Quotes by Reformers - Page 2

The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Martin Luther King
Without love benevolence becomes egotism.
Martin Luther King
Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.
Martin Luther
The student is to collect and evaluate facts. The facts are locked up in the patient.
Abraham Flexner
Every thing that is done in the world is done by hope.
Martin Luther
To preach Christ is to feed the soul, to justify it, to set it free, and to save it, if it believes the preaching.
Martin Luther
It is not the straining for great things that is most effective it is the doing the little things the common duties a little better and better.
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
Pray, and let God worry.
Martin Luther
At these words I was utterly stupefied and terror-stricken. I thought to myself, “With what tongue shall I address such majesty, seeing that all men ought to tremble in the presence of even an earthly prince? Who am I, that I should lift up mine eyes or raise my hands to the divine Majesty? The angels surround him. At his nod the earth trembles. And shall I, a miserable little pygmy, say ‘I want this, I ask for that’? For I am dust and ashes and full of sin and I am speaking to the living, eternal and the true God.
Martin Luther
Thus every matter, if it is to be done well, calls for the attention of the whole person.
Martin Luther
The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.
Martin Luther
If a man is called to be a streetsweep-er he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.
Martin Luther King
The fewer the words the better the prayer.
Martin Luther
Riots are the voices of the unheard.
Martin Luther King
We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.
Martin Luther
The world has come to such a state that one can no longer find anyone who does good.
Girolamo Savonarola
Human Salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.
Martin Luther King
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.
Martin Luther
Jesus the very thought of TheeWith sweetness fills my breast;But sweeter far Thy face to see,And in Thy presence rest.
Bernard of Clairvaux
Tell your master that if there were as many devils at Worms as tiles on its roofs I would enter.
Martin Luther
If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for he isn't fit to live.
Martin Luther King
So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!
Martin Luther
If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.
Martin Luther
Human reason is like a drunken man on horseback set it up on one side and it tumbles over on the other.
Martin Luther
Peace if possible but truth at any rate.
Martin Luther
Being by his faith replaced afresh in paradise and created anew, he (the believer)does not need works for his justification, but that he may not be idle, but that he may exercise his own body and preserve it. His works are to be done freely, with the sole object of pleasing God.
Martin Luther
Our Lord commonly giveth Riches to such gross asses to whom he affordeth nothing else that is good.
Martin Luther
Neither fear nor self-interest can convert the soul. They may change the appearance, perhaps even the conduct, but never the object of supreme desire... Fear is the motive which constrains the slave; greed binds the selfish man, by which he is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed (James 1:14). But neither fear nor self-interest is undefiled, nor can they convert the soul. Only charity can convert the soul, freeing it from unworthy motives.
Bernard of Clairvaux
Fight vigorously against the wolves, but on behalf of the sheep, not against the sheep. And this you may do by inveighing against the laws and lawgivers, and yet at the same time observing these laws with the weak, lest they be offended, until they shall themselves recognize the tyranny, and understand their own liberty.
Martin Luther
Those speak foolishly who ascribe their anger or their impatience to such as offend them or to tribulation. Tribulation does not make people impatient, but proves that they are impatient. So everyone may learn from tribulation how his heart is constituted.
Martin Luther
I have covenanted with my Lord that He should not send visions, or dreams or even angels! I am content with this gift of the Scriptures, which teaches and supplies all that is necessary both for this life and that which is to come.
Martin Luther
Lo! my God, without merit on my part, of His pure and free mercy, has given to me (an unworthy, condemned, and contemptible creature) all the riches of justification and salvation in Christ.For such a Father then, who has overwhelmed me with these inestimable riches of His, why should I not freely, cheerfully, with my whole heart and with an eager will, do all that I know will be pleasing to Him, and acceptable in His sight?I will therefore give myself, as a sort of Christ, to my neighbor, as Christ has given Himself to me; and will do nothing in this life, except what I see will be needful, advantageous, and wholesome for my neighbor, since by faith I abound in all good things in Christ.
Martin Luther
A woman must be a woman and cannot be a man. She, too, is God's creature and her divine station is that she should bear and care for and rear children. So I am a man created for another office and work. But should I be proud because of this and say: I am not a woman, therefore I am better in the sight of God? Should I not rather praise God for creating both the woman and me also through the woman and putting me in this station? What a un-Christian thing it is that one should despire another because he is in another station or is doing something other then he is doing?... "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled." for God will not and can not tolerate such pride and arrogance.
Martin Luther
They are trying to make me into a fixed star. I am an irregular planet.
Martin Luther
To progress is always to begin always to begin again
Martin Luther
No one can believe how powerful prayer is and what it can effect, except those who have learned it by experience. Whenever I have prayed earnestly, I have been heard and have obtained more than I prayed for. God sometimes delays, but He always comes.
Martin Luther
If God had not permitted the people of Jerusalem to be torn asunder and driven them from the land, but had let them keep it after before, no one could convince them that they are not God`s chosen people.
Martin Luther
Success for a woman means absolute surrender, in whatever direction. Whether she paints a picture, or loves a man, there is no division of labor possible in her economy. To the attainment of any end worth living for, a symmetrical sacrifice of her nature is compulsory upon her.
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
...so unbelief alone commits sin..Hence Christ calls unbelief the only sin.
Martin Luther
The less I pray the harder it gets the more I pray the better it goes.
Martin Luther
The devil does not stay where music is.
Martin Luther
I cannot choose but adhere to the word of God, which has possession of my conscience; nor can I possibly, nor will I even make any recantation, since it is neither safe nor honest to act contrary to conscience! Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God! Amen.
Martin Luther
The defects of a preacher are soon spied.
Martin Luther
We must accept finite disappointment but we must never lose infinite hope.
Martin Luther King
Don't hate it's too big a burden to bear.
Martin Luther King
Although it is very easy to marry a wife, it is very difficult to support her along with the children and the household. Accordingly, no one notices this faith of Jacob. Indeed, many hate fertility in a wife for the sole reason that the offspring must be supported and brought up. For this is what they commonly say: ‘Why should I marry a wife when I am a pauper and a beggar? I would rather bear the burden of poverty alone and not load myself with misery and want.’ But this blame is unjustly fastened on marriage and fruitfulness. Indeed, you are indicting your unbelief by distrusting God’s goodness, and you are bringing greater misery upon yourself by disparaging God’s blessing. For if you had trust in God’s grace and promises, you would undoubtedly be supported. But because you do not hope in the Lord, you will never prosper.
Martin Luther
Forgiveness is God's command.
Martin Luther
Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.
Martin Luther
It is certainly true that reason is the most important and the highest rank among all things and, in comparison with other things of this life, the best and something divine. It is the inventor and mentor of all the arts, medicines, laws, and of whatever wisdom, power, virtue, and glory men possess in this life.
Martin Luther
If then, Moses so distinctly announces that there is in us not only a faculty, but also a facility for keeping all commandments, why are we sweating so much? ... What need is there now of Christ or of Spirit? We have found a passage that asserts freedom of choice, but also distinctly teaches that the keeping of the commandments is easy.
Martin Luther
As the world is wearie of me so am I of it.
John Knox
Qui me amat, amet et canem meum. (Who loves me will love my dog also.)
Bernard of Clairvaux
Hatred paralyzes life love releases it. Hatred confuses life love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life love illumines it.
Martin Luther King
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King
I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope self.
Martin Luther
He who sleeps does not sin.
Martin Luther
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
Christ is the Master; the Scriptures are only the servant. The true way to test all the Books is to see whether they work the will of Christ or not. No Book which does not preach Christ can be apostolic, though Peter or Paul were its author. And no Book which does preach Christ can fail to be apostolic, although Judas, Ananias, Pilate, or Herod were its author.
Martin Luther
So far from being able to answer for my sins, I cannot even answer for my righteousness!
Bernard of Clairvaux
There are two days in my calendar: This day and that Day.
Martin Luther