“God is on the side of the best shots.”
This powerful military maxim cuts through the fog of war. Source It suggests that victory belongs not to the most pious or the most numerous, but to the most skilled. The phrase champions preparation, expertise, and superior execution over blind faith or brute force. While its exact origin is debated, its sentiment echoes through centuries of military thought. Many great leaders and thinkers have expressed similar ideas. Consequently, this maxim offers a timeless lesson on the nature of conflict and success.
Its enduring appeal lies in its simple, pragmatic truth. It grounds the chaos of battle in a tangible factor: competence. Let’s explore the history of this influential idea and the figures most often connected to it.
The Philosopher and the Proverb: Voltaire’s Pen
The most credible attribution points to the French philosopher Voltaire. Source However, he didn’t coin the exact phrase as it is popularly known today. In a 1770 letter to Jean le Rond d’Alembert, Voltaire wrote a slightly different version. He stated that he heard it said that “God is always on the side of the big battalions.” .
Later, in a letter to M. le Riche, he refined this thought. He wrote, “they say that God is on the side of the heavy battalions.” This sentiment highlights the importance of overwhelming numbers. Yet, the spirit of the ‘best shots’ version is often seen as a direct counterpoint to this idea. It reframes the discussion from quantity to quality. Therefore, Voltaire’s writings serve as the primary source for the family of maxims that debate divine favor versus military strength and skill. His words captured a strategic debate that continues even now.
Napoleon and the Big Battalions
Ironically, Napoleon Bonaparte is often associated with both sides of this strategic coin. Many people misattribute the “best shots” quote to him. In reality, he championed the opposing view. Napoleon famously favored the principle of mass and overwhelming force. He is widely credited with the saying, “God is on the side of the big battalions.” This philosophy defined his grand campaigns across Europe. He built massive armies to crush his opponents through sheer numbers and decisive concentration of force.
However, this doesn’t mean he neglected skill. Napoleon’s Grande Armée was also renowned for its training, speed, and artillery expertise. His genius was in combining quantity with quality. He understood that large armies were useless without discipline and brilliant execution. Thus, while he believed in the power of numbers, he also implicitly understood that those numbers had to be composed of effective soldiers. The ‘big battalions’ had to know how to fight.
Quality Over Quantity: A Timeless Principle
The core idea behind the “best shots” maxim predates both Voltaire and Napoleon. Ancient strategists recognized the value of superior skill. For instance, the Spartan victory at Thermopylae, though ultimately a defeat, showcased the power of a small, highly trained force against a massive army. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War consistently prioritizes strategy, deception, and discipline over raw numbers. He advised commanders to know their own strengths and their enemy’s weaknesses.
This principle appears throughout history. Source Frederick the Great of Prussia, a brilliant military tactician, relied on the intense discipline and rapid-fire capability of his infantry. His small but professional army consistently defeated larger foes. . He proved that a well-drilled force with superior firepower could dominate the battlefield. These historical examples reinforce the maxim’s central truth: excellence is a powerful force multiplier.
The Maxim in the Modern Era
Today, the maxim “God is on the side of the best shots” is more relevant than ever. Modern warfare is increasingly defined by technology and specialized skills. A single drone pilot, cyber warfare specialist, or special forces operator can have a strategic impact far outweighing their numbers. The ‘best shot’ is no longer just about marksmanship with a rifle.
It now encompasses a vast range of technical expertise. For example, precision-guided munitions allow small units to destroy targets that once required massive bombing campaigns. Furthermore, intelligence analysts who can effectively process data provide a decisive edge. In this context, the ‘battalions’ are smaller, but their ‘shots’ are infinitely more precise and impactful. The principle has expanded from the battlefield to boardrooms and laboratories, where the most innovative and skilled teams often outperform larger, less agile competitors.