RICHELIEU: Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanter’s wand! — itself a nothing! —
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyze the Caesars — and to strike
The loud earth breathless! — Take away the sword —
States can be saved without it!

Edward George Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) English novelist and politician
Richelieu, Act 2, sc. 2 (1839)
    (Source)

See Shakespeare (1600), Howell (1659).

 
Added on 1-Feb-04 | Last updated 15-Apr-26
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