“Get up tomorrow early in the morning, and earlier than you did today, and do the best that you can. Always stay near me, for tomorrow I will have much to do and more than I ever had, and tomorrow blood will leave my body above the breast.”
- c. 1412 – May 30, 1431
- French
- Military leader, Martyr, Saint of the Roman Catholic Church
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Quote
“Get up tomorrow early in the morning, and earlier than you did today, and do the best that you can. Always stay near me, for tomorrow I will have much to do and more than I ever had, and tomorrow blood will leave my body above the breast.”
Explanation
This quote, attributed to Joan of Arc shortly before a significant battle, reveals a mixture of foresight, leadership, and sacrifice. She instructs her companion to rise early and do their best—an echo of disciplined preparation and resolve in the face of danger. Her request to stay close reflects both the intimacy of comradeship and her awareness of the risks she personally faces. The final line is chilling in its clarity: Joan anticipates that she will be wounded, yet speaks of it with calm determination, not fear.
Historically, this quote is said to precede the assault on Paris in 1429, where Joan was wounded by an arrow. Though she did not die in battle, her premonition speaks to her sense of destiny and acceptance of suffering as part of her divine mission. She did not glorify pain, but neither did she flee from it. This moment underscores her role not just as a visionary, but as a front-line commander who bore the same dangers as her soldiers.
Today, this quote resonates as a testament to courage in the face of overwhelming responsibility. It reminds us that great tasks often come with personal cost, and that true leaders do not ask of others what they are unwilling to endure themselves. Joan’s words, practical yet prophetic, continue to inspire those who approach their duties with grit, humility, and unflinching resolve in moments of trial.
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