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Posted by: JSG Sep 12 2010, 04:09 PM

Is The Pen Mightier Than The Sword?

This will see how you view opinions, Brainpower or Power? Or do you think it depends in a certain situation?

I say that the pen is mightier, because the sword is like violence, and more violence can lead to more violence.

But then again the sword stabs stuff...

Nah, pen.

Posted by: MoogleSam Sep 12 2010, 07:43 PM

It depends.

If you are sitting in your house and someone comes in the living room with a sword and all you have is a pen, unless it can squirt ink so you can blind them, then the sword as mightier as it can cut your head off and cut the pen in half.

Brainpower and power are two different ways of dealing with things. Sometime manipulation is needed to get people to reveal things and feel better, other times you have to beat it out of them. It depends on what is going on, the people and how quick you need to do something. It varies depending on the situation therefore, neither is better than the other in my opinion.

Posted by: Dazmi Sep 13 2010, 02:53 AM

Literally, not unless you're Macgyver (I haven't seen the show) and you can make a weapon out of the damn thing.

If you think of it another way, it can go ether way. The pen might be mightier than the sword, but I think victory can still be achieved though the sword.

Do I think it's mightier? I have no idea.

Posted by: Judge Gabranth Sep 13 2010, 10:12 PM

"I say Fuck the pen. Cause you can Die by the Sword!"

Tom Araya; Live Undead (Die by the Sword)

Literally. The sword is the way to go.

Posted by: Rich Boy Sep 13 2010, 11:00 PM

When you really think about it, it takes both to really make a difference. Whacking a leader of a country just for the lulz and taking over usually just feeds into a destructive cycle. Almost every successful coup in history used the pen to convince the public that whacking a leader is the right thing to do, and the sword is what's used to seal the deal.

Posted by: Cyezro Sep 19 2010, 07:29 AM

Well. It depends on how you use them.
You can slice and dice with the sword.
Or use the pen to write things down and have an agreement.
Ooorrr If your enemy is close enough, stab them in the neck or eyes with the pen.
To be honest.

Posted by: Yumie Sep 25 2010, 07:46 PM

Since its no fun to be the same.

People who had great ideas and wrote about it, throughout history, were usually silenced by whatever person was in power.
Galileo even had a song written about it: he wrote/told people his beliefs about the solar system, and people got angry at him. Just in case this is new to someone, Galileo got locked up.
Thus, the sword defeated the pen.

It depends does make sense, since Hitler did convince masses of people to follow his Germany plan. However, he did have the Nazi party supporting him when he began his speeches, and so in some ways people didn't really have a choice but to buy his propaganda. If there was no "sword" backing the "pen," the pen would have been pretty darn useless.

Posted by: Breeder Drew Oct 13 2010, 09:21 PM

Both. Say you write a peace document. It's declined. What'ya gonna do then hmm? I say grab that sword on your desk and make some shis-ka-bobs.

Think of it this way. If you only have a pen, you're not going to be prepared when the fight comes. And if you DON'T have the pen, then that swords might have your blood on it in the end.

It takes the sword to back up the pen.

Posted by: Thel Vadam Oct 15 2010, 01:12 AM

Sword, duh.
It's so much easier to kill with a sword. Or threaten.

Posted by: Zapi the Pikachu Oct 21 2010, 08:29 PM

It definitely depends.

Yeah, in general, swords (brutality in the literal meaning) are the quick and easy way to end a fight. However, the easy way might not always be the right way. Say you were the leader of a country, and another country refuses to do something that you ask (I'm not talking "gimme all ur moneys"; I mean something reasonable). Instead of negotiating with them you go straight into war, putting the rest of your country in danger (not that something like that would happen, it's just an example). Not very mighty, huh? If I had to choose I'd say the pen, because being reasonable often means you won't even have to have to use the sword. Still, the sword can be just as useful when the situation calls.

Posted by: Blak99Psy Oct 21 2010, 08:43 PM

I think it really depends on the situation. Do you want to torture the person and make them suffer, or do you want to just put them out of your misery and get the job done?

Words allow the opponent a chance to get back at you. How much do you really want that? Are you confident enough in your abilities that you can keep them on the losing side?

Brutality ends it all very quickly. Did you really get to purge all of your frustration? If not, you could end up taking it out on others. Maybe even others you never meant to hurt.

Of course, there's always a third option: Torture your opponent with words for a long enough time. When things get a little too hairy, kill them off.

When used for peace, sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Some people won't back down until you get violent. There are wars that operate on this principle. Other times, words soothe spirits and it's all you need. The other party may not have been thinking clearly, and talking to them can help them come to a realization of what they've been doing.

Posted by: Taryn Oct 30 2010, 12:59 AM

Written words last forever, as long as they tend to make sense. A sword will just get discarded after a certain amount of time, unless your part of some sword clan or a samurai family that keeps using and restoring the same sword for centuries.

Posted by: Chu Chu Oct 30 2010, 02:32 PM

The pen cause you can't use a sword if you don't know how.

Posted by: Taryn Oct 30 2010, 03:57 PM

Blunt force object anyone?

Posted by: Thel Vadam Oct 30 2010, 07:11 PM

What if you don't know how to use a pen?

Posted by: Taryn Oct 30 2010, 07:47 PM

Lack of brain, anyone?

Posted by: Thel Vadam Oct 30 2010, 08:04 PM

Well, I'd assume that it's quite easy to use a sword too. Hold the handle, stab stab stab.

Posted by: Taryn Oct 30 2010, 08:07 PM

Pen is removing a cap and scribbling. Sword is countering the weight of the blade, the length of the blade, the footing and also you cannot use a sword sitting down unless it's a short sword.

Pen wins for ease of use. Sword wins for gore.

Posted by: FancyGranola Oct 30 2010, 10:56 PM

Yet again thinking of what words to write takes a lot more effort to adjust the sword. Write something stupid and your words aren't heard.

Posted by: Yumie Oct 31 2010, 08:46 AM

I agree with fancygranola. It is just as hard to use a sword effectively as a pen. Most people have been going to english class five out of the seven days a week, just to perfect the use of the pen(and english classes continue into college, so its not like you can perfect it quickly). However, most people have never been taught how to use a sword. If we had, maybe our stabbing skills would equal our writing skills.

Scribbling without writing anything logical or convincing is just as useless as having a chunk of metal in your hand that you can't control.

Posted by: Thel Vadam Nov 1 2010, 03:44 AM

Yup, I'm agreeing with FancyGranola and Yumie. Anyway, if you really wanted to, you could just throw the sword if you didn't know how to use it. xD

Posted by: marshtomp1 Nov 1 2010, 03:47 AM

Hm...the sword can kill...but the pen can make other's kill...but it still depends!

Posted by: Sakira Nov 2 2010, 03:46 PM

My mind translated the question "Is the pen mightier than the sword" to "Are words really more powerful than violence?"

I'd say...It depends [a.k.a. I don't know].

Words, unlike violence, affect one's mind [disposition?]. If repeated over and over, words will eventually seep into one's conscious [or was is the subconscious?] and alter his/her disposition and behavior [a.k.a. brainwashing]. [Hateful and harsh] Words can mentally destroy a person, especially if [s]he is insecure about himself/herself. They are also an excellent way to manipulate someone.

Violence, however, is more likely to make an immediate impact on a person. The very nature of it allows it to instantly spark fear [or anger, possibly sadness] in people. The pain felt from a deep physical wound is remarkable [and hastens one's decision-making], so physical torture is a great way to get information out of someone.

So...In conclusion, I'd say that one would get the best results by using both words and violence effectively.

[I hope that makes sense.]

Posted by: Slyfur Nov 2 2010, 03:52 PM

Words effect you psychologically, which can cause others to follow you or kill you. These words could turn you into the greatest leader of our time, or the most bloodthirsty. There is a fine line between physical control and mental control, but whose to say that they can't both be used together effectively? With the pen, you could posses the greatest knowledge, but the weakest execution. With the sword you can create the greatest execution with the worst mentality. There must be a balance or else it's not going to work.

Posted by: Mister G Nov 13 2010, 08:51 PM

I say the pen because with knowledge you can overcome anything and in war with knowledge you can turn your enemies advantages against them.

Posted by: Myrtaus Nov 15 2010, 01:49 AM

Well, it would be very difficult to get a sword in the first place. Replace that with a gun, and you might be going somewhere.

Posted by: LiteSpeed Nov 15 2010, 01:58 AM

The pen. Without knowledge, the idea of the sword would either never be, or be horribly arwy.

Posted by: Slyfur Nov 18 2010, 11:00 PM

I see evenness here. The sword, it doesn't talk, it does. This causes problems.

The pen, is all talk, no execution. Think of the power if you combined both, think of the things you could do. The pen nor the sword is not mightier, for it comes down to you.

If you are not the mightier one, then all hope is lost for both to be effective, no?

Posted by: jhunter Nov 23 2010, 11:17 PM

Wars are fought with swords, but we only remember them because of the pen.

Posted by: Slyfur Dec 2 2010, 07:45 AM

But others are blocked from the pen because the sword tells them too. (AKA Government, ruling force, etc...)

Posted by: Painted Fox Dec 4 2010, 02:20 AM

Sorry for the earlier idiotic post.

Posted by: jhunter Dec 8 2010, 09:00 PM

This may or may not be a debate for another time, but if you ask me, those books are trash.

You can write whatever you want, but you cannot kill whoever you want, so the pen wins in that sense.

Posted by: buuyami Dec 9 2010, 04:25 PM

It depends.

If you want to stap someone in the eye, the pen is better then the sword.

Posted by: Agent Arcanine Dec 10 2010, 02:45 PM

The sword represents force; the pen represents words. Both are only as strong as the one wielding them.

However.
Short-term, the sword usually appears far stronger than the pen. But long-term, the pen always overcomes the sword.
As Slyfur said, the sword is action, while the pen is merely words. Yet, properly said, the pen can turn people to action, while the sword is alone in its fight. The sword can temporarily silence the pen, but cannot forever.

Look at how each affects people who you are attempting to persuade. Brute strength can only evoke forced obedience. The reason it does is quite simple - fear. However, this type of obedience generates hatred for the tyrant wielding the sword, leading to unrest and often even war. In such cases, the world erupts into chaos; hearts are broken, blood spills, powers clash, and feelings of anger, resentment, and hopelessness infect. And yet, it eventually does, because human beings are naturally wired to long for peace and/or termination of suffering.
That is not to say that the pen vs. the sword is a matter of good vs. evil. (Although the sword typically is not used for good, unless to protect something, because malice or insecurity is nearly always at the root of desire to kill.) The pen can be used for good or for bad. When used for good, it can stir innate desires for harmony, and rally people into action to fight for those utopic conditions. Conversely, it can stir the 'evil nature' of people and cause harm.

There is a saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will harm me." Is this really true? I'd be willing to bet you've been hurt by words someone said at one point or another. Sometimes words can cause as much or more pain than physical harm.

Because of this, I think the pen is overall stronger than the sword.

N.B. - It is also worthy of note that it can depend on the person, as well. Some people are more strongly affected by the sword, others by the pen. The personality and mindset of who you are persuading can very well determine the strength of both the sword and pen. I think that 99% of all problems can be solved with brains, manipulation, or physical strength.

Posted by: ronan2097 Jan 1 2011, 05:09 PM

All you need for the pen to work in the deathnote

Posted by: Uwtkhgs Jan 21 2011, 07:31 PM

I think that a sword might be better, but my friend actually has a pen (mechanical pencil actually) that can fire the end off pretty fast, and if done correctly, he could turn it into a taser.

Posted by: FrenzyClinic Jan 21 2011, 07:42 PM

Makes me think of an inner debate I had, except I added a gun into the equation.

When the pen was created, law was written. When the sword was created, law was broken. The pen rose once again and made more laws while fixing the others. The sword followed and broke them again, creating an endless cycle of creation and destruction.

When you think about, neither is mightier than the other, and vice versa. Pen can sentence the Sword away, and another sword can be made. Sword can break the Pen, but another can be made.

Posted by: duck Feb 6 2011, 04:12 AM

if you strap a pen to a sword it will be the mightiest

Posted by: squeaky321 Feb 14 2011, 05:53 PM

What the quote means is that with a pen you have education which of course is better than going into war witha sword or you counld die.

Posted by: John Richard May 30 2011, 05:56 AM

I have voted for the first option..A good writing can turn the entire society into the targeted spot. We have to get many solid proofs from various historic events passed.

Posted by: kenneth1221 Jun 30 2011, 03:29 PM

We're using 'pen' and 'sword' as metaphors, right?

Metaphorically, lies and propaganda are always the best. Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War to teach generals the best tactics. You can't teach tactics and achieve victory by brute force alone. I believe Sun Tzu pointed out sowing dissent as a tactic. Also, defectors can aid in war very well.

However, if the usage of pen and sword are truly metaphorical, then it depends on the power of the sword. Nuclear Weapons? They can stop any propaganda center, and citizens' letters to military leaders could do nothing to stop the launches.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine. This helped the American Revolutionary War effort more than any battle.

So, it all depends. The pen is mightier than the sword if it is used to pen taunts for duels, propaganda for wars, and slurs against bullies. The sword is stronger in actual combat (duh).

Edit: Darn, I didn't look at the dates and ended up necroposting, possibly for a second time. I do think this thread is good enough to continue, but that's not my job to decide.

Posted by: Pikalover10 Jul 1 2011, 01:15 PM

It depends.

Some situations require brute force. If someone breaks in to your house and tries to hack your head off, than yes... brute force is the only solution. Unless you feel like being this guy, "MWAHAHAHA! I WILL KILL YOU WITH MY PIECE OF PAPER THAT THOROUGHLY DESCRIBES YOUR DEATH! MWAHAHA!" ehem... that guy, will last about a second if he's lucky.

On the other hand situations do call for brainpower more. Pokemon is a fine example. Not the games as much, but if it were real life. You have to have a strategy. Strategy, my friend, is brain power. If you're in the middle of a war, only you and two other guys surrounded by ten people and you have to get everyone out without injury. That requires brainpower. Brute force will get you killed.

So yes. It depends

Posted by: Tart Spop Oct 16 2011, 02:35 PM

It depends. The pen can be used as a weapon to poke your opponent's eyes and temporarily blind them, then jab at them. But still, if you can't poke their eyes, your pen is dead. Like you.

Posted by: Munchlax and Shieldon duo Oct 16 2011, 02:55 PM

Think logically people!!!

The sword is mightier than a pen when in...a lot of situations.

But the Pen is mightier when you shoot it out of a gun! Sheesh, think about, why don't you!

Posted by: Reyo Oct 16 2011, 09:59 PM

the point behind it is supposed to be a metaphor for the fact that getting yourself on paper will result in better results than hacking your enemies up whether it be gaining immortality (through written word), or even just vanquishing your enemies (through law and government.) Thing is though is that the metaphor doesn't take into account that people sometimes want different things in different situations, and where in one case the analogy works, in others it fails horribly. For example, having your house invaded definitely takes a degree of physical intervention, you can't just try and "write it off". Survival takes a degree of both.

Posted by: Hydrophobic Rain Oct 17 2011, 07:46 AM

...And then Kenneth stole the words from my mouth.

Edward Bulwer wrote this metaphor describing people that violence, while easy isn't the best way to go about doing things, and has a much more negative effect, and will only make your victim, or antagonist pissed off. Thus, revenge. Write about them, talk about them, rumors and lies, and it will eventually destroy them (metaphorically of course).

But then again, I know how to use a sword, so yeah.

Posted by: Uwtkhgs Nov 19 2011, 06:28 PM

Percy Jackson

WHAT NOW!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Reyo Nov 19 2011, 10:58 PM

Posted by: megaarrow25 Nov 23 2011, 12:44 AM

If the pen is mightier than the sword, than why do actions speak louder than words?

Posted by: Fading Like The Lilac Dec 9 2011, 02:23 PM

It depends on the size of the sword and the sharpness of the pen in question.

Seriously, it is by the power of education and information that mighty despots fall; think of the role of Twitter and social networking in the 'Arab Spring', helping the protesters organise and smuggle information the various human rights abuses out of their country. Many revolutions start with the written word, from Luther nailing his thesis to the doors of that Church to Karl Marx writing Das Kapital and starting an age of Communism. On the other side, look at the impact Mein Kampf had on recent history. You could also mention the Declaration Of Independence, the Magna Carta and any one of the world's Holy Texts- all made by the pen and used to spread very powerful ideas across the globe. Also, think of the Ancient Greek philosophers- they used the pen and we remember their words to this day, but their enemies who used the sword to silence what they couldn't accept are just remembered as "the people who killed so-and-so/had so-and-so killed." Think about it for a second. We remember great works of writing, moving speeches and sometimes even epic poems- all of which were made not only to carry an idea from the speaker/author to the listener but to make sure it could carry on doing so for hundreds of years in the future. A picture says a thousand words, but sometimes a word can have a thousand ideas hidden inside...

Actions only speak louder than words because, when you talk to children and idiots, you speak LOUDLY and s-l-o-w-l-y.

Posted by: BazookaNeon Dec 25 2011, 06:44 PM

I'm gonna make it short and sweet and say that a pen is both mentally and physically mightier then a sword.
Why not? It expresses the imagination of it's user.

Although I will insert a Zelda moment here and say that the exception is the Master Sword.