Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Martin Luther (German Protestant Theologian)

Martin Luther (1483–1546) was the German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation that challenged the teachings and the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther preached that salvation came by grace through faith alone rather than by deeds.

Born in Eisleben, Saxony, Luther studied at the University of Erfurt, became an Augustinian friar, and later a Doctor of Theology. In 1510, he visited Rome as a representative of many Augustinian monasteries and was horrified by the corruption he found there. Outraged, he published his “95 Theses” and condemned papal abuses and the sale of indulgences. Between 1519 and 1520, Luther wrote a series of pamphlets developing his ideas, which spread quickly throughout Europe.

Within a year, Pope Leo X dismissed Luther as an outspoken “son of iniquity.” Excommunicated in 1521, Luther refused to recant his assertions at an assembly of the Holy Roman Empire. It was at this gathering that he pronounced his famous words, “Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me.”

Emperor Charles V declared Luther an outlaw and a heretic. In 1534, Luther published a complete translation of the Bible into German, underlining his belief that people should be able to read it in their language. The translation contributed significantly to the spread and development of the German language.

The foremost ideas of Luther’s reform movement were treasured by the Lutheran Churches who summarized Luther’s essential message in their Book of Concord (1580.)

In his final years, Luther wrote diatribes against the Jews, the papacy, and the Anabaptists, a radical wing of the Reformation movement. He wrote Against the Jews and Their Lies (1542) calling upon authorities to burn Jewish synagogues and to expel Jews if they did not convert to Christianity. Some scholars believe that these points of view sowed the seeds of anti-Semitism in Germany.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Martin Luther

If I had to refute all the other articles of the Jewish faith, I should be obliged to write against them as much and for as long a time as they have used for inventing their lies – that is, longer than two thousand years
—Martin Luther
Topics: Judaism

The highest gift and favor of God is a pious, kind, godly, and domestic wife, with whom thou mayest live peaceably, and to whom thou mayest intrust all thy possessions, yea, thy body and thy life.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Wife

Faith is permitting ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Faith

Holiness consisteth not in a cowl or in a garment of gray.—When God purifies the heart by faith, the market is sacred as well as the sanctuary; neither remaineth there any work or place which is profane.
—Martin Luther

Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Society, Marriage

The hair is the richest ornament of women.—Of old, virgins used to wear it loose, except when they were in mourning.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Vanity, Hair

I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Integrity

Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. And we see how David and all the saints have wrought their godly thoughts into verse, rhyme, and song.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Music

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer, Miscellaneous

Peace if possible, but truth at any rate.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Thought, Reason, Truth

Tomorrow I plan to work, work, from early until late. In fact I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer

Forgiveness is God’s command.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Forgiveness

Where God builds a church the devil builds a chapel.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Religion, Churches

I never work better than when I am inspired by anger, when I am angry, I can write, pray, and preach well, for then my whole temperament is quickened, my understanding sharpened, and all mundane vexations and temptations depart.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Motivation

To do so no more is the truest repentance.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Repentance

God uses lust to impel men to many, ambition to office, avarice to earning, and fear to faith. God led me like an old blind goat.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Faith, God, Divinity

The human heart is like the millstone in a mill; when you put wheat under it, it turns and grinds the wheat into flour.—If you put no wheat in, it still grinds on, but then it is itself it grinds and slowly wears away.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Heart

There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Marriage, Charm

People must have righteous principles in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Principles

Music is a discipline, and a mistress of order and good manners, she makes the people milder and gentler, more moral and more reasonable.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Music

You’ll be subjected to hazing all your life.
—Martin Luther

You must learn that if you are a Christian, you will without a doubt experience all kinds of opposition and evil inclinations in the flesh. For when you have faith, there will be a hundred more evil thoughts and a hundred more temptations than before.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Temptation

Who has skill in the art of music is of good temperament and fitted for all things.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Personality

I have to hurry all day to get time to pray.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer

An angel is a spiritual creature created by God without a body for the service of Christendom and the church.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Angels, Religion

I would not give one moment of heaven for all the joy and riches of the world, even if it lasted for thousands and thousands of years.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Heaven

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer, Miscellaneous

Superstition, idolatry and hypocrisy have ample wages, but the truth goes begging.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Truth, Hypocrisy

An earthly kingdom cannot exist without inequality of persons. Some must be free, some serfs, some rulers, some subjects.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Equality

Original sin is in us, like the beard.—We are shaved today and look clean, and have a smooth chin; tomorrow our beard has grown again, nor does it cease growing while we remain on earth.—In like manner original sin cannot be extirpated from us; it springs up in us as long as we live.—Nevertheless we are bound to resist it to our utmost strength, and to cut it down unceasingly.
—Martin Luther

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