Words are spells; words can be used as weapons.

People pay less attention to words (as the quote from your title suggests) and yet they may leave deeper scars. People don't pay attention because there are no visible scars you can show; no bullet wounds. And yet, the wounds are there... and you only "see" them when the person who once was on the receiving end suddenly "jumps irrationally" at hearing a certain-- seemingly innocent-- turn of phrase.

Verbal (and emotional) abuse is a very real thing....