- English translation
Whoever holds the pen won't write a wretched fate for himself.
- Literal wording
He whose hand holds the pen does not write himself down as miserable.
- Meaning and lesson
Anyone with the power to shape their own situation will naturally steer it toward good fortune rather than hardship. The pen stands for that power: the person doing the writing decides what the record says, and nobody in that position would deliberately set down a wretched lot for themselves.
More broadly, the saying treats self-interest as a given whenever a person truly controls the outcome. It explains why someone in charge of a decision tends to favour themselves, and why contentment, not misery, is the expected choice when the matter rests in one's own hands.
- When it is used
Suitable when remarking that someone with authority over a matter has arranged it to their own advantage, or when observing that people who control their circumstances predictably choose comfort over hardship. It fits comments on decisions shaped by whoever holds the deciding power.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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