IF Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.... then

[Anastacy]

a pen in the wrong hands can also order the dehumanization, torture, and destruction of entire communities. Do these words not break spirit?

A pen, in that case, thus becomes the sword. Dehumanization, torture, and destruction are all very physical things.

A pen represents ideas, and changing peoples' minds, and educating them.

[breadisfunny]

two words: pen gun.

[Deleted]

How is the pen mightier than the sword?

It is not.. but perhaps a printing press is heavier than a siege engine

[GennGreymane]

It is not.. grow a spine?

I guess you would deny that with a pen, you can order the death of thousands?

[Deleted]

The pen is mightier than the sword. If the pen is very sharpy, and the sword very short. -Terry Pratchett

I miss that man. Very, very much.

[Deleted]

I guess you would deny that with a pen, you can order the death of thousands?

Actually yes, Id blame the ones doing the executing.

[GennGreymane]

Actually yes, Id blame the ones doing the executing.

So the ideas are the root cause. The pen is a representation of ideas.

[Deleted]

So the ideas are the root cause. The pen is a representation of ideas.

I disagree.. ideas.. or ideology is no excuse to do bad things. People who fall for ideology are not innocent and should pay for their crimes like everyone else.

[GennGreymane]

I disagree.. ideas.. or ideology is no excuse to do bad things. People who fall for ideology are not innocent and should pay for their crimes like everyone else.

Agreed, but that does not mean that Ideas, the pen, are indeed mightier than the tools used, the weapons, the sword.

[Deleted]

Agreed, but that does not mean that Ideas, the pen, are indeed mightier than the tools used, the weapons, the sword.

Ok Ill give you that, sometimes they are and cant be fought off merely by "swords". I personally really disagree with that as Im immune to ideology but I cant deny reality.

[s_bushido]

The saying is just a way to try and help children learn to ignore bullying. Taking it literally is dumb.

[Berengil]

The saying (in the title) is bullshit. Words can hurt very well.

This garbage, again. /sigh

If what someone says, not does, SAYS to you or about you makes you hurt yourself, you are the one with a problem.

Punches, knives, guns,etc: these actually hurt.

Words are air. The only power they have is whatever we give those words upon hearing them.


As for the pen being mightier than the sword: it's a poetic idea. Swords can kill, but ideas can only die if you kill everyone, everywhere who has them.

[Feel The Power]

The version I've always heard was "but names can never hurt me". Maybe this saying varies in different parts of the world. Also, comparing two different quotes by two different people isn't something that you can really say contradict each other.

[Deleted]

I like this version
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can hurt forever

[Dhrizzle]

Only if youre weak minded and let them. People shouldnt care what other people think of them

By the same argument sticks and stones can only break bones if you're weak of body and let them.