Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to

"Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress the truth." These powerful words by Wole Soyinka speak to the immense power that the written word holds, particularly in the face of those who seek to silence or control the flow of truth. Soyinka’s insight calls attention to the timeless conflict between the forces that seek to hide, distort, or suppress truth, and the books and writings that, like beacons of light, expose it to the world. In the ancient world, the written word was seen as a sacred and powerful tool, capable of preserving knowledge and wisdom for generations. To those who wielded power, it was both a blessing and a curse—a means to enlighten, but also a potential threat to their control. Soyinka reminds us that the written word is not only a tool of expression but a force that can reshape the very nature of reality itself.

In the days of ancient Egypt, the scribes were among the most powerful figures in society. With their ability to write, they recorded the deeds of kings, the myths of the gods, and the very essence of history itself. These scribes knew the power of words—they understood that the act of writing was not just about recording events, but about shaping the truth of those events for all to see. Kings like Ramesses II often commissioned monumental inscriptions to glorify their reigns and suppress any dissenting views. Yet, even the mightiest rulers could not silence the truth. The great pyramid texts, preserved for millennia, and the wisdom of philosophers and poets that flowed through Egypt, continue to echo the truths they sought to control, reminding us that writing can never be fully suppressed, for it is a power unto itself.

Consider the example of the Roman Empire, where emperors sought to control not only the actions of their people but their very thoughts. Cicero, the great statesman and philosopher, wrote extensively on the principles of justice, liberty, and governance. His writings were a terror to the emperors, for they were a call to freedom and reason—an invitation to question the very authority that sought to control the masses. Even when Cicero faced exile and death, the words he wrote continued to inspire future generations to stand against oppression. His writings became a rallying cry for those who sought the truth in a world that often sought to bury it. Cicero’s story reveals the unyielding power of the written word to challenge tyranny and expose truth, no matter how much those in power wish to suppress it.

In more recent history, the Nazi regime in Germany made books and writing one of their primary targets, seeking to burn and destroy any form of thought that contradicted their ideology. They burned books that celebrated individual freedom, human dignity, and the truth of human history. Yet, in the ashes of the book burnings, writers like Anne Frank and Victor Frankl arose to expose the truth of human suffering and resilience. Frankl’s work, Man’s Search for Meaning, written in the depths of the concentration camps, became a beacon of light for generations who would come to understand the truth of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable evil. The Nazis may have sought to suppress the truth, but the power of writing, of documenting the human experience, cannot be so easily destroyed. Truth finds its way, even when suppressed.

The lesson in Soyinka’s words is that the written word holds an immense power—a power that cannot be contained by any force or authority. While those who seek to suppress the truth may destroy books, burn libraries, and exile writers, they will always find that the truth cannot be fully silenced. The pen, as the saying goes, is mightier than the sword, for it is the truth carried in written form that transcends the control of tyrants. Books, whether in the form of poetry, philosophy, history, or science, are not just ink on paper; they are seeds of revolution, ideas that take root in the hearts and minds of those who read them.

Thus, the lesson for us, in our own time, is clear. We must never take for granted the power of writing and the truths it can bring into the world. Whether we are writers ourselves or readers, we are entrusted with the sacred duty of preserving and sharing the truth. In a world where disinformation and manipulation are common, we must take up the pen as truth-bearers, using our voices to expose what is hidden and to ensure that the truth remains free, even when forces seek to suppress it. Like Soyinka, we must recognize that the power of writing is not just a gift but a weapon against oppression.

As we walk through our lives, let us take a stand for the truth, whether in the words we write, the stories we tell, or the knowledge we seek. Let us become the scribes of our generation, the defenders of the truth, and the guardians of the powerful words that shape the future. Just as history has shown, the written word can never be fully erased, and the truth, no matter how deeply buried, will always find its way into the light. So, let us write, speak, and stand for the truth, knowing that in doing so, we carry with us the enduring power of history itself.