Why words are more powerful than weapons
The pen is mightier than the sword.
These words were first written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839, and he sure knew what he was talking about. Words have the power to change lives and to change the world. And although most people believe actions speak louder, words should never be taken lightly.
Words can be uplifting, joyful, and loving, or they can be threatening, hateful, and terrifying. Words can fall on many ears, they can be read by many eyes, and they can spark actions that can add value to the world or set it on fire.
It’s just words
A presidential candidate just said that during a televised debate, but he’s clearly playing dumb and ignoring reality. His words have already had a deep effect on an entire country, even though he claims they don’t mean anything.
The truth is his words mean something to millions of people, and he has reached many ears, many eyes, and many hearts. His words might determine the fate of a nation, perhaps for the worse.
Because words are more powerful than weapons.
Words have a more lasting and profound effect on the world than a random act of violence. We live in fear of terrorist acts, mass shootings, and armed crime, but we should care more about who is saying the words that are triggering the violence.
If you tell a big enough lie, and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.
Eighty years ago, the words of a German dictator fed the pride, hatred and intolerance that sparked a World War. Why did people listen to him? Why did they find his words attractive?
Today, the words of a Muslim sheik, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, fuel the fire for the violence in Iraq and Syria. The man is a ghost, but his words have captured the hearts and minds of many Muslims. Why are they listening to him?
The problem is that hateful words are strangely attractive.
Anyone can learn to shoot a gun, anyone can pull the trigger. But an act of violence in itself doesn’t have the lasting and profound effects that words do. Words are more powerful, because they can spawn acts of violence and even war. And wars do change the world.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
But words can also change the world for the better. The positive influence of words can also reach millions of hearts and minds, and change lives and the fate of nations. Gandhi’s non-violent acts and remarkable words gave a country its independence, and the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. still ring in the minds of American people.
They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists…
Sometimes I think the world is more willing to read and listen to hateful words than positive words. Most of the time, it seems like words of intolerance, fear, and hate reach more hearts than words of love, tolerance, and peace. I want to believe I’m wrong.
Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.
More than at any other time in history, we are surrounded by information, by words. We can choose what sort of words we will take to heart. Are we going to choose words of hate or words of love? There’s no gray area here, it’s either positive or negative. Choose your words wisely, because words can be more powerful than any weapon on Earth.
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