Leave it to Archie to think of the simplest answer ...

He says:

Sword trumps Pen because the man with the sword can make the man with the pen write what he wants.

Many people have died because they refused to do that very thing. They're called martyrs and they usually collect more notoriety then those who kill 'em.

I don't know... I remember more Emperors of Rome than I do Martyrs of Christiandom. *nods*

Well, Archie did give me some examples of where sword beats pen but I was posting rather quickly.

Take Spartacus. Famous for centuries now because he picked up a sword and fought but who can remember any of those men in the Roman senate who made speeches trying to rally the people against him? I mean, he wasn't the only slave to rebel, but he was one of the very few to do so and fight along with the people he rallied.

...I'd rather a gun.

You can borrow my death ray.

Well Damalis has pretty much hit the nail on the head.

Actions rather than words.

Actions come from words... yeah. think about that.

Words come from actions. Actions come before reactions. Every momentum has an equal and inertia opposit.

What?

Yeah, think about that...

lol, lets not confuse the girl, I was suggesting that that was the area she focused on.

Of course one could debate this forever, its a bit like the chicken and the egg.