One, never learn anything about the fashionable, easily mastered art of spear throwing. Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers. And three, keep your mouth tightly closed. In this way, spears will never touch you, even when they pierce your heart.
This, along with "Live by the sword, die by the sword." point to the idea that its about more than just swords. If you, for example, gossip, you will be succeptible to gossip. But if you don't gossip, you will be better than it so that it might not impact you as harshly.
