2006-09-25 02:35:44 · 17 answers · asked by latin 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You can change more people with words (the pen) than with violence or threats of violence (sword). That's true mostly because words reach out further, in printed or electronic form, than a sword can reach, but also because a person's defenses are down when they read. And know this specifically -- you can FRIGHTEN more people with words than with swords, and that is important to remember. How often have you seen someone read a newspaper or a news magazine and get so frightened by what they read that they have to comment about it, even to strangers?
The way the world is these days, with instant communication from all the "hot spots" of the world, we are aware of factors that could change our lives far more than people were say 75 years ago, when the fastest communication was the newspaper, and they got their news from limited sources. It would be days or even weeks before news -- filtered through however many censors -- got to the newspapers about a war in Europe. Now we are there by live minicam, satellite feed.
Yes, the pen is mightier than the sword; but a picture is also worth 1,000 words, and that's what we are getting these days: thousands of pictures along with the words, most of them gruesome.
2006-09-25 02:50:09 · answer #1 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
By what I write with the pen.., I can cause peace, love, passions, anger, hate and possibly even wars. The written word in pen can also create fantastic worlds, dismal places and many wonders.
Indeed the Pen can do much more than the sword of itself. The sword can only bring death - the pen can do so much more.
2006-09-25 02:56:21 · answer #2 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pen of a ruler can start and stop wars. The pen can sign the order to launch our nuclear missiles. The pen of a judge can order executions. The pen of an IRS employee can steal everything you own. Can't do all that with a sword.
2006-09-25 03:34:46 · answer #3 · answered by water boy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pen is a symbol or indication of wisdom. A sword is used by a soldier. The pen is known as the writer's weapon. Sword is a symbol of strength. Kings who were mighty and were advised by men of wisdom. Without wisdom kings find difficult to rule. Therefore, the ministers were chosen from the intellectual class. In case of waging war, the minister's were giving valuable suggestions to king. Hence, this has become proverb.
2006-09-25 02:58:49 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The pen is mightier than the sword" words can incite so much more than a weapon. Look back in history to Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" his words helped bring the colonists together to oust English rule in this country.
2006-09-25 02:48:58 · answer #5 · answered by Diana H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the pen being mightier than the sword is a euphemism.
this is to give credence and acknowledgement to those authors, leaders, politicians, etc, who preferred to use their literary abilities to sway public thought and action during times of war especially. in effect it has been said so many times that such great writings have accomplished more than actual (sword) fighting.
perhaps. perhaps not.
alexander the great did not care to scare his enemies with articles. he once faced a king who had 10 times more his soldiers, yet to his face told that king to surrender, or perish. dared to prove why, he asked his first platoon to march themselves off a hill, which they did, etc etc. the king grasped the loyalty of alexander's troops, and promptly surrendered.
attila the hun conquered his world neither by journalistic prowess.
jesus christ did not write anything (apart from undeciphered scribbling on the sand when he saved a whore from being stoned to death).
the crusades and expeditions, and the moslems battled it out for centuries.. conquering, then proselytizing.. look what religions are the biggest in number.. christianity and islam!
mother theresa preferred to "just go.." i have yet to read anything she wrote herself (she has published interviews, ok. interviews.. someone else did the writhing.)
one of commerce's biggest brands says: just do it.. not write it.
blahblah blah, yada yadayada..
meaning.. "the pen is mightier than the sword" is but an expression to describe a limited but respectable aspect of literary prowess.
2006-09-25 04:34:13 · answer #6 · answered by doe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ideas -as represented by the written word, or 'pen' can be far more powerful, influential and long lasting than a simple acts of violence, as represented by the 'sword'.
In other words, books have affected far more changes and influenced more people than any war ever has.
2006-09-25 02:49:36 · answer #7 · answered by lmn78744 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A person is harmed by the sword in that time. Harmful words by the pen can last forever.
2006-09-25 02:43:18 · answer #8 · answered by Its Me 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can be more effective in what you want to get across with using writing (or possibly a nonviolent means) then actually using war / violence to prove a point. You could also apply this to the idea of using diplomacy rather than war or using the news / writing stories rather than fight.
2006-09-25 02:44:45 · answer #9 · answered by Locke15 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means that you can control or persuade more people more easily with words than you can with force.
The newspaper changes things faster than war.
2006-09-25 02:44:27 · answer #10 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋