax on January 5th, 2007
Actions strongly influence those who witness them. Words live forever and therefore are able to affect multitudes for a millennia.
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by Kamilah on January 5th, 2007
Because people tend to put more thought behind a pen. Also, people seem to have a harder time of lying through actions
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by ImNotLikeYou on January 2nd, 2007
Because although what you do says more about you than what you say, a pen can gouge someone's eye out, while you'd have to try really hard to do that with a sword. Yeah, and the written word affects people a lot more than any sword ever could.
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by Miss. Tandra on November 26th, 2006
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD? Here, we are offered the insight that words are superior to action, even deady killers, like swords. Meet Martin Luther's printed words that changed history, and all the king's men were useless.

so yea u get my point?
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by JamesK on June 2nd, 2008
They see you with that big ass flamberge. They dont see you with that pen you got hidden up your sleeve. Just a joke.
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by Annon on May 13th, 2008
Great question, but they are just sayings. Metphorical sayings, mind you.
Oh, and 'actions SPEAK louder than words'. Say for instance you stuck your middle finger up at someone. It's gonna be more offensive than writing down 'I stick my middle minger up at you'.
The pen is mightier than the sword because peoples names are written into history, there is no other way to record actions. Hence, the interpretation of the person with the pen has more of an impact on future generations' thoughts on the individual who swung the sword, compared to the reasons behind why the person with the sword swung it.
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by scarletendeavor on April 15th, 2008
i honestly don't see the contradiction in these two metaphors...

This is the way I see it.... actions are truly stronger than words when you are expressing a particular emotion...

To kill somebody expresses exactly how evil, angry or desperate a person is more than if he actually just described it.... That goes with declaring war... when a country goes into war the anger or desire to conquer becomes more apparent than if it were just said....

But then though actions are stronger, the pen is mightier because it can effect change or get the job done without the need to destroy...
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by jolly myr on April 8th, 2008
at first i find the statement a bit contradiction... but they both really have no relevance between each other.. first,=action is stronger than words means that it is more convincing to act the words you speak rather that just saying it.. in the pen mightier than the sword, it could covert many people more... and it is using what you know in a non-violence way...
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by Life is beautiful...so am I on December 21st, 2007
with a sword you can kill only a person at a time. with a pen you can make people commit suicide or murder.
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by Moxie on November 21st, 2007
Because a word cannot exist without an action - therefore action is required in order for words to exist. Whether spoken or written. Since a pen is a tool of action required to create the written word. A sword is only good for destroying the communication process (metaphysically), but you can showcase your swords to stimulate conversation or draw words in the sand. But since these are actions, it still holds true.

TM
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by Esteban-- Smart ass Pumpkin on July 22nd, 2007
that too,is in the Torah.
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by mekare on May 19th, 2007
with a pen you can change many lives. with a sword you can only end them.
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by Engeltje on March 6th, 2007
Perhaps for the same reason as the tongue is mightier than the blade?

I suppose the concept is that violence is not the best way to solve problems- that we have language and should use it to solve our problems.

The 'actions are stronger than words' saying, I suppose originates from a different concept, probably reliability. If you promise something (words) you have to follow up on your words (action) or else, what you say is not reliable.

My 2 cents worth.
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by Scythe on January 31st, 2007
Because a pen signs a law to tear a building down. Then actions rip it to the ground.
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by WussiePussieHasLetHimselfOutOfTheBag on January 30th, 2007
because the action of twisting a sword into words can only be performed by a pen (or a keyboard!)
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by Volt on January 29th, 2007
Pens can over-throw corrupt governments and illuminate the long-hidden truths held out of the reach of the masses. While a sword can just kill the cold mortal shell of the human form.
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by mack. on January 28th, 2007
Good question...But very true.
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by Inspector Javert on January 26th, 2007
Because it is the writers who have the power to take down civilzations, to create chaos, to start revolutions.

They act as a catalyst.
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by theallknowing on January 19th, 2007
Because the pen has the ability to record your thoughts and ideas on paper for many people to read. The sword ends someones life and doesnt help the cause.
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by Nick21 on January 17th, 2007
The pen has endless power. There is no limit to the the things it can do. It can break a heart, profess love for another, start a war, end a war etc.

The sword has only one power.
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by Patti jo on January 15th, 2007
For me- I would be able to go back time after time and reread - And the sword it happen's and then it's done !
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by needled247 on January 10th, 2007
Because you can stab someone in the neck without having to flail a sword around
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by tripwire on January 6th, 2007
Because it can be smuggled through a metal detector and used to stab someone, whereas a sword would be discovered. :)
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by themisterF on January 6th, 2007
because the pen gives word to send the swords to war.
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by sleepy kitty on January 6th, 2007
maybe you stab them with the pen....ever seen 'Grosse pointe blank'?
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by anonymous on December 30th, 2006
Because people like to think that words can't hurt you but they can for some people.
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by RICARDOO on December 22nd, 2006
The sentence: "ACTIONS ARE STRONGER THAN WORDS" is self-explanetary.
Words! Words!.Words! Stop chattering, and DO something!!
That's the end of that subject.
Now,"THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD" is a different concept and has no connection with the above. Several answers have already explained it.
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by jacklynn on December 1st, 2006
God knows!
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by cdPlaya363 on December 1st, 2006
Part of the problem here is that your creating a false analogy. in certain cases both of these statements are true, take for instance politicians (dont read too deeply into this one) they may speak alot on a certain issue but until they act their words are useless.
now take for instance a situation posed by many of the above commentors, the written word insiting rebellion or opening the worlds eyes to evils done.
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by (InsertCleverName) on August 17th, 2008
That depends on how sharp the pen is and how short the sword is.
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by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on August 8th, 2008
The correct quote reads as follows:

"The pen is mightier than the sword."

And

"Action speaks louder than words."

No one mentioned anything about them being "stronger."

Louder does not always imply stronger.
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by LuckyLefty on July 27th, 2008
i forgot who said this, but here's a quote...

"The man who thought pen was mightier than the sword, obviously never dealt with an automatic weapon"
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by Stevopedia on July 10th, 2008
Holy Crap man..you just turned my whole world upside down man....
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by Everything. Nothing. on June 25th, 2008
Writing persuasive words is an action.
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by technios on June 19th, 2008
perception...this question deserves every point that can be awarded!
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