Martin Luther

Leader of the Protestant Reformation

Early Modern influential 281 sayings

Sayings by Martin Luther

If you want to have a good laugh, read the Papal Bulls. They are so full of nonsense that they will make you split your sides.

c. 1530s-1540s — Table Talk
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The world is like a drunken peasant. If you help him to mount on one side of his horse, he tumbles off on the other.

c. 1530s-1540s — Attributed
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

I would have all Christians educated enough to be able to read the Bible. It is not for priests alone, but for all.

c. 1520s — Attributed, reflecting his emphasis on vernacular Bible
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I would have all Christians educated enough to be able to read the Bible. It is not for priests alone, but for all.

c. 1520s — Attributed, reflecting his emphasis on vernacular Bible
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The Christian's life is not a bed of roses, but a cross.

c. 1530s-1540s — Attributed
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The Christian's life is not a bed of roses, but a cross.

c. 1530s-1540s — Attributed
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Reason is the Devil's greatest whore.

1530s — From his 'Table Talk' conversations, recorded by his students
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

A woman is a human being with a womb.

1530s — From 'Table Talk' showing his biological definition of womanhood
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals.

1521 — Personal reflection on spiritual struggles
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The mad mob does not ask how it could be better, only that it be different. And when it then becomes worse, it must change again. Thus they get bees for flies, and at last hornets for bees.

1525 — Critique of popular revolts during the Peasants' War
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true and not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin.

1521 — Letter to Philipp Melanchthon about theological paradox
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I cannot pray without cursing.

1530s — Remark about his emotional approach to prayer
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The world is like a drunken peasant. If you lift him into the saddle on one side, he will fall off on the other.

1530s — From 'Table Talk' about human instability
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have often tried to be angry with the devil, but I cannot; he is such a merry knave.

1540 — Remark about spiritual warfare
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Why should the Devil have all the good tunes?

1520s-1530s — Attributed to him regarding the use of secular melodies for hymns.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

If I am to be executed, I would rather be executed by the Pope than by my own people.

1521 — During his conflict with Emperor Charles V and the Papacy.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.

1520s-1530s — A common saying attributed to him, emphasizing the importance of prayer.
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The soul can do without anything except the Word of God, without which there is no help for it at all.

1520 — From 'On Christian Liberty'.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.

1530s — General teachings.
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

A cow has a more certain faith than a hundred thousand Papists.

1530s-1540s — From 'Table Talk'.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable