I recall once, reading an old (and many times changed and re-told story), this particular story took place on a japanese subway (if I recall correctly), and the particular car in question contained a small number of people, ladies and children mostly, a large drunk man (a factory worker) and a martial arts student (fairly advanced, though I don't recall the particular school) and an old wizened man. The large man had become rowdy under the influence of his drink and was posing a threat to the women and children in the car. Now the young man was practically itching to show the drunkard what for, but before he could do anything the old man stepped directly into the drunkards path, who in no uncertain terms told him to mind his own. The younger man thought the old man crazy for putting his safety at risk when he could have felled the man quickly and easily, but the old man carried on and spoke to the drunkard:
"what are you drinking there? ah, sake I see. I remember when my wife and I used to have a glass in the evenings" the drunk said "what do i care?" to which the old man replied "I was just curious, you seem to be a labourer, do you have a wife or a family?" the drunk opened up a bit at this: "I do, but I got laid off from the factory,a nd now I can't support them" the old man persisted with the conversation "and is that why you are drinking, because of being out of work?" In a short period of time, the old man had the drunk sitting with him, talking quietly together, entirely calm. The younger man had watched the whole happenings in a state of confusion, but by the end he saw that the old man had succeeded in eliminating the threat in a much more effective matter, that night he had much to think about...

As Dreadbelly put, "a gentle answer turns away wrath" it s soemthing that has been proven true time and again.