--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He reaches for the sword. I step back…" description: "\"“He reaches for the sword. I step back, not wanting to hand it over. 'What are you going to do, fight me for her?' he asks. He sounds like he's close t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/susan-ee-1414_sword_he-reaches-for-the-sword-i-step-back-not_2540854.jpg" --- # He reaches for the sword. I step back, not wanting to hand… ![“He reaches for the sword. I step back, not wanting to hand it over. 'What are you going to do, fight me for her?' he asks. He sounds like he's close to laughing. 'What are you going to do with it?' He sighs, seeming tired. 'Use it as a crutch, what do you think?” quote by Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/susan-ee-1414_sword_he-reaches-for-the-sword-i-step-back-not_2540854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/susan-ee-1414_sword_he-reaches-for-the-sword-i-step-back-not_2540854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/susan-ee-1414_sword_he-reaches-for-the-sword-i-step-back-not_2540854.jpg) > ““He reaches for the sword. I step back, not wanting to hand it over. 'What are you going to do, fight me for her?' he asks. He sounds like he's close to laughing. 'What are you going to do with it?' He sighs, seeming tired. 'Use it as a crutch, what do you think?”” [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character confronts someone holding power, questioning their motives and the burden of using it as a crutch. **In simple terms:** Power can become a burden if misused. Key Takeaway Question the purpose of power. Themes power responsibility conflict trust Mood tense reflective Type dialogue dramatic philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology ethics dependency Questions to Reflect On - What responsibility comes with power? - How do you avoid using tools as crutches? A Different Perspective Power can be misinterpreted as strength. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crutch Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crutch-think-1432110/) [Fight Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-asks-1432111/) [Reaches Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaches-sword-1432108/) [Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) [Sword Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword-step-1432109/) ## Related quotes > [That awkward moment when Taco Bell picks a fight, and then someone asks if theyve got beef.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-taco-bell-picks-a-fight-and-then-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You're naming your collector's-item, kick-ass sword that's made to maim and kill, specifically designed to bring your ginormous enemies to their knees and hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/you-re-naming-your-collector-s-item-kick-ass-sword-that-s-made-to/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“Inscribed on it was a verse from the Quatrains of Omar Khayyam, the eleventh-century Persian mystic. Reading the words aloud I prepared for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/inscribed-on-it-was-a-verse-from-the-quatrains-of-omar-khayyam-the/) [Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/) > [I'm useless with a sword in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradley-west/i-m-useless-with-a-sword-in-real-life/) [John Bradley-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradley-west/) > [I couldn't pick up a sword and go fight anyone, let me put it that way. It's choreography and it's acting. The best sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-couldn-t-pick-up-a-sword-and-go-fight-anyone-let-me-put-it-that-way/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [“Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne-and-crown-perish-with/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“In Japanese swordsmanship, it is not uncommon to speak of a unity of mind, body, and sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-davey/in-japanese-swordsmanship-it-is-not-uncommon-to-speak-of-a-unity-of/) [H.E. Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-davey/) > [A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-sword-by-itself-does-not-slay-it-is-merely-the-weapon-used-by-the/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Technology is, of course, a double edged sword. Fire can cook our food but also burn us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/technology-is-of-course-a-double-edged-sword-fire-can-cook-our-food/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [“Logic. It could get you every time, but he preferred to cut it down with a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-illene/logic-it-could-get-you-every-time-but-he-preferred-to-cut-it-down/) [Susan Illene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-illene/) > [“His pen spoke more to her than he ever did”. In the war of words, some are unwritten and some are unspoken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishikant/his-pen-spoke-more-to-her-than-he-ever-did-in-the-war-of-words-some/) [Nishikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishikant/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“But I saw the pair of them, along with everyone else. Hard to miss. Him towering like a raggedy scarecrow in that flapping black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-kushner/but-i-saw-the-pair-of-them-along-with-everyone-else-hard-to-miss-him/) [Ellen Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-kushner/) > [“If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what is the laptop? A light saber or a life saver?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-then-what-is-the-laptop-a-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The truth is heavier than a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/the-truth-is-heavier-than-a-sword/) [Naiyem Chowdhury Rony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/) ## More by Susan Ee > [“As far as I can tell, a leader ends up doing all the worrying and still needs to pitch in for the regular work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/as-far-as-i-can-tell-a-leader-ends-up-doing-all-the-worrying-and/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“I'm Penryn. I'm named after an exit off Interstate 80." "Nice." They nod as if to say they understand what it's like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/i-m-penryn-i-m-named-after-an-exit-off-interstate-80-nice-they-nod-as/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“So long as you don't bleed in the shape of wing joints, you should pass for human. Oh, and don't let anyone pick you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/so-long-as-you-don-t-bleed-in-the-shape-of-wing-joints-you-should/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“If we get separated there’s not much hope of us ever meeting anywhere, but I need to keep up the pretense of hope because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/if-we-get-separated-there-s-not-much-hope-of-us-ever-meeting-anywhere/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“He runs his finger tips along my cheek, caressing my face. “Hush. I’m right here.” He looks at me with deep anguish in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/he-runs-his-finger-tips-along-my-cheek-caressing-my-face-hush-i-m/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“He is shivering, probably going into deep shock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/he-is-shivering-probably-going-into-deep-shock/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“It could get them all burned.” Then he adds in a whisper, almost to himself, “But the fire can be tempting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/it-could-get-them-all-burned-then-he-adds-in-a-whisper-almost-to/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“What if they don’t let us go through?” I ask, trying not to move my lips. “They will,” he answers from the dark recesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/what-if-they-don-t-let-us-go-through-i-ask-trying-not-to-move-my-lips/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“My litter sister looks up at me. Mom was right. Her eyes are the same as they've always been. Brown eyes fringed with long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/my-litter-sister-looks-up-at-me-mom-was-right-her-eyes-are-the-same/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“If you help me find my sister, you can have these back. I saved them for you." "Thanks," he croaks, surveying the wings. "They'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/if-you-help-me-find-my-sister-you-can-have-these-back-i-saved-them/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“There's no eye shadow so i just smear a tiny bit of the mascara around my eyes for that sultry emphasis”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/there-s-no-eye-shadow-so-i-just-smear-a-tiny-bit-of-the-mascara/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“Big words from a guy who's trussed up like a turkey. What are you going to do, wobble over here like an upside- down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/big-words-from-a-guy-who-s-trussed-up-like-a-turkey-what-are-you/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“He’s downed four drinks in the short time it took for me to get myself together and find him. Either he’s shaken by something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/he-s-downed-four-drinks-in-the-short-time-it-took-for-me-to-get/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“Obi sits on the cot and ties my ankles together. I'm tempted to make a quip about requiring dinner and a movie before getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/obi-sits-on-the-cot-and-ties-my-ankles-together-i-m-tempted-to-make-a/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“I don’t know which is worse—that Raffe didn’t jump in to defend me, or that he bet that I would lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/i-don-t-know-which-is-worse-that-raffe-didn-t-jump-in-to-defend-me-or/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) [Explore all 238 Susan Ee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) ## More Sword quotes > [“The truth is heavier than a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/the-truth-is-heavier-than-a-sword/) [Naiyem Chowdhury Rony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/) > [“If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what is the laptop? A light saber or a life saver?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-then-what-is-the-laptop-a-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But I saw the pair of them, along with everyone else. Hard to miss. Him towering like a raggedy scarecrow in that flapping black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-kushner/but-i-saw-the-pair-of-them-along-with-everyone-else-hard-to-miss-him/) [Ellen Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-kushner/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“His pen spoke more to her than he ever did”. In the war of words, some are unwritten and some are unspoken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishikant/his-pen-spoke-more-to-her-than-he-ever-did-in-the-war-of-words-some/) [Nishikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishikant/) > [“Logic. It could get you every time, but he preferred to cut it down with a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-illene/logic-it-could-get-you-every-time-but-he-preferred-to-cut-it-down/) [Susan Illene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-illene/) > [Technology is, of course, a double edged sword. Fire can cook our food but also burn us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/technology-is-of-course-a-double-edged-sword-fire-can-cook-our-food/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-sword-by-itself-does-not-slay-it-is-merely-the-weapon-used-by-the/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“In Japanese swordsmanship, it is not uncommon to speak of a unity of mind, body, and sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-davey/in-japanese-swordsmanship-it-is-not-uncommon-to-speak-of-a-unity-of/) [H.E. Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-davey/) > [“Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne-and-crown-perish-with/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [I couldn't pick up a sword and go fight anyone, let me put it that way. It's choreography and it's acting. The best sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-couldn-t-pick-up-a-sword-and-go-fight-anyone-let-me-put-it-that-way/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I'm useless with a sword in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradley-west/i-m-useless-with-a-sword-in-real-life/) [John Bradley-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradley-west/) > [“Inscribed on it was a verse from the Quatrains of Omar Khayyam, the eleventh-century Persian mystic. Reading the words aloud I prepared for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/inscribed-on-it-was-a-verse-from-the-quatrains-of-omar-khayyam-the/) [Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/) > [“The pen is truly mightier than the sword. Unless you're holding a pen and the other guy's holding a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-besseling/the-pen-is-truly-mightier-than-the-sword-unless-you-re-holding-a-pen/) [Dave Besseling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-besseling/) > [“In the words of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant: “There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-g-moore/in-the-words-of-gen-ulysses-s-grant-there-never-was-a-time-when-in-my/) [Harold G. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-g-moore/) [Browse all 721 Sword quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He reaches for the sword. I step back, not wanting to hand it over. 'What are you going to do, fight me for her?' he asks. He sounds like he's close to laughing. 'What are you going to do with it?' He sighs, seeming tired. 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