Albert Einstein had once said that regardless of what weapons were used to fight the next world war, the following war would be fought with sticks and stones. His prediction turned out to be unerringly true — as armies became equipped with weapons so intelligent they negotiated their own truce, and the opposing soldiers had to resort to bashing each other with the nearest blunt object.
"I realize now that... I did not lose the sword. But the sword left me."
— Jack, Samurai Jack
"This was no ordinary Kanohi mask. This was the Mask of Life. Forged over 100,000 years ago by the Great Beings who created the universe, it was set apart from every mask that had ever been or ever would be crafted. It could think, it could feel ... and as both Matoran and Barraki learned to their shock, when threatened, it could strike back."
— BIONICLE
"That's right. You probably want me to be a spear, don't you?"
— Syl, Words of Radiance (second book of The Stormlight Archive)
"Have you introduced yourself to your sword yet?"
— Shell, Wearing the Cape
Alex: Can you help me against them?
Abithriax: A handful of mages? I've defeated armies. However... without a wielder, I am nothing. And more to the point, there is no guarantee my wielder will be you. If one of those mages reaches me first, I'm afraid my powers will be at their disposal, not yours. In this form, I am a servant to my wielder.
Sasha did not know that Cyril was a swordsman, but the feeling she got from the weapon...it was as if it was…
Alive. Somehow, Sasha could feel the sword's intelligence, it was a vast mysterious thing and she could hear it whispering, if Cyril made any sign of hearing the weapon talking to him he did not show it to her.
Ledger: I'm not carrying around the hammer any more, because it does what it wants.
Franko: Okay?
Ledger: [Corpsing] The ham- the hammer doesn't let you choose who it kills.
Franko: Okay?
Ledger: [Corpsing] The ham- the hammer doesn't let you choose who it kills.
— Mr. Gibbs, "Duck Hunt Hide and Seek"
Rook: I thought you were—
Ben: Nah. I always figured the Omnitrix had a failsafe that wouldn't let me die, and sure enough, it kicked in right when the Big Bang started. Gave me just the alien I needed.
Skurd: Your recklessness never ceases to amaze.
Ben: Not reckless. It always seems to give me the right alien, even when I want something else. Guess I should stop fighting it. It seems to know me better than... me.
Ben: Nah. I always figured the Omnitrix had a failsafe that wouldn't let me die, and sure enough, it kicked in right when the Big Bang started. Gave me just the alien I needed.
Skurd: Your recklessness never ceases to amaze.
Ben: Not reckless. It always seems to give me the right alien, even when I want something else. Guess I should stop fighting it. It seems to know me better than... me.
The lordling laughed and shrugged instead, and went out to meet his horde.
He cried out, "This is the day foretold. Just one hand now this land shall hold,
For in this sign will I rule. Behold! The Arizona Sword.
No more argument shall we find, but all hereafter shall be inclined
To just one purpose and just one mind. Thus do I mean to do.
Now go ye forth, and take the land." The sword heard well his first command.
She lunged and twisted in his hand, and fell, and ran him through.
They say the sword vanished clean away, for none has heard of it since that day,
But seek it wisely, and find ye may. Take care, who would be lord.
Beware, ye tyrant! Beware, ye fool! For who is the master and who the tool?
Ye may well serve, but ye shall not rule the Arizona Sword.
He cried out, "This is the day foretold. Just one hand now this land shall hold,
For in this sign will I rule. Behold! The Arizona Sword.
No more argument shall we find, but all hereafter shall be inclined
To just one purpose and just one mind. Thus do I mean to do.
Now go ye forth, and take the land." The sword heard well his first command.
She lunged and twisted in his hand, and fell, and ran him through.
They say the sword vanished clean away, for none has heard of it since that day,
But seek it wisely, and find ye may. Take care, who would be lord.
Beware, ye tyrant! Beware, ye fool! For who is the master and who the tool?
Ye may well serve, but ye shall not rule the Arizona Sword.
Whoa now. Calm down, sword.
