In Steinbeck’s The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Nights, the Lady Lyne lays down the law for her young protegé, Sir Ewain:
Now — I will lay down the law and you will learn it word by word, and every word must be edged with fire. This is the law. The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplementary.