The pen is mightier than the sword
Meaning: Writing and ideas have more influence than violence.
Origin: The line comes from Edward Bulwer-Lytton's play Richelieu (1839). The Cardinal, a churchman who cannot take up arms, discovers a plot against him and realizes his signature can do what soldiers cannot: "Beneath the rule of men entirely great, / The pen is mightier than the sword." Writers had long set the power of words against the power of weapons, but Bulwer-Lytton's wording is the one that stuck.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: La plume est plus forte que l'épée (literally: The pen is stronger than the sword)
- Spanish: La pluma es más poderosa que la espada (literally: The pen is more powerful than the sword)
- Japanese: ペンは剣よりも強し (Pen wa ken yori mo tsuyoshi) (literally: The pen is stronger than the sword)
- German: Die Feder ist mächtiger als das Schwert (literally: The pen is mightier than the sword)
More proverbs about Communication
- Silence is golden — Sometimes it's better to say nothing.
- Actions speak louder than words — What you do matters more than what you say.
- Empty vessels make the most noise — Those who know the least often talk the most.
- Still waters run deep — Quiet people often have great depth of character.
- Barking dogs seldom bite — People who make threats rarely carry them out.
- A picture is worth a thousand words — Visual information communicates more effectively than text.
From our compliments & insults
- Joli comme un cœur — Utterly charming or adorable.
- Tu as un cœur d'or — You are genuinely kind and generous.
- Tu déchires — You're awesome — you totally rock.