He could have fought a rearguard action—the hours he worked; the distance involved—but marriage had taught him that once the battle lines were drawn, defeat was only a matter of time.
— Slow Horses (Mick Herron)
I just think it’s not the defeat per se, rather ‘ah, fuck you already, do as you please!’ Which is not a nice place to be, and rather a sign of a failed marriage.
Or, did he said exactly the same thing but with different words, huh?