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

Heavy thoughts bring on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed so is the body.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Worry

Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but – more frequently than not – struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Reason, Faith

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Eternity, Difficulty, Time

Some plague the people with too long sermons; for the faculty of listening is a tender thing, and soon becomes weary and satiated.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Preaching, Evangelism

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

Wealth is the smallest thing on earth, the least gift that God has bestowed on mankind.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Wealth

Earth has nothing more tender than a woman’s heart when it is the abode of piety.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Woman

In his life, Christ is an example, showing us how to live; in his death, he is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sins; in his resurrection, a conqueror; in his ascension, a king; in his intercession, a high priest.
—Martin Luther

So our Lord God commonly gave riches to those gross asses to whom he vouchsafed nothing else.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Riches, Wealth

The less I pray, the harder it gets; the more I pray, the better it goes.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer

A good servant is a real godsend, but truly this is a rare bird in the land.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Service, Servants

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

The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by winds blowing from all four corners of heaven.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Heart, Decisions, Indecision

If you could understand a single grain of wheat, you would die of wonder.
—Martin Luther

How soon not now, becomes never.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Defects, Procrastination

The fewer words the better prayer.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer

Our Lord God doeth work like a printer, who setteth the letters backward; we see and feel well His setting, but we shall see the print yonder—in the life to come.
—Martin Luther

There is no justification without sanctification, no forgiveness without renewal of life, no real faith from which the fruits of new obedience do not grow.
—Martin Luther

Cannons and fire-arms are cruel and damnable machines; I believe them to have been the direct suggestion of the Devil. If Adam had seen in a vision the horrible instruments his children were to invent, he would have died of grief.
—Martin Luther
Topics: War

I have no pleasure in any man who despises music. It is no invention of ours: it is a gift of God. I place it next to theology. Satan hates music: he knows how it drives the evil spirit out of us.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Art, Music

If he have faith, the believer cannot be restrained. He betrays himself. He breaks out. He confesses and teaches this gospel to the people at the risk of life itself.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Evangelism

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

You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Responsibility

We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.
—Martin Luther

For truth and duty it is ever the fitting time; who waits until circumstances completely favor his undertaking, will never accomplish anything.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Opportunity

Love is an image of God, and not a lifeless image, but the living essence of the divine nature which beams full of all goodness.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Love

Grace is given to heal the spiritually sick, not to decorate spiritual heroes.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Grace

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

The law discovers the disease. The gospel gives the remedy.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Law, One liners

God has set the type of marriage everywhere throughout the creation.—Every creature seeks its perfection in another.—The very heavens and earth picture it to us.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Marriage

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