Johannes Gutenberg

Printing press

Medieval influential 8 sayings

Sayings by Johannes Gutenberg

Religious truth is captive in a small number of little manuscripts which guard the common treasures, instead of expanding them.

1450s — On the limitations of handwritten manuscripts before the printing press
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall soon flow in inexhaustible streams the most abundant and most marvelous liquor that has ever flowed to relieve the thirst of men!

c. 1450s — Describing his printing press
Humorous Confirmed

Give me twenty-six soldiers of lead and I will conquer the world.

c. 1450s — Referring to the letters of movable type
Humorous Unverifiable

God suffers in the great multitudes whom his sacred word cannot reach.

c. 1450s — Justifying the need for widespread printing of religious texts
Humorous Unverifiable

Religious truth is captive in a small number of manuscript books, which guard the common treasure, instead of diffusing it. Let us break the seal which holds the holy things; give wings to the truth that by means of speech, no longer written at great expense by the hand that wearies itself, but multiplied as the air by an unwearied machine, it may fly to seek every soul born into the world!

c. 1450s — Advocating for the printing press to spread knowledge
Humorous Unverifiable

I do not know what I have done to deserve such persecution.

1455 — Letter to creditors during financial struggles with his printing press business
Controversial Unverifiable

The work of the scribes is doomed to oblivion.

1450 — Reported statement about the impact of printing on manuscript copying
Controversial Unverifiable

God suffers in the multitude of souls whom the scriptures cannot reach.

1440s — Reported motivation for Bible printing
Controversial Unverifiable