Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3)

by Brandon Sanderson

“Inappropriate?” Pattern said. “Such as . . . dividing by zero?”

“Highmarshal Halad always said that to beat someone, you must first know them. It’s become one of the rules we follow in warfare.” “And . . . what did he say about retreat?” “‘Plan every battle as if you will inevitably retreat, but fight every battle like there is no backing down.’”