The sword is mightier than the pen

[johnlambert]

Ive never heard of anyone having a limb chopped off by a biro, nor have I (or anyone I know) ever heard of anyone being beheaded by a fountain pen so............ how on earth can the pen be mightier than the sword?

And is "mightier" really a word? should we say "more mighty"?

[Buenchico]

"Mightier" is consistent with Longman's Guide to English Usage. Also, I've never known the audience at the Last Night of the Proms to sing "make you more mighty yet" in 'Land of Hope and Glory'.

The pen is mightier than the sword because, while a sword can kill one man at a time, a pen can be used to start or stop a war. Just ask a Danish cartoonist!

Chris

[kempie]

It is really a word, as are heftier and thriftier amongst others which follow the same pattern.

I presume George W. Bush signed some documents before launching an assault on Afghanistan and Iraq?

[sir.prize]

In the physical sense the sword is certainly mightier than the pen. But the inference is that Human history is influenced more by the written word than by warfare.

Both the words mightier and mightiest are adjective derivatives of the word mighty. Reference Oxford Wordpower Dictionary

[Quizmonster]

I quite like the saying that "The pen may be mightier than the sword, but it's no match for an AK47!"

[andy-hughes]

A friend of mine used to have a poster on his wall that advised -

The penis mightier than the sword (but you try beheading someone with one!)

[Gnisy]

It is supposed to mean that academicians, poets, writers, artists and others of the like ( that use a pen or whatever else writing material ) will be remembered for their contributions in history, whereas warriors and soldiers who shed blood in wars and battles will be forgotten relatively easily. Hence, the pen is mightier than the sword.

[mycatis]

lmao Andy "the penis"??? really?

[foundryman]

How about this ..It was a pen that was used to sign the death order. Thus the sword was useless until the pen had done its work !

[foundryman]

mighty...mightier...mightiest or most mighty

[madein1978]

LMAO at Buenchico, too true mah man!!

[LeoMunro]

With your leave buddies, may I go a little further and suggest that the Pun is Matier than the Word.

[mei2525]

Shamnus heaney (sorry not sure about spelling of last name) did a poem based on this called 'digging'. its about his father and his grand and greatdad (so on so forth) all being diggers of potato. this was considered a strong and masculine. whereas the son wants to to writing. in end he makes an reference to this phrase 'i'll dig with this pen'.