making use of the connection between writing and power was one of sarmiento's strategies. for him, writing was intended to be a catalyst for action. while the "gauchos" fought with physical weapons, sarmiento used his voice and language. sorensen states that sarmiento used "text as [a] weapon". sarmiento was writing not only for argentina but for a wider audience too, especially the united states and europe; in his view, these regions were close to civilization; his purpose was to seduce his readers toward his own political viewpoint. in the numerous translations of "facundo", sarmiento's association of writing with power and conquest is apparent.