In a confrontation I would much rather have a sword than a pen. The sword has a farther reach, a sharper blade, and a heavier weight so it can be wielded with deadly efficiency. In fact, I would wager, having neither trained with a sword nor a pen for martial combat that I would be far more effective with the sword. The pen, not so much. I'm sure there is some odd exception in the world who has honed his pen-point [pun intended] accuracy enough to be an absolute assassin with a Lamy Joy, but on average I'm sure there are far more mortal wounds and decapitations with a flamberge than a fountain pen.
Is this to say that those who wield the pen are weak? Perhaps on the field of battle yes, and disadvantaged, but most of those who walk the way of the scribe instead of the way of the samurai never see the dark agony suffered and displayed on the stage of the theater of war.
In fact, their intelligence has made for them a human phalanx to guard them from any inhibition or termination of their lifestyle. The mentally weak and poor are often the majority of the ranks in any given army. They are the lap dogs of the educated; commanded, moved, sacrificed, and forgotten--merely pawns in the game.
The subtle truth in life is, that weakness is not the measure of physical fortitude and firmness, but of mental might and mastery, and that the pen is mightier than the sword BECAUSE the pen sends the swords to war.
Intelligence is my Idol, Knowledge is my God, and Wisdom is my Way. --Lucifuge Rofocale
