“Ink of the scholar is mightier than the blood of the martyr”, says the Islamic Prophet Mohammad. The proverb, ‘Pen is mightier than sword’, perhaps is the most effective way of saying that ideas are more effective than violence. A sword can kill one, two,… or even a hundred, but a pen can bring about a revolution. A sword can bring about a change only forcefully but a pen can cause to change people’s opinion through the power of words.
Words are indeed powerful. They have the power to persuade and influence. They can bring smiles to a crying face, can act as a balm of relief to a condoling person, can douse the fire of anger without causing any harm, bring about a sense of calmness to an aggressive person and can heal wounds and abolish fears from the minds of the people. Words have the power to bring joy and laughter and cheerfulness in and otherwise cold and somber world. Hence, it would be apt to say that the writings and words hold greater power than arms.
A pen can be two edged sword. Unlike a sword, it can be both constructive and destructive. And its destructive power is stronger than the sword’s. a sword can hurt one externally, but a pen can tear one’s heart and in the sense can prove to be a more lethal weapon. The power of pen is out of people’s imagination. A pen is a versatile tool, which can be used to make out any event.
If we reminisce about our childhood or grandma’s tales, we will surely remember the one in which a monkey, slave of a king was entrusted with the task of looking after his master’s comfort while he slept. Once, when the king was sleeping, a fly came and sat on the nose of the king. Then, what! The impulsive monkey took out his sword to kill the fly and injured the king through his reckless action. The same is the case with some people on the earth who use force and might, to prove their point. In story it is a monkey and in reality it is the terrorists. Terrorists use the power of force and violence to fructify their plans. They use the power of weapons like guns, swords, explosives, etc. to wreck havoc to force their ideas upon people. They compulsively try to mould people’s perception towards their ideas and beliefs by causing death, damage and destruction. But it is not so. A society can never progress like that. It is only through education and learning, through the teachings and writings of great intellectuals that development and welfare of the society is possible.
As history and facts have revealed, the impacts of wars cannot last long. It can last for a few centuries, at most. Yet books can last for thousands of years. For example, the Holy Bible is the most influential book that has ever been published. Many people study and read it every day. Moreover, it changes people’s lives. It is not only the Holy Bible that influences people, but a lot of classic books are also playing an important role in inspiring and guiding people. Moreover, a pen can hurt others eternally. As a matter of fact, a sword can cause trauma in someone. Yet that kind of trauma is physical and can be healed. However, for most of the time, the wound, which is caused by words, cannot be healed easily. For example, if you have a fight with your friends, and you quarrel with them, you may talk to each other after a few days. But if you write a letter to revile your friends, you may not be able to be friends with them anymore. It is because the harm that words can bring to others can be huge. Finally, a pen can control people’s minds. People can use a sword to force others to do something, but they are neverwilling to do. Yet, a pen can actually make people to something with all their might, no matter whether the thing is merciful or felonious. There was a notorious man in history, who knew the fact that a pen can control people’s minds, caused a big war. That man was Adolf Hitler. He used his speeches to control people’s minds, and caused a poignant disaster in history. In conclusion, people can do huge things with a pen, as it can control people’s minds, cause trauma on others eternally, and influence people. The power of a pen can change a person’s mind from inside out, while a sword can only hurt or kill the body. The sword is powerful, but the pen is much more powerful. The pen is mightier than the sword means that words and communication are more powerful than wars and fighting. Writers, intellectuals, and philosophers are more powerful to control or change the world than conquerors.
BY AISHWARYA IYER
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