“Of the love or hatred God has for the English, I know nothing, but I do know that they will all be thrown out of France, except those who die there.”
- c. 1412 – May 30, 1431
- French
- Military leader, Martyr, Saint of the Roman Catholic Church
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Quote
“Of the love or hatred God has for the English, I know nothing, but I do know that they will all be thrown out of France, except those who die there.”
Explanation
In this quote, Joan of Arc makes a sharp and prophetic distinction between divine judgment and political destiny. She humbly admits that she does not presume to know God’s personal feelings toward the English people—a mark of theological restraint. However, she speaks with absolute certainty about the outcome of the war: the expulsion of the English from French soil, except those who perish there. This shows her clarity of purpose and unshakable confidence in her divine mission to liberate France.
This statement must be understood in the context of the Hundred Years’ War, during which England had occupied large parts of France, including Paris. Joan’s emergence marked a turning point in French morale and military strategy, culminating in key victories like the lifting of the siege of Orléans. Her conviction was not grounded in hatred, but in a national and spiritual imperative to restore French sovereignty. She saw her role as an instrument of this inevitable restoration, driven by divine will.
Today, this quote serves as a reminder of the power of principled resistance against foreign domination or injustice, regardless of personal animosity. Joan does not demonize the English people—she separates God’s mystery from political facts, focusing instead on what she believed must be done. Her words echo in struggles for liberation and justice, where the focus is not vengeance, but the rightful return of freedom and dignity.
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