Actions Speak Louder than Words

The Devils Advocate (DA) and Aberrant Academician (AA) sit down to enjoy dinner. The elder brother has his notepad with him and writes.

DA: Since actions speak louder than words, it's meaningless to commit anything to word.

AA: But how could one say that? The pen is mightier than the plow as they say.

DA: But the plow's hard work put food on my plate, and you can't eat words!

AA: Au contraire, you will eat those words! The pen is mightier than the plow because it is has more capability. In conflict, why choose to strike when one could write? While the plow does hard work, the pen does better work. Just because something is hard, doesn't mean it's better.

DA: But what you just said doesn't change anything! Words are only meaningful as they call for action…by those who would take action…if only they could.

AA: Well, actually it does. Your original argument was that since actions speak louder than words, then it would be meaningless to commit anything to word. But you just admitted that words are meaningful, because not everyone can do what they say and must ask for help. Besides, this takes us back to when you said you can't eat words, because you just ate yours.

AA starts another sheet on his notepad and scribbles a logic chart.

AA: Well, here you have it.

AA passes notepad to DA

AA: The logic of the argument, all our hard work, committed to words.

DA: Wow…would you prefer a handshake with a high five…or would a simple 'Thanks' suffice?

DA scrawls "Thanks" on the notepad, shoves it back to AA, and excuses himself from the table