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arts, Budweiser, change teh world, change the world, Emily Pankhurst, French revolution, Lorea'l, Martin Luther King, Max Frisch, McDonalds, Mikhail Gorbachev, miscellaneous, Neil Armstrong, Nike, politics, quotes, random, Red Bull, thoughts, wordless, words that changed the world
People say that pictures say more than a 1000 words but I am not so sure about that. While I do love art and enjoy wandering around museums admiring all the old and new masterpieces I do think that words have a power of their own which can easily compete with a painting, drawing, sculpture or photo.
Don’t get me wrong I love that a work of art can make me think, dream, wonder and lose myself in the world or vision it creates but a single word can do the same. Love, friendship, hope, dreams, family or even hate, envy, fear and hurt are all words that evoke ideas, memories and feelings. A single word or a selection of words can do even more, they can literally transform your life, thoughts and the world.
Martin Luther Kings “I have a dream …” changed the way millions of Americans thought. Neil Armstorngs “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” made the world dream of the impossible. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité embodied the French Revolution which changed Europe forever. Emily Pankhursts “Trust in God – she will provide” transformed the way women saw themselves and led to women being able to vote. Mikhail Gorbachevs “Perestroika and Glasnost” may have failed in their essence but these words were the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. They led to the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany, which in turn led to the the EU, be that positive or negative is a debate.
And of course there is advertising, ads use images to sell but they also rely on words to get the message across. I mean how many of you have said “WASSSUP?!” even if you weren’t thinking of Budweiser, or have said “It Gives You Wings” even if you weren’t drinking Red Bull, or prompted “Just do it” and weren’t wearing Nike, told someone “because they were worth it” even if they didn’t use Lorea’l or sang “I’m Loving it” nowhere near a McDonalds.
There are many, many more examples of words spoken or written that changed the world, and millions more that changed a single person who in turn changed the way people think. But today I fell wordless, empty don’t know what to say so I will leave you with these wonderful words by Swiss play-write and novelist Max Frisch :
You can put anything into words, except your own life.
jensinewall 
I agree – the pen is mightier than the sword….i think its why twitter is such a thing !
(I took a class in advertising once just because I love a good commercial)
me too … sadly most of them are bad
I have always felt that the word can paint a more vivid picture than a painting. For example, I still won’t walk in front of a parked car at night because I read Stephen King’s “Christine” over 25 years ago. That’s a long time to be walking around the backs of cars! I love how they can move us to tears or action. I do love to look at paintings or pictures, but many do not touch me viscerally, like the written word can. Many pictures do not give me chills as the written word can. Very well expressed, ma’am! 🙂
thanks and I agree …
Not to forget: yes, we can 🙂
:-0
Even when you are wordless, you sum it up so well. Well done. 🙂
thanks I try
Hello hello hello! I agree with you completely! and the quote at the end is so awesome! Is it yours?
no it’s by Max Frisch but I did say that
It is true that a picture can have its own power, but you are right when it comes to words and how they influence us. What one has to be careful of is not to hurt with words and that is sometimes a hard lesson to learn.
I know that saying: sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me … so not true