--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better a sword than an empty hand when…" description: "\"“Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay the dragon.”\" — Ryk Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/ryk-brown-29909_dragon_better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-y_212043.jpg" --- # Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay… ![“Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay the dragon.” quote by Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/ryk-brown-29909_dragon_better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-y_212043.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/ryk-brown-29909_dragon_better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-y_212043.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/ryk-brown-29909_dragon_better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-y_212043.jpg) > ““Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay the dragon.”” [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a weapon, even a simple sword, is better than facing danger unarmed when confronting great challenges. **In simple terms:** Having some tool is better than none when confronting a threat. Key Takeaway Prepare with at least basic resources before tackling big problems. Themes preparation risk confidence Mood cautious strategic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - starting a new project - facing a crisis - entering a competition - personal conflict Key Concepts resourcefulness strategic planning risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What minimal preparation can you secure before a major challenge? - How does having a tool change your mindset? A Different Perspective Relying on a sword may give false confidence if skill is lacking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-sword-2186125/) [Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) [Slay Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slay-dragon-516594/) [Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) [Sword Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword-hand-598886/) ## Related quotes > [“Being a word wielder is far better than being a sword wielder. 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Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“I have already decided to die with my sword in hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-raphael-mcmanus/i-have-already-decided-to-die-with-my-sword-in-hand/) [Erwin Raphael McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-raphael-mcmanus/) > [“People were born with two hands; why not use both of them? As it was, swordsmen fought with only one sword, and often one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/people-were-born-with-two-hands-why-not-use-both-of-them-as-it-was/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“She held Needle in her left hand, her sword hand, the candle in her right fist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/she-held-needle-in-her-left-hand-her-sword-hand-the-candle-in-her/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## More by Ryk Brown > [“So dumbed-down were the masses that they would believe any half-truth that their leaders spewed, as long as it agreed with their own sentiments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/so-dumbed-down-were-the-masses-that-they-would-believe-any-half-truth/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“Okay, people, settle down so we can get this over with.” Lynn had become accustomed to raising her voice to get their attention. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/okay-people-settle-down-so-we-can-get-this-over-with-lynn-had-become/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“You’re going to be traveling faster and farther than anyone has in nearly a millennium!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/you-re-going-to-be-traveling-faster-and-farther-than-anyone-has-in/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“We will finally set right what we allowed to go wrong all those decades ago. 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As long as life is good, most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/it-is-easier-to-live-a-lie-in-peace-than-to-die-for-the-truth-as-long/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“All right, then. As strange an order as it may seem, take us to the hideout, Commander,” Nathan ordered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/all-right-then-as-strange-an-order-as-it-may-seem-take-us-to-the/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“Now that the shuttle’s engines were shut down, it was unnaturally quiet in the surrounding valley. The native wildlife avoided this unfamiliar patch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/now-that-the-shuttle-s-engines-were-shut-down-it-was-unnaturally/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’” “Just checking your memory,” Cameron said, the slightest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/the-only-thing-necessary-for-the-triumph-of-evil-is-for-good-men-to-2/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“In the end you only answer to yourself!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/in-the-end-you-only-answer-to-yourself/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) [Explore all 17 Ryk Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) ## More Dragon quotes > [ “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus \[ never tickle a sleeping dragon \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/draco-dormiens-nunquam-titillandus-never-tickle-a-sleeping-dragon/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“If you banish the dragons, you banish the heroes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/if-you-banish-the-dragons-you-banish-the-heroes/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [“You must see her pucker when she’s a dragon.” “This pucker can light your ass on fire, missy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-woods/you-must-see-her-pucker-when-she-s-a-dragon-this-pucker-can-light/) [Adrienne Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-woods/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) > [“Unable to help herself, she traced the tat, startled by the black and red ink mixed together. But it was the dragon design itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/unable-to-help-herself-she-traced-the-tat-startled-by-the-black-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [The Soyuz is probably only slightly smaller than the Dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/the-soyuz-is-probably-only-slightly-smaller-than-the-dragon/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fairy-tales-are-more-than-true-not-because-they-tell-us-that-dragons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [To have dragons one must have change; that is the first principle of dragon lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/to-have-dragons-one-must-have-change-that-is-the-first-principle-of/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I know how the birds fly, how the fishes swim, how animals run. But there is the Dragon. I cannot tell how it mounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-know-how-the-birds-fly-how-the-fishes-swim-how-animals-run-but/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It was always that detail that drove me. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to get into the nitty gritty... when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-base/it-was-always-that-detail-that-drove-me-ever-since-i-was-a-little-kid/) [Graeme Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-base/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Browse all 704 Dragon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay the dragon.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryk Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-you-set-off-to-slay-the-dragon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dragon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-you-set-off-to-slay-the-dragon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/ryk-brown-29909_dragon_better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-y_212043.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/ryk-brown-29909_dragon_better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-y_212043.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/ryk-brown-29909_dragon_better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-y_212043.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay the dragon.” — Ryk Brown", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ryk Brown", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Better a sword than an empty...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-you-set-off-to-slay-the-dragon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-you-set-off-to-slay-the-dragon/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```