Martin Luther Quotes
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Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing. Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, and even sin a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you: do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to.
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Here I stand; I can do no otherwise. God help me. Amen!
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The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.
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Christ took our sins and the sins of the whole world as well as the Father's wrath on his shoulders, and he has drowned them both in himself so that we are thereby reconciled to God and become completely righteous.
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Small Catechism, The Fifth Commandment, (1529).
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I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people joyful; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.
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The Clergy is the greatest hindrance to faith.
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Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.
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We are nothing with all our gifts be they ever so great, except God assist us.
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Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.
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Spare the rod and spoil the child - that is true. But, beside the rod, keep an apple to give him when he has done well.
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The state of matrimony is the chief in the world after religion; but people shun it because of its inconveniences, like one who, running out of the rain, falls into the river.
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Twas a special gift of God that speech was given to mankind; for through the Word, and not by force, wisdom governs.
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The universities only ought to turn out men who are experts in the Holy Scriptures, men who can become bishops and priests, and stand in the front line against heretics, the devil, and all the world. But where do you find that?
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We cannot attain to the understanding of Scripture either by study or by the intellect. Your first duty is to begin by prayer. Entreat the Lord to grant you, of His great mercy, the true understanding of His Word. There is no other interpreter of the Word of God than the Author of this Word, as He Himself has said, "They shall be all taught of God" (John 6:45). Hope for nothing from your own labors, from your own understanding: trust solely in God, and in the influence of His Spirit. Believe this on the word of a man who has experience.
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The God of this world is riches, pleasure and pride.
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Grace was not given to heal the spiritually sick but to decorate spiritual heroes!
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Holy Christendom has, in my judgment, no better teacher after the apostles than St. Augustine.
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Let us keep to Christ, and cling to Him, and hang on Him, so that no power can remove us.
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I see a word that hates evil more than it loves good.
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Ein' feste burg is unser Gott,ein gute wehr und waffen.Er hilft uns frei aus aller not,die uns itzt hat betroffen.
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War for the sake of war is sin, but war for the sake of defense is duty.
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But the Jews are so hardened that they listen to nothing; though overcome by testimonies they yield not an inch. It is a pernicious race, oppressing all men by their usury and rapine. If they give a prince or magistrate a thousand florins, they extort twenty thousand from the subjects in payment. We must ever keep on guard against them.
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On coming to the house, they (the Magi), saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. (Matthew 2:11) This adoration, too, was not the same as the worship of God. In my opinion they did not yet recognize him as God, but they acted in keeping with the custom mentioned in Scripture, according to which Kings and important people were worshiped; this did not mean more than falling down before them at their feet and honoring them.