"No one ever goes into battle thinking God is on the other side"

Human beings often seek validation for their actions, especially in moments of great consequence and uncertainty such as war or conflict. When people prepare to enter a struggle, whether literal battle or metaphorical, they frequently anchor their resolve in a belief in the righteousness of their cause. By invoking the support of a higher power or moral authority, they affirm not just the necessity of their actions, but their virtue as well. This tendency points to a deep psychological need: the desire to see oneself as justified and supported by something greater than individual ambition or fear.

Ironically, the same conviction echoes on both sides of almost any conflict. Each person or group casts themselves as the champion of good, convinced that their values, perspective, and mission align with the ultimate truth or divine will. The possibility that the opposition might hold equal conviction, or that one’s own stance could be flawed, is uncomfortable and therefore often dismissed. In this way, adversaries are demonized, portrayed as aligned with chaos, evil, or, figuratively, as being forsaken by a just God. Meanwhile, one’s own cause is enveloped in the certainty of righteousness and destiny.

Such unwavering belief underscores both the power and peril of ideology. Confidence can inspire, bolster morale, and galvanize collective effort, but it can also blind individuals to empathy, self-reflection, and understanding of opposing views. The inability to imagine that providence might favor, or simply not forsake, the other side, fosters division and prolongs conflict. History reflects countless tragedies where both belligerents invoked the favor of the divine, certain of their moral supremacy.

Ultimately, the quote distills a universal truth about the human psychological landscape in times of conflict: the self-justifying nature of belief and the selective blindness it can produce. Only by confronting this tendency can individuals and societies approach greater humility, fostering the possibility of empathy, understanding, and ultimately, peace.