--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No gun, no sword, no army or king will…" description: "\"“No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/tahereh-mafi-229_sword_no-gun-no-sword-no-army-or-king-will-eve_342270.jpg" --- # No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more… ![“No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time digging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh.” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/tahereh-mafi-229_sword_no-gun-no-sword-no-army-or-king-will-eve_342270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/tahereh-mafi-229_sword_no-gun-no-sword-no-army-or-king-will-eve_342270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/tahereh-mafi-229_sword_no-gun-no-sword-no-army-or-king-will-eve_342270.jpg) > ““No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time digging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh.”” [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words wield lasting power, often outlasting physical force, shaping thoughts and destinies. **In simple terms:** Words can be more powerful than weapons. Key Takeaway Choose words wisely. Themes power of language influence legacy Mood thoughtful cautionary Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political speeches - personal letters - media headlines - social media posts Key Concepts Rhetoric psychology memory Questions to Reflect On - What responsibility comes with powerful speech? - How do you guard against harmful rhetoric? A Different Perspective Words can be misused, causing harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sentence Swords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentence-swords-3178920/) [Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) [Swords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swords/) [Swords Cut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swords-cut-3178921/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Words Stab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-stab-3178922/) ## Related quotes > [“Words, I think, are such unpredictable creatures. No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/words-i-think-are-such-unpredictable-creatures-no-gun-no-sword-no/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/no-gun-no-sword-no-army-or-king-will-ever-be-more-powerful-than-a-2/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [All books are either dreams or swords, you can cut, or you can drug, with words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lowell/all-books-are-either-dreams-or-swords-you-can-cut-or-you-can-drug/) [Amy Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lowell/) > [“Those were great big angry men with sharp swords actually wanting to cut pieces off me. It’s not until you’ve seen a red gaping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrence/those-were-great-big-angry-men-with-sharp-swords-actually-wanting-to/) [Mark Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrence/) > [“Nobody can tell you about that sword all that there is to be told of it; for those that know of those paths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-dunsany/nobody-can-tell-you-about-that-sword-all-that-there-is-to-be-told-of/) [Lord Dunsany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-dunsany/) > [“The pen is mightier than the sword unless it's a real sword in which case the guy with the pen should run away fast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-eschbacher/the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-unless-it-s-a-real-sword-in-which/) [Roger Eschbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-eschbacher/) > [“I hope they're in town. I want to face them!” Regin stood and brandished one of the two swords that she usually wore in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/i-hope-they-re-in-town-i-want-to-face-them-regin-stood-and-brandished/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [The regenerated do not go to war, nor engage in strife. They are children of peace who have beat their swords into plowshares and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menno-simons/the-regenerated-do-not-go-to-war-nor-engage-in-strife-they-are/) [Menno Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menno-simons/) > [Swords and knives make me feel vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-gonzalez/swords-and-knives-make-me-feel-vulnerable/) [Jose Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-gonzalez/) > [“Every northerner is worth ten of these southron swords,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/every-northerner-is-worth-ten-of-these-southron-swords/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/keep-up-your-bright-swords-for-the-dew-will-rust-them/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [Stealing swords,” Royce muttered mostly to himself. “Okay, let’s take a look at this tower. The sooner I see it, the sooner I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/stealing-swords-royce-muttered-mostly-to-himself-okay-let-s-take-a/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [La wis but paper without hands of a swords of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harrington/la-wis-but-paper-without-hands-of-a-swords-of-men/) [James Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harrington/) > [“Sometimes, nothing is the best thing to chase," said Jelem. "Drothe's 'nothings' usually carry swords," said Degan, "and come with several well-armed friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-hulick/sometimes-nothing-is-the-best-thing-to-chase-said-jelem-drothe-s/) [Douglas Hulick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-hulick/) ## More by Tahereh Mafi > [His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/his-hands-are-holding-my-cheeks-and-he-pulls-back-just-to-look-me-in/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I didn't want the clothes or the perfect shoes or the expensive anything. I didn't want to be draped in silk. All I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-didn-t-want-the-clothes-or-the-perfect-shoes-or-the-expensive/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“infinite points of feeling for every nerve ending in my body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/infinite-points-of-feeling-for-every-nerve-ending-in-my-body/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-s-too-much-everything-about-him-is-too-much-his-emotions-his/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Right now I can't even control my own imagination as it grips my hair and drags me into the dark”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/right-now-i-can-t-even-control-my-own-imagination-as-it-grips-my-hair/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want you, I want all of you. I want you inside and out and catching your breath and aching for me like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-you-i-want-all-of-you-i-want-you-inside-and-out-and-catching/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I will give no one the satisfaction of my death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-will-give-no-one-the-satisfaction-of-my-death/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I’ve fallen for her. And I’ve fallen. So hard. I’ve hit the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-almost-forget-that-she-still-hates-me-despite-how-hard-i-ve-fallen/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-reach-out-and-touch-another-human-being-not/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“It's the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/it-s-the-kind-of-kiss-that-makes-you-realize-oxygen-is-overrated/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“That’s when I understand. Of course she’s not okay. Of course she didn’t get any sleep last night. Last night she almost killed one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/that-s-when-i-understand-of-course-she-s-not-okay-of-course-she-didn/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I used to have a family. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-used-to-have-a-family-he/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I've never been able to follow through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-never-been-able-to-follow-through/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Explore all 821 Tahereh Mafi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## More Sword quotes > [“The truth is heavier than a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/the-truth-is-heavier-than-a-sword/) [Naiyem Chowdhury Rony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/) > [“If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what is the laptop? A light saber or a life saver?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-then-what-is-the-laptop-a-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But I saw the pair of them, along with everyone else. Hard to miss. Him towering like a raggedy scarecrow in that flapping black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-kushner/but-i-saw-the-pair-of-them-along-with-everyone-else-hard-to-miss-him/) [Ellen Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-kushner/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“His pen spoke more to her than he ever did”. In the war of words, some are unwritten and some are unspoken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishikant/his-pen-spoke-more-to-her-than-he-ever-did-in-the-war-of-words-some/) [Nishikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishikant/) > [“Logic. It could get you every time, but he preferred to cut it down with a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-illene/logic-it-could-get-you-every-time-but-he-preferred-to-cut-it-down/) [Susan Illene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-illene/) > [Technology is, of course, a double edged sword. Fire can cook our food but also burn us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/technology-is-of-course-a-double-edged-sword-fire-can-cook-our-food/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-sword-by-itself-does-not-slay-it-is-merely-the-weapon-used-by-the/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“In Japanese swordsmanship, it is not uncommon to speak of a unity of mind, body, and sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-davey/in-japanese-swordsmanship-it-is-not-uncommon-to-speak-of-a-unity-of/) [H.E. Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-davey/) > [“Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne-and-crown-perish-with/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [I couldn't pick up a sword and go fight anyone, let me put it that way. It's choreography and it's acting. The best sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-couldn-t-pick-up-a-sword-and-go-fight-anyone-let-me-put-it-that-way/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I'm useless with a sword in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradley-west/i-m-useless-with-a-sword-in-real-life/) [John Bradley-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradley-west/) > [“Inscribed on it was a verse from the Quatrains of Omar Khayyam, the eleventh-century Persian mystic. Reading the words aloud I prepared for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/inscribed-on-it-was-a-verse-from-the-quatrains-of-omar-khayyam-the/) [Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/) > [“The pen is truly mightier than the sword. Unless you're holding a pen and the other guy's holding a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-besseling/the-pen-is-truly-mightier-than-the-sword-unless-you-re-holding-a-pen/) [Dave Besseling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-besseling/) > [“In the words of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant: “There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-g-moore/in-the-words-of-gen-ulysses-s-grant-there-never-was-a-time-when-in-my/) [Harold G. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-g-moore/) [Browse all 721 Sword quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. 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