Your general point is sound, but your quotes aren't contradictory. Actions vs words = talk vs doing something. Whereas the pen is the written word, which has g

Your general point is sound, but your quotes aren't contradictory. Actions vs words = talk vs doing something. Whereas the pen is the written word, which has great power especially over history. Many hands improve work, but how many hands do you need on a broth? Further, a cook is the one who directs, whereas hands have no such connotation.