--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a…" description: "\"Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!\" He slung his M16 onto his back and pulled out a hand grenade. There were many screaming Romans..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/rick-riordan-27_ballpoint-pens_two-hundred-romans-and-no-one-s-got-a-pe_1794353.jpg" --- # Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!"… ![“Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!" He slung his M16 onto his back and pulled out a hand grenade. There were many screaming Romans. Then the hand grenade morphed into a ballpoint pen, and Mars began to write. Frank looked at Percy with wide eyes. He mouthed: Can your sword do…” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/rick-riordan-27_ballpoint-pens_two-hundred-romans-and-no-one-s-got-a-pe_1794353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/rick-riordan-27_ballpoint-pens_two-hundred-romans-and-no-one-s-got-a-pe_1794353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/rick-riordan-27_ballpoint-pens_two-hundred-romans-and-no-one-s-got-a-pe_1794353.jpg) > “Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!" He slung his M16 onto his back and pulled out a hand grenade. There were many screaming Romans. Then the hand grenade morphed into a ballpoint pen, and Mars began to write. Frank looked at Percy with wide eyes. He mouthed: Can your sword do grenade form? Percy mouthed back, No. Shut up.” [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A chaotic scene blends historical and modern warfare, highlighting absurdity and bravery in conflict. **In simple terms:** War can be both absurd and heroic. Key Takeaway Find humor and courage amid chaos. Themes war humor heroism history Mood adventurous lighthearted Type fictional inspirational When to use this quote - gaming - creative writing - team building Key Concepts anachronism conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What does the pen‑to‑grenade shift symbolize? - How can humor aid resilience? A Different Perspective Merging eras may confuse historical accuracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballpoint pens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballpoint-pens/) [Frank zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank-zhang/) [Grenade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grenade/) [Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mars/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Son of neptune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-of-neptune/) [Wide eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide-eyes/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I concentrated hard and snapped my fingers. "You don't see the sword," I told the girl. "It's just a ballpoint pen." She blinked. "Um…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-concentrated-hard-and-snapped-my-fingers-you-don-t-see-the-sword-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Twiddle-twiddle away at my softly clicky keyboard for a while, making twiddly adjustments all along- and then print what I have twiddled. Glare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/twiddle-twiddle-away-at-my-softly-clicky-keyboard-for-a-while-making/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [End production today. Wrap party as usual a little sad. Slow danced with Scarlett. Broke her toe. Not my fault. When she dipped me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/end-production-today-wrap-party-as-usual-a-little-sad-slow-danced/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I still draw a lot though. Ballpoint pen is my preferred medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-crook/i-still-draw-a-lot-though-ballpoint-pen-is-my-preferred-medium/) [Mackenzie Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-crook/) > [“When NASA started sending up astronauts, they discovered that ballpoint pens don’t work in zero gravity. So they spent twelve million dollars and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/when-nasa-started-sending-up-astronauts-they-discovered-that/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Carrying a small notebook with you always, in your pocket or purse, along with a reliable ballpoint pen will enable you to jot down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-wyndham/carrying-a-small-notebook-with-you-always-in-your-pocket-or-purse/) Lee Wyndham > [Where some may see flat, static narratives, I see a spectrum of tonal gradations and realities. What I am creating is literally black portraiture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyin-odutola/where-some-may-see-flat-static-narratives-i-see-a-spectrum-of-tonal/) [Toyin Odutola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyin-odutola/) > [I always write the same way. I always write with a yellow pad and a ballpoint pen on my bed. And then I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-always-write-the-same-way-i-always-write-with-a-yellow-pad-and-a/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“ballpoint pens guaranteed right on them to write a lifetime on butter under water,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ballpoint-pens-guaranteed-right-on-them-to-write-a-lifetime-on-butter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The camera's a ballpoint pen, an imbecile; it's not worth anything if you don't have anything to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-rossellini/the-camera-s-a-ballpoint-pen-an-imbecile-it-s-not-worth-anything-if/) [Roberto Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-rossellini/) > [I write on a computer, but I've run the complete gambit. When I was very young, I wrote with a ballpoint pen in school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/i-write-on-a-computer-but-i-ve-run-the-complete-gambit-when-i-was/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) ## More by Rick Riordan > [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More Ballpoint pens quotes > [Twiddle-twiddle away at my softly clicky keyboard for a while, making twiddly adjustments all along- and then print what I have twiddled. Glare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/twiddle-twiddle-away-at-my-softly-clicky-keyboard-for-a-while-making/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [The camera's a ballpoint pen, an imbecile; it's not worth anything if you don't have anything to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-rossellini/the-camera-s-a-ballpoint-pen-an-imbecile-it-s-not-worth-anything-if/) [Roberto Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-rossellini/) > [“ballpoint pens guaranteed right on them to write a lifetime on butter under water,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ballpoint-pens-guaranteed-right-on-them-to-write-a-lifetime-on-butter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always write the same way. I always write with a yellow pad and a ballpoint pen on my bed. And then I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-always-write-the-same-way-i-always-write-with-a-yellow-pad-and-a/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I concentrated hard and snapped my fingers. "You don't see the sword," I told the girl. "It's just a ballpoint pen." She blinked. "Um…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-concentrated-hard-and-snapped-my-fingers-you-don-t-see-the-sword-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Where some may see flat, static narratives, I see a spectrum of tonal gradations and realities. What I am creating is literally black portraiture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyin-odutola/where-some-may-see-flat-static-narratives-i-see-a-spectrum-of-tonal/) [Toyin Odutola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyin-odutola/) > [Carrying a small notebook with you always, in your pocket or purse, along with a reliable ballpoint pen will enable you to jot down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-wyndham/carrying-a-small-notebook-with-you-always-in-your-pocket-or-purse/) Lee Wyndham > [“When NASA started sending up astronauts, they discovered that ballpoint pens don’t work in zero gravity. So they spent twelve million dollars and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/when-nasa-started-sending-up-astronauts-they-discovered-that/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I still draw a lot though. Ballpoint pen is my preferred medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-crook/i-still-draw-a-lot-though-ballpoint-pen-is-my-preferred-medium/) [Mackenzie Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-crook/) > [End production today. Wrap party as usual a little sad. Slow danced with Scarlett. Broke her toe. Not my fault. When she dipped me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/end-production-today-wrap-party-as-usual-a-little-sad-slow-danced/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I write on a computer, but I've run the complete gambit. When I was very young, I wrote with a ballpoint pen in school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/i-write-on-a-computer-but-i-ve-run-the-complete-gambit-when-i-was/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) [Browse all 12 Ballpoint pens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballpoint-pens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!\" He slung his M16 onto his back and pulled out a hand grenade. There were many screaming Romans. Then the hand grenade morphed into a ballpoint pen, and Mars began to write. Frank looked at Percy with wide eyes. He mouthed: Can your sword do grenade form? 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