Depends on whether you're comparing how the top or average. World-famous writer or social media personality has much more influence then world-best gunslinger. But average Joe can do much more with a gun than with his reposts.
How do you think the power ratio of pen:sword has changed in the last 500 years at the individual level? Words: scribes to Gutenberg all the way to social media Sword: from literal swords to crappy muskets to reliable automatic weapons I'd say words have been relative gainer
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To nukes, cbw and drones
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I'd say swords. IDK about Mutually Assured Destruction or Existential Risks through words. Maybe summonning unfathomable Elder Gods from their eternal slumber.
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The power of the word has shamed most major powers out of most direct military action, for what that's worth. Also, if code = word, that's a major power-up too
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I think if the power of words has had an effect in the last 500 years, it has been to change the perception of violence from one of good to one of necessary evil. Words amplify Swords, not dull them. They remind people that swords suck, particularly when they are inside you.
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Words are powerful in recruiting agents, so the power of those agents via sword scales proportionally. Only way to meangingfull compare is at the 2nd order where non-linear impacts of different scale mean that ratio (constant or otherwise) wouldn't tell you everything.
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Why do Americans still own guns? Not because they have guns. Because they have words (right to bear arms, lobbying, etc)
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Hmmm. Not simple. Some weapons systems empower the pen: cheap easy-to-use personal firearms in 18th C empowered individuals, enabling democracy, making words more valuable. Powerful weapons too complex and expensive for individuals do the opposite. Over 501 yrs words win.
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