The Maxims of Ptahhotep (c. 2350 BCE)
“The pen is mightier than the sword, but the tongue is mightier than them both put together.”
pp 79 - 80.
Letter to his daughter (1978)
Context: Life is a love affair. There is a romance with every beauty of nature. I have no hesitation in saving that my most passionate love affair, my most thrilling romance has been with the people. There is an indissoluble marriage between politics and the people. That is why "Man is a political animal" and the state a political theatre. I have been on this stage of the masters for over twenty tumultuous years. I believe I still have a role to play. I believe the people still want me on this stage, but if I have to bow out, I give you the gift of my feelings. You will fight the fight better than me. Your speeches will be more eloquent than my speeches. Your commitment equally total. There will be more youth and vitality in your struggle. Your deeds ill be more daring. I transmit to you the blessing to the most blessed mission. This is the only present I can give you on your birthdays.
“Hush your tongues from idle speech.”
Source: Translations, The Aeneid of Virgil (1866), Book V, p. 146
“Thoughts are mightier than strength of hand.”
Fragment 854.
Phædra
Source: The Suppliants, lines 446–447 (tr. Christopher Collard)
"Stay Quiet and You'll Be Okay" http://www.steynonline.com/6943/stay-quiet-and-youll-be-okay steynonline.com (9 May 2015)
cnet.com: "Mozilla CEO Eich resigns after gay-marriage controversy" 3 Apr 2014 http://www.cnet.com/news/mozilla-ceo-eich-resigns-after-controversy/; on the resignation of Brendan Eich, 3 April 2014:
“I heard, fear-stricken and amazed,
My speech tongue-tied, my hair upraised.”
Source: Translations, The Aeneid of Virgil (1866), Book III, p. 77
Source: The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories
