"Fighting was fun-- this was the thing. Fighting was tremendously Fun." - R. Ewart Oakeshott

"The Whole Art of Fencing consists in just two things, to hit and not to be hit" - M. Jourdain

"the sword was to be far more than a simple weapon; it had to be the answer to life's questions." - Eiji Yoshikawa

"The way of the Sword and the way of Zen are identical, for they have the same purpose-- that of killing the ego." - Yamada Jirokichi

"Wounds of the flesh a surgeon's skill may heal, but wounded honor is only cured with steel." -19th century challenge to a duel

"I rejoice  at every dangerous sport which i see pursued. the students at heidelberg, with their sword-slashed faces, inspire me with sincere respect." - Oliver Wendell holmes

"To become a champion is not so very difficult. What is extremely difficult is to remain one." - Aldo Nadi

"If you want to find out about fencers, go up behind one as he faces a practice target. burst a balloon behind his back. the foilist will immediately lunge at the pad. the epeeist will stand his ground, immobile but alert. the sabreur will swing around and assault you." - Hungarian axiom

"sow an action and reap a habit; sow a habit and reap a character; sow a character and reap a destiny." - ralph waldo emerson

"Doesn't everyone wish he could fence?... it is violence refined into beauty; it has associations with love, honor and suicidal pride. we think of great fencers--unlike great footballers or great junk-bond salesmen-- as superior beings; air and fire, rather than earth and water. we think of cyrano, zorro and the three musketeers" -James Traub