THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD
This image shows a tattoo on someone's skin, likely on their arm given the curvature and the visible folds of the skin. The tattoo features a play on a famous phrase, "The pen is mightier than the sword," which suggests that writing and communication are more powerful tools than direct violence or war.
The twist in this image, which is intended to be humorous, is a purposeful misspelling that changes the word "pen" to "penis," creating the phrase "The penis mightier than the sword." This misspelling creates a double entendre that plays on the juxtaposition of the power of writing versus the implied power of masculinity or male anatomy.
Above and below the altered phrase, the tattoo includes a graphic that represents the pen and the sword crossed, symbolizing conflict or opposition. The pen is illustrated with enough detail to resemble a specific type of pen, sometimes associated with writing or business.
The humor in the image comes from several factors such as the visual pun introduced by the misspelling, the shock value of seeing a typically serious and respectable quote altered in a risqué way, and the surprise of encountering an unexpected twist on a well-known adage.
The humor may also arise from the permanence of tattoos and the idea that someone chose to immortalize this joke on their body. The commitment to the pun suggests a playful or irreverent attitude towards both the original quote and the medium of tattoos.
For some people, the irony of a statement about the power of writing being conveyed through an image—specifically a tattoo—can add to the humor. The tattoo simultaneously undermines and reinforces the original message about the importance of the written word by drawing such strong attention to the text itself, even if the words are humorously altered. THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD
