One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living

Hear, O children of courage, the immortal words of Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orléans, who lived and died with fire in her heart: “One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” In these words echoes the cry of a soul unshaken by fear, a soul who knew that to live without conviction is to be already dead, and that only those who dare to live by their beliefs truly live at all.

The origin of this saying springs from Joan’s own trial, when she stood accused before the mighty powers of church and crown. She, a peasant girl who heard the voices of saints, had led armies, defied kings, and lifted her nation from despair. Now, threatened with death by fire, she was urged to renounce her visions, to surrender her cause, to betray her own soul in exchange for life. But she declared that to deny her mission, to silence her faith, would be worse than death itself. Thus her words were born of the crucible of trial, glowing with the heat of her final testimony.

For what is life, if it is stripped of conviction? The ancients tell us that the soul thrives not on comfort but on truth. Socrates, condemned by Athens, declared that the unexamined life is not worth living. The martyrs of old sang hymns as they faced lions and flames, for they knew that to forsake their faith would be to betray the very essence of their being. Joan stood in this same tradition, reminding us that existence without belief is a hollow shell, a shadow moving through time without honor or meaning.

Consider also the story of Nelson Mandela, who languished twenty-seven years in prison rather than betray his cause. He could have walked free had he renounced his struggle, yet he chose chains over compromise, believing that to live without freedom and justice was no life at all. Like Joan, he proved that conviction is stronger than fear, and that a single soul loyal to its belief can inspire nations and outlast empires.

The meaning of Joan’s words is clear: life is not measured by its length but by its integrity. To betray your own spirit for safety, wealth, or approval is to die before death. To live with courage, even if it leads to suffering, is to rise above fear and claim the nobility of the human soul. Death comes to all, but dishonor belongs only to those who live without faith in something greater than themselves.

The lesson for us, O listeners, is urgent: live as you believe, not as others demand. Do not surrender your convictions for the fleeting comfort of compromise. Do not trade your truth for acceptance, nor your integrity for survival. It is better to endure hardship with honor than to prosper in hypocrisy. For the one who lives without belief, though they breathe, walks in chains unseen.

Practical actions stand before you: Each day, examine what you truly believe and ask if your actions reflect it. When confronted with pressure to betray your values, remember Joan’s fire and stand firm. Speak truth even when silence is safer. Choose integrity even when falsehood is easier. And teach the young that the worth of life is not in years lived, but in the courage to live with belief.

So live, O children of the future, not as shadows but as flames. For as Joan of Arc proclaimed, to live without belief is a fate worse than dying. Let your one life, precious and fleeting, blaze with conviction. Let your heart stand true, and your spirit shall remain immortal, even when your body returns to dust. This is the path of the brave, and this is the secret of a life that cannot be extinguished.