Wesley Guo Week 9: Pen and Sword

Which is mightier: The pen or the sword?

This is one of the oldest questions that is asked throughout history, and depending on when and where you are, you may receive a completely different answer. The expression “The pen is mightier than the sword” comes from the 19th century play Richelieu: Or the Conspiracy, but the idea of comparing the “pen” and the “sword” can trace back to ancient times.  The sword generally represents “hard” power; power achieved through force and military conflict, using fear and threats to achieve what you want. Throughout history, this has been the norm, as countries must fight to not be consumed by a greater power. You will see that practically every major empire in the world started as highly militaristic states that conquered their neighbors, no matter if it was the Romans, Chinese, Macedonians, or Mongols. Without having a strong military force to defend their nation, their infant states will be laid waste to by hostile neighbors.  Yet it must also be remembered that while it is easy to come to power through the sword, it is very hard to maintain an empire through military might and fear alone. Successful empires must also possess the power of the “pen,” and be able to inspire unity and loyalty amongst their people. It is because of this and more that the former two examples of the Romans and Chinese were highly successful empires that lasted thousands of years, while the latter two lasted mere decades before collapse. Alexander’s phalanxes and the Great Khan’s horse archers might be able to conquer the world, but they are not able to rule it. In the current day and age, the saying of pen and sword has taken on a new meaning, symbolizing how someone’s intellect can overpower physical brute force. But while this is true, some also extrapolate this idea to make the statement that the world is now ruled by the word rather than the sword. Just like any other time in history, both pen and sword have their role to play on the world stage. It is important not to be naive. The world is at a present state of relative peace, but this is the exception, not the norm. The pen has written the rules of diplomacy that hold our present world together, but the sword can slice through the thin fabric at any moment. As such, it requires large amounts of hard work and patience to keep the world in its present state. In the 5th century, the Western Roman Empire stood on its last legs. Its institutions long corroded, its state falling apart. The treasury lay long empty, with its reserves fleeced by corrupt officials and bribes paid to invading tribes. Those same tribes now brought the empire to its knees, with no army left to defend them. There is nothing more to be done, as the state has lost both its pen and its sword.

Spencer, Tom. “Pen vs Sword.” Tom Spencer |, 25 Feb. 2019, www.spencertom.com/2015/12/07/pen-vs-sword/.