A contradition in sayings?: Philosophy Forums

A contradition in sayings?

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Posted 05/05/09 - 06:18 PM: Subject: A contradition in sayings?	#1
If actions speak louder than words, then why is pen mightier than the sword? Sense we all know that the pen is a metaphor for legislation and law, could it considered an action as it is a law being put in to effect? Such as saying, making a law(an action) is better than saying you are going to make one(words)? What are your thoughts on this?
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ManiacJack
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Posted 05/05/09 - 09:35 PM:	#2
Even without the metaphor of written law, the penis mightier. Don't the Bible say something like 'the word is God'?
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Meem
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Posted 05/06/09 - 02:59 AM:	#3
Well what do the pen and sword represent? Thought and action? Thought leads to action? edit What is thought without action, and what is action without thought?
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TheThoughtfulOne
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Posted 05/06/09 - 09:22 AM:	#4
ManiacJack wrote: Even without the metaphor of written law, the penis mightier. Don't the Bible say something like 'the word is God'? I'm sure the PENIS is mightier I wouldn't know about that Bible, I don't follow that religion.
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Fenchurch
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Posted 05/06/09 - 10:48 AM:	#5
TheThoughtfulOne wrote: If actions speak louder than words, then why is pen mightier than the sword? Because different people consider different things to be common sense or conventional knowledge. That folk wisdom is self-contradictory has long been known: "look before you leap" and "he who hesitates are lost" are even more directly in conflict than your own examples. It comes from the fact that rules of thumb are heuristic devices: policies that work out well a lot of the time, but not always. TheThoughtfulOne wrote: Sense we all know that the pen is a metaphor for legislation and law... No it isn't! It is generally understood as meaning that writing is more influential than fighting, or that brilliant minds ultimately affect the world more than brilliant generals do. And that's another problem with folk sayings: not everyone means the same thing by them!
...and she, laughing softly, "Why should I lift a shield in contest? If I conquer when naked, how will it be when I take arms?" "Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards never can bring about reform. Those who are really in earnest are willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathies with despised ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences." -Susan B. Anthony

Landlady
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Posted 05/06/09 - 11:40 PM:	#6
TheThoughtfulOne wrote: If actions speak louder than words, then why is pen mightier than the sword? Sense we all know that the pen is a metaphor for legislation and law, could it considered an action as it is a law being put in to effect? Such as saying, making a law(an action) is better than saying you are going to make one(words)? What are your thoughts on this? A written law is pretty much useless if you are not able to enforce it with some type of police force. The sword in the saying, I take it, is the backing up of a written word (law) by physical force, rather than the action of writing the law down.
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Zimboki
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Posted 05/07/09 - 12:18 AM:	#7
If actions speak louder than words then the pen is mightier than the sword. I don't believe they are trying to say the same thing. Pen is mightier than the sword I believe is usually used in reference to influencing people. If you write an arousing speech and people cheer you on you have won their favour with the the pen. If you try to conquer them with military might some will fight back and most will not obey you wholely. Therefore the victory isn't as great. In the same sense If I punch you in the face its much more clearly communicated than if I say I hate you. One deals with the means of communication the other with the result of the communication.
If I was you then I wouldn't be me so what ever I say now doesn't matter because I'd be acting like you.

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