2017 – Most Philosophical 7th Grader in America:

Gideon Berrie, New York.

 

      Why the Sword is Mightier than the Pen

“Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.” said Theodore Roosevelt, one of the most influential presidents in American history. He defined his presidency through actions, and got things done. In a way, he led by following this philosophical statement: the sword is mightier than the pen. The sword represents actions, good or bad. Either way, action causes change. It can express itself in forms of art and beauty or it can show the evil side to all. But most of all, actions achieve change. They have an impact, whereas words are a figment of our imagination, symbols that are passive on the page. That is why I think actions are mightier than words.

Words may inspire, they may influence, but never will they beat the physical effects of actions. When you hear the riveting words of a speech, it seems as if you can’t turn away. But you can. When the action is performed, it is almost impossible to deny what has just happened, but the effects of this war will be shown blatantly in the wake of the conflict. The power of actions has also been shown scientifically. Sharon Begley, the senior science writer at STAT, the life sciences publication of the Boston Globe, said that the action of practicing something can physically affect your brain cells. Words are always subject to interpretation, and uncertainty is always lingering in the air. The truth is hard to achieve, and not all strive for it, but the finality of action will always show true intent.

This is not to say words are worthless. Words can survive the test of time. They inspire, engage the listener and, at times, they can be the spark for some form of change. But actions can fill all of those requirements, and more. The action will set the topic, define what is going on, leaving little room for interpretation. Whether it is the change of a face expression or a revolution, it will always cause change. Alexander Ostewalder, a Swiss business theorist, author and consultant said it perfectly when he stated, “Actions speak louder than words. There is a big difference between what people say and what they do.”

In a way, action give meaning to words. Throughout history there have been very powerful actions that can swallow up words and make them insignificant, which goes to show how much power actions can hold Reality is best defined as the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. That is what action are. They are impossible to dismiss and they start of change, unlike words, whose substance wavers. With an evolving world, and situations turning into more extremes, it is important to act on your cause to invoke change and to create a better world.

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