The title is an homage to "The pen is mightier than the sword" as coined by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton for his play 1839 "Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy". Similar sentiments were expressed by a variety of writers in the preceding century.
A possible inspiration may be It's a Good Life (1961). The repeated tactics of "sending to the caves" is much like "sending to the cornfield".
This is the third consecutive episode to feature Joxer.
Paul Norell (the peddler) plays the similar role of Falafel the food vendor on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995).
Whereas Ares is usually played as one of the arch-villains of the Xenaverse, in this one he comes off as a more sympathetic and likable character.