hold the line vs obstinate

hold the line

verb
  • To firmly maintain one's viewpoint, principles, or situation; to refuse to change one's practices or plans. 

obstinate

adj
  • Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent. 

  • Typical of an obstinate person; fixed and unmoving. 

  • Not easily subdued or removed. 

How often have the words hold the line and obstinate occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )