Inspirational Quotes by Martin Luther (German Protestant Theologian)

Inspirational Quotations 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 thou art wise thou knowest thine own ignorance; and thou art ignorant if thou knowest not thyself.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Ignorance

A preacher should have the skill to teach the unlearned simply, roundly, and plainly; for teaching is of more importance than exhorting.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Teaching, Education, Preaching, Teachers

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

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Faith

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

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

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

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

The will is a beast of burden. If God mounts it, it wishes and goes as God wills; if Satan mounts it, it wishes and goes as Satan wills; Nor can it choose its rider… the riders contend for its possession.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Wishes

Mankind has a free will; but it is free to milk cows and to build houses, nothing more.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Freedom

The allegory of a sophist is always screwed; it crouches and bows like a snake, which is never straight, whether she go, creep, or lie still; only when she is dead, she is straight enough.
—Martin Luther

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

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

Pray, and let God worry
—Martin Luther
Topics: Worry

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

Lord God, I thank thee that thou hast been pleased to make me a poor and indigent man upon earth. I have neither house nor land nor money to leave behind me.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Poverty

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

How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never’.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Procrastination

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

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

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: Faith, Reason

Anyone who can be proved to be a seditious person is an outlaw before God and the emperor; and whoever is the first to put him to death does right and well. Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful, or devilish than a rebel.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Revolution

I shall never be a heretic; I may err in dispute, but I do not wish to decide anything finally; on the other hand, I am not bound by the opinions of men.
—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

The defects of a preacher are soon spied. Let him be endued with ten virtues, and have but one fault, and that one fault will eclipse and darken all his virtues and gifts, so evil is the world in these times.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Preaching

The God of this world is riches, pleasure and pride.
—Martin Luther
Topics: God

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

Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Conscience, Justice

Next to theology I give music the highest place of honor.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Music, Art

Who loves not wine, woman and song, remains a fool his whole life long.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Fools, Thought, Foolishness, Reason, Wine

The Devil beget darkness; darkness beget ignorance; ignorance beget error and his brethren; error beget free-will and presumption; free-will beget works; works beget forgetfulness of God; forgetfulness beget transgression; transgression beget superstition; superstition beget satisfaction; satisfaction beget the mass-offering; the mass-offering beget the priest; the priest beget unbelief; unbelief beget hypocrisy; hypocrisy beget traffic in offerings for gain; traffic in offerings for gain beget Purgatory; Purgatory beget the annual solemn vigils; the annual vigils beget church-livings; church-livings beget avarice; avarice beget swelling superfluity; swelling superfluity beget fulness; fulness beget rage; rage beget license; license beget empire and domination; domination beget pomp; pomp beget ambition; ambition beget simony; simony beget the pope and his brethren, about the time of the Babylonish captivity.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Consequences

First I shake the whole [Apple] tree, that the ripest might fall. Then I climb the tree and shake each limb, and then each branch and then each twig, and then I look under each leaf.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Bible, Religion

God save me from my friends. I can protect myself from my enemies.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Enemy

All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.
—Martin Luther
Topics: God, Prayer, Divinity, Faith

I am more afraid of my own heart than the Pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great Pope, Self.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Integrity, Conscience, Heart

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

Sin is, essentially, a departure from God.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Sin

The devil is God’s ape!
—Martin Luther
Topics: Evil

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