"War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men"

War stands as a devastating aspect of human existence, an affliction that seems woven into the very fabric of history. Cardinal Richelieu’s assertion acknowledges war as not merely a product of human ambition or error, but as a profound trial imposed upon humanity, hinting at a divine or cosmic dimension. The statement does not exonerate humans for their role in creating conflicts but frames war as one of the many tribulations people must endure, alongside famine, plague, and other hardships, which appear in scripture as the classic “scourges” that trouble mankind.

This perspective reflects the theological worldview dominant in Richelieu’s era, shaped by the belief that moral and physical suffering is sometimes allowed by God for purposes beyond immediate human understanding. War, with its attendant suffering, chaos, and disruption, emerges as a tool through which individuals and societies are tested, chastened, or refined. Such an interpretation provides a lens of fatalistic acceptance, urging contemporaries to find some meaning or endurance in the face of relentless violence.

Yet, Richelieu’s words do not celebrate or glorify war; calling it a “scourge” evokes strong imagery of pain and punishment. War is neither natural nor neutral, rather, it is a blight, a calamity that afflicts whole populations without discrimination. By attributing its occurrence to a divine allowance, he places it alongside life’s uncontrollable fates, challenging the idea that humankind can entirely eliminate such suffering through wisdom or governance alone.

There is also a subtle acquiescence in the use of “it has pleased God,” a phrase echoing a resigned humility before the inscrutable will of a higher power. The suffering brought by war becomes part of humanity’s larger spiritual and historical journey, compelling people to seek resilience, reflection, and possibly redemption even as they endure its consequences. War, though abhorrent, is accepted as a crucible through which humanity must pass, never entirely understood but always endured.