In ‘Saya (Scabbards’) by Stan Sakai (of Usagi Yojimbo), a folk singer is first heard singing,
The rain will rust its edge, and the sheen will fade away!
The keenest blades are sheathed, and that’s where they should stay.
So please, Mr. Samurai, don’t draw your sword today!
Miyomoto Usagi encounters a quarrelsome samurai,
who insists on fighting him over a small misunderstanding,
when his scabbard accidentally bumps into his while walking by.
As he wouldn’t accept an apology and let it slide, they had to duel.
To the samurai’s surprise, after exchanging some strokes,
just when he thought he had stabbed Miyomoto,
he realised the latter had with the most amazing skill,
‘absorbed’ his sword perfectly into his empty scabbard by his waist, rendering him swordless.
He then pleaded for mercy, which of course, the hero gives.
And at the end of the story, the singer sings the song again.
Indeed, time will wear out rough edge, the the keenest to fight should never.
Wonderful short story about non-violence!