He chose to use pencils instead of guns to show how wars are really won.

VOA: special.2010.03.19

I mean Thoreau may have been a snob, he may have been smarmy, and he may have wanted you to think he was cool because he sold pencils.

我的意思是,梭罗也许个势利小人,他也许有点爱说奉承话,他也许觉得卖铅笔,会让你们认为他很酷

耶鲁公开课 - 美国内战与重建课程节选

Some of the pencils in the paintings almost look like large machine guns.

VOA: special.2010.03.19

A blind man sat on the sidewalk selling pencils.

VOA: special.2011.08.13

He carried pencils behind his ear.

VOA: special.2009.03.28

Some cannot afford to buy pencils for class.

VOA: standard.2010.02.25