--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A pen is neither good nor bad. It’s what…" description: "\"“A pen is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it a weapon of war or a tool of peace. Likewise, love is neither good nor bad. It’s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/lilly-mance-256755_bad_a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what_355736.jpg" --- # A pen is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it… ![“A pen is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it a weapon of war or a tool of peace. Likewise, love is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it the ultimate punishment or the greatest reward.” quote by Lilly Mance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/lilly-mance-256755_bad_a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what_355736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/lilly-mance-256755_bad_a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what_355736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/lilly-mance-256755_bad_a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what_355736.jpg) > ““A pen is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it a weapon of war or a tool of peace. Likewise, love is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it the ultimate punishment or the greatest reward.”” [Lilly Mance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-mance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tools and emotions are neutral; their impact depends on our use. **In simple terms:** Tools are neutral, use defines them. Key Takeaway Choose purposeful use. Themes tools love morality choice impact Mood thoughtful balanced Type Bad:1 Good:1 Love:1 Peace:1 Pen:1 War:1 Love Good:0 Pen Good:0 Peace Likewise:0 When to use this quote - writing - conflict resolution - relationships - activism Key Concepts ethics intentionality psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide the moral use of a tool? - What love actions reflect your values? A Different Perspective Neutrality can be illusion if context is ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-good/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Likewise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-likewise-3276489/) [Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pen/) [Pen Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pen-good-2000824/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I write in pen because it works. A fountain pen is no good for writing in the way I do because I'd have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-write-in-pen-because-it-works-a-fountain-pen-is-no-good-for-writing/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I had some superstitions when I was little. And a winning pen is always a good thing to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judit-polgar/i-had-some-superstitions-when-i-was-little-and-a-winning-pen-is/) [Judit Polgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judit-polgar/) > [The camera need not be a cold mechanical device. Like the pen, it is as good as the man who uses it. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-camera-need-not-be-a-cold-mechanical-device-like-the-pen-it-is-as/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I love a good yoga class. I like to switch it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoni-porowski/i-love-a-good-yoga-class-i-like-to-switch-it-up/) [Antoni Porowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoni-porowski/) > [“You are my home, my heart, my love. Good night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-bio-moon/you-are-my-home-my-heart-my-love-good-night/) [Fábio Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-bio-moon/) > [When there is something you love and are good at, give your life to it. Trust me, things will work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-there-is-something-you-love-and-are-good-at-give-your-life-to-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You don't have to see it to love it. Just love it for it is good and that is love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-thogolith/you-don-t-have-to-see-it-to-love-it-just-love-it-for-it-is-good-and/) [christian Thogolith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-thogolith/) > [ But normally when you talk to yourself \[on court\] you say; 'I love you, you're a good guy, but don't miss next time, okay.' ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marat-safin/but-normally-when-you-talk-to-yourself-on-court-you-say-i-love-you/) [Marat Safin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marat-safin/) > [“Some people love your work and others hate it, but in the end, it's all good. Differences are what make us unique human beings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-m-sotera/some-people-love-your-work-and-others-hate-it-but-in-the-end-it-s-all/) [R.M. Sotera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-m-sotera/) > [They say FALLING IN LOVE is GOOD, But I think EATING FOOD is VERY GOOD!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhoni13/they-say-falling-in-love-is-good-but-i-think-eating-food-is-very-good/) [Jhoni13](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhoni13/) > [They say it's like true love, good help. You only get one in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/they-say-it-s-like-true-love-good-help-you-only-get-one-in-a-lifetime/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [“There ought to be some mode of life where all love is good, where one love can't compete with another but adds to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/there-ought-to-be-some-mode-of-life-where-all-love-is-good-where-one/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [When you love someone you have to take the good with the bad. Sometimes the bad out numbers the good, but it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/when-you-love-someone-you-have-to-take-the-good-with-the-bad/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Don't be so cruel to me. Don't promise me anything. I've got everything that i need. I need love in a good way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/don-t-be-so-cruel-to-me-don-t-promise-me-anything-i-ve-got-everything/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [For now he is like my inspiration. He made me use the love in good way. He is like that support me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeigh-ilano/for-now-he-is-like-my-inspiration-he-made-me-use-the-love-in-good-way/) [Jeigh Ilano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeigh-ilano/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A pen is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it a weapon of war or a tool of peace. Likewise, love is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it the ultimate punishment or the greatest reward.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lilly Mance" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-mance/a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what-you-do-with-it-that-makes-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-mance/a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what-you-do-with-it-that-makes-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/lilly-mance-256755_bad_a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what_355736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/lilly-mance-256755_bad_a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what_355736.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/lilly-mance-256755_bad_a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what_355736.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A pen is neither good nor bad. It’s what you do with it that makes it a weapon of war or a tool of peace…” — Lilly Mance", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lilly Mance", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-mance/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A pen is neither good nor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-mance/a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what-you-do-with-it-that-makes-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-mance/a-pen-is-neither-good-nor-bad-it-s-what-you-do-with-it-that-makes-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```