In "The Fencing Master," Arturo Pérez-Reverte explores the complexities of violence in civilization. He argues that a society that dismisses the potential for violence, both in ideas and actions, risks losing its strength and autonomy. By renouncing violence, a civilization may become passive and vulnerable, comparable to defenseless sheep. This metaphor illustrates how such a society can be easily dominated or harmed by external threats.

Pérez-Reverte suggests that the same principle applies to individuals. When people abandon their capacity for assertiveness or resistance, they, too, become susceptible to exploitation. The idea highlights the importance of maintaining a balance between peaceful existence and the acknowledgment of violence as a part of human nature, emphasizing that understanding this duality is essential for survival and self-preservation.