Do You Use Your Words for Good?
It is sometimes easy to forget the power that words can have.
We deal with them day in and day out, they are our bricks and mortar, the things which we use and manipulate for work or for pleasure. Some of us use them to create new worlds, fictional places where new characters breath life. Some of us use our words to persuade, to sell, to convince people of the merits of a new product or service. Sometimes we use our words to change the opinions of others, or to defend our own.
A recent entry from the wonderful Letters of Note reminded me of the power that our words can have. Specifically, the power to give hope, and to remind someone that all is not lost, even when things look bleak.
The post contains a letter written by the author E.B. White, in response to a letter from a fan that questioned White on the dark future of the human race as he saw it. White’s response is short and simple, but his few well-chosen words contain a power in them that goes far beyond a couple of words on a page.
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.
I wanted to share this letter with you (you can read the full thing over at Letters of Note – please do!) as a reminder that the words we use every day contain a power, and the things we can do with them can be incredible. As writers we are skilled in their use, and should act accordingly.
Use your words for good. Whatever that might be.
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Do you use your words for good? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Image courtesy of theroamincatholic.
Christopher Jackson is the Editor for Fuel Your Writing and a creative copywriter. He is currently working on Project: Snotbook, an interactive children’s storybook for iPad.
My sister often reminds me of a quote from the end of the series “Boy Meets World” where the wise teacher, who has guided students from childhood into adulthood, offer his final bit of advice, “Go and do good.”
They correct him, “Don’t you mean, ‘do well’?”
He responds with all sincerity, “no, do good.”
His simple message has a lot of power. It resonates with my sister, and when she tells it, it resonates with me. I’ve often found quotes that inspire me, that move me and empower me in ways that little else in life does; proving to me that the pen can indeed be mightier than the sword.
The recent film, “I AM” offers a message, similar to the example above, about using your life to make a positive change; expounding on Ghandi’s quote of “be the change you want to see in the world.” We all have talents. Some of us are writers, some are designers, some are photographers or bloggers or illustrators. The entire FUEL network is chock full of talented people. We all have potential, and maybe even the responsibility, to use our talents to be that change in the world. Are you using your talents for good?
I try to. Whether to entertain or to broaden a perspective. Or to tell a story. Both fiction and non-fiction are all about telling a story that should be told. Either for the first time or in a new way.
I’ve blogged about a similar topic recently. I mention how I always thought “Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” was one of the best, most effective, and well written editorials in the history of our language, even if one doesn’t celebrate Christmas. It’s a perfect example of how the (presumably) careful selection of words can spread good, a great deal of good, to a large number of people all over the world. A 8 year old asked the question, but the human race got the answer. (If you’re interested in what I say about it, the post is here. http://tooxyz.blogspot.com/2010/12/yes-virginia-there-was-writer.html)