The Pen is Mightier than the Sword | Why Your Work Matters

The pen is mightier than the sword. The phrase has been said many times so many times that it has passed into the realm of being a cliche.

As a writer, I have always accepted it as a true statement without giving it much more thought. However, when I was looking for an image for another blog that I manager I came across a number of comments on the web where the validity of it was challenged.

A pen is a small object that doesn't hold much bodily threat to anyone by itself. You might get stabbed in the hand or get ink all over yourself, but the chance of any real harm is unlikely—unless you count the dress shirts I have ruined because I left the cap off when I put the pen in my pocket. D'oh.

In a duel I would take a sword any day over a pen any day.

Context

A little context is in order to understand how the phrase came into being.

The phrase was first written by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 for his play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy. The play's title character was Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu and of Fronsac. The Cardinal also featured in Alexander Dumas' The Three Musketeers where the Cardinal was the main antagonist. It isn't too much of a stretch of the imagination to believe that Richelieu, who delivered the words "the pen is mightier than the sword" in Act II Scene II of the play, was very familiar with the efficacy of a master swordsmen.

Richelieu was often known as the king's chief minister. In fact, in The Three Musketeers, Richelieu is portrayed as being more powerful than the king.

Richelieu knew what it was like to be a man of arms. According to the footnotes in the play, "Richelieu was originally intended for the profession of arms. The death of his brother opened to him the bishopric of Lucon, but his military propensities were as strong as his priestly ambitions. During his brilliant campaign in Italy, the cardinal marched at the head of his troops in complete armor."

Given Richelieu's prominence and influence he had an interesting perspective from which to understand that the pen is mightier than the sword. The school yard bullies, whether they be grown or still in elementary school, who believe brawn is mightier than brain would have you believe otherwise.

They would be, and are, wrong.

Richelieu was able to squelch rebellions and opposing factions. The manner in which he did so was through directing others in his influence. Influence through the pen holds more long-lasting influence than any sword fight.

In fact, the fuller text of the play reads, "Beneath the rule of men entirely great the pen is mightier than the sword... Take away the sword; States can be saved without it."

The wars being fought around the world today are fought largely on the basis of ideology—communicated through pen, mouth, satellite and an array of other devices. In a word, armies are sent into war.

How this Applies to Your Work?

Few of us will ever be involved in a sword fight or even a gun fight. Yet, the work we do provides us the opportunity to influence the lives of others. We may not raise an arm against another person, but our work directly influences our audience.

Whether you raise a pen (or in today's equivalent, a keyboard) to write a word or to illustrate an idea, you have the opportunity to change a life. You may not have a large influence today. As in the parable of the starfish, though, even if your work only influences one person it matters.

So get out there and make a difference. Write an article. Paint. Draw. Share yourself with the world. Because it matters.