Latest / The Daily Writer / A Mighty Sharp Sword

Transcript

A Mighty Sharp Sword · The Daily Writer

• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Daily Rider, where we share a lesson each day to help you cultivate the habits for creative success.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: These lessons are inspired by great artists, authors, and thinkers, both past and present.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: For more, you can visit us at dailywriterlife.com.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: If you are a fan of the Peanuts comic strip, you may remember one of the ongoing storylines involving Snoopy, Charlie Brown's lovable dog.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Snoopy would be perched on top of his doghouse with a typewriter trying to begin his novel, but no matter what he was writing, he always used the opening line, it was a dark and stormy night.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Many readers of Peanuts thought Charles Schultz came up with this phrase since he created the comic strip.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: However, the phrase has actually been around for nearly 200 years.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: It was first written by the English novelist Edward Bulwer Lytton in 1830 for one of his novels.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: Less than a decade later, in 1839, he wrote a historical play called Cardinal Richelieu.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: The play contained a line of dialogue that would come to symbolize the power of writing, and perhaps you've heard of this phrase The Pin is mightier than the sword.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: But what does that mean exactly?
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: What should we learn from this truth that words can indeed be mighty?
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Well I think there are two lessons, the first one obvious, and the second one not so much.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: First, the obvious one.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Words have the power to do an immense amount of good in the world, but you don't have to be in a position of power to have powerful words.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: With our access to blogs, podcasts, social media, and self-publishing, we can use our words to teach, inspire, or connect with others in a way that's never been possible in human history.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: Think of a time when somebody you respected said you were a good writer or that you were talented or that you were beautiful or handsome.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Words have a power and they can move us to positive action.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: Second, the not so obvious lesson, is that our words also have the power to hurt others.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: The pen is mightier than the sword because our words can cut deeper than any steel sword ever could.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: They can also leave emotional and mental scars that can possibly never heal.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: Have you ever said something that you wished a million times you could take back?
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we all have.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: That's the negative power of words.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: Here's a simple rule to keep in mind.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: Never write something when you're angry.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: When you're angry, your judgment is clouded and you'll speak out of emotion, not from rationality or logic.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: We're especially prone to do this whenever we're sending emails and text messages or posting on social media.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Those are mediums that are designed for quick and efficient communication.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: But the problem with those mediums is that it's easy to fire off a text or a tweet whenever you're angry.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: It might feel good in the moment, but when you calm down later, you'll wish that you could take it back.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: But by then, it's too late and the damage has already been done.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: As writers, we like the idea of creating powerful words.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: But when our emotions get out of hand, sometimes the best thing we can do with our verbal sword is to put it back in its sheath and not say anything at all.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for listening to the Daily Rider Podcast.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: We really appreciate your support and hope you enjoyed this episode.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: You can find more at DailyRinerLife.com.