As individuals, most of us are not that impressive, or as you say, we are downright pathetic. But our power is in our societal organization, and our inherited culture.
But in the end the only thing that enforces any rule/ownership/law is violence, we just often do not have to go so far as we know it is not worth it.
>Don't get Gypped.
>A slave is worth 3/5 of a normal person.
There is a reason the pen is considered mightier than the sword.
A blade kills an enemy while it's wielder is alive, fit, and wielding it in anger.
The pen shapes the very thinking of entire generations. Anyone who says the space of violence is disjunct from the space of words is a downright fool. Hell, politics is just violence in it's Sunday/Friday/Saturday best.