I would like to add that I'm still trying, myself, to work out the power of language.

I have considered two examples. Firstly, a person defeated and at the feet of his vanquisher, who, granted his last words, manages to persuade hearts and minds and thereby to win the war, though he has lost the battle. Or say, not granted any last words, instead he accepts his deathblow nobly and through his demeanor his death acquires a symbolism that persuades the hearts and minds needed to win the war. That is a power that will not be sheathed and cannot be killed even in death.

Secondly, how if on your deathbed you look back and see you had a miserable life or that you were a horrible person and you would rather not have lived, what can you do? Find God? We scoff at the idea of it. And yet there is this truth wrapped up in the religion: that by the power of a word your life may be meaningful, if only you will it. (Alas most who repent are probably just hoping in the myth of a merciful god or in the spirit of Pascal thinks to better error on caution.)