WIST Quotations

Luther, Martin -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

If you are not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
(Attributed)

Luther, Martin -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

I would rather be ruled by a wise Turk than a Christian donkey.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
(Attributed)

Luther, Martin -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:40:10 +0000

Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer! (There is no beer in heaven, so let us drink it here.)

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
(Attributed)

Luther, Martin -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:09:04 +0000

If I knew the world should go under tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today.”

[Und wenn ich wüsste, dass morgen die Welt unterginge, so pflanzte ich heute noch einen Apfelbaum.]

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
(Attributed)

Many alternative translations and paraphrases of this apocryphal statement can be found:

"Even if I knew that the whole world was going to smash tomorrow, still, I would plant an apple tree today. [Auch wenn ich wüsste, dass morgen die Welt zugrunde geht, würde ich heute noch einen Apfelbaum pflanzen.]"
"If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would plant a tree this afternoon."
"If I knew I was to die tomorrow, I would plant a tree today."

Luther, Martin -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:40:25 +0000

Who loves not wine, women, and song
Remains a fool his whole life long.

[Wer nicht liebt Weib, Wein und Gesang,
A Der bleibt ein Narr sein Leben lang.]

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
(Attributed)

Attributed in Matthias Claudius, Der Wandsbecker Bothe (1775). Inscription in the Luther Room, Wartburg, Germany.

Luther, Martin -- Table Talk [Colloquia Mensalia], ch. 2 (1566) [tr. Bell]

Dave — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:33:56 +0000

For, where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Table Talk [Colloquia Mensalia], ch. 2 (1566) [tr. Bell]
(Source)

See Herbert, who identifies it as a common phrase.

Luther, Martin -- Table Talk [Colloquies; Tischreden] (1566) [tr. Bell (1652)]

Dave — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 18:19:53 +0000

Our Lord commonly giveth Riches to such gross asses to whom he affordeth nothing else that is good.

[Darumb gibt unser Herrgott gemeiniglich Reichtum den groben Eseln, denen er sonst nichts gönnt.]

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Table Talk [Colloquies; Tischreden] (1566) [tr. Bell (1652)]

This is a common translation given in various places. A more complete one, Colloquia Mensalia [Divine Discourses], ch. 4 "Of the Nature of the World," "Wealth is the least gift of GOD" [tr. Bell (1659, 2d ed.)]:

Riches is the smallest thing on earth, and the least gift that God hath bestowed on mankinde. What is it in comparison of God's Word; yea, what is it to bee compared with corporal gifts, as beautie, health, &c. nay, what is it to the gifts of the minde, as understanding, Art, wisdom; &c. yet are men so eager upon it, that no labor, travail, nor danger is regarded in getting of Riches: there is in it neither Materialis, formalis, efficiens & finalis caussa, nor anie thing els that good is, therefore our Lord God commonly givet Riches to such gross Asses, to whom hee affordeth nothing els that is good.

This same passage is quoted and cited in The Apophthegmes of Erasmus (1471) [tr. Udall (1877 reprint of the 1564 ed.), in the Appendix to discuss the principle "Gold masters all things," related to Erasmus' work on Philippus, sec. 13. It is not Erasmus' work, as is sometimes suggested, but that of Robert Roberts, the editor.

The Latin bits refer to Aristotle's four causes or reasons for something to exist.

For similar sentiments, see also La Bruyere (1688), Steele (1710), Swift (1720).

The variations and abridgments of Luther's Table Talk are legion, even in variations of the same translator's text (Henry Bell, who was the first English translator of the work). The variants are usually either to simplify or update the language to contemporary standards, or to bowdlerize Luther's rough language (e.g., "groben Eseln" [coarse asses]).

(Source (German)). Alternate translations:

Riches is the smallest thing on earth, and the least gift that God hath bestowed on mankind. What is it in comparison of God's Word? yea, what is it to be compared with corporal gifts; as beauty, health, &c. ? nay, what is it to the gifts of the mind; as understanding, art, wisdom, &c.? Yet are men so eager after it, that no labour, travel, nor danger is regarded in getting of riches. There is in it neither Materialis, formalis, efficiens et finalis causa, nor anything else that is good; therefore our Lord God commonly giveth riches to such from whom he withholds all spiritual good.
[tr. Bell (1650), 1791 ed.]

Riches is the smallest thing on earth, and the least gift that God bestowed on mankind. What is it in comparison of God's Word? yea, what is it to be compared with corporal gifts; as beauty, health, &c? nay, what is it to the gifts of the mind; as understanding, art, wisdom, &c. Yet are men so eager after it, that no labour, travel, nor danger is regarded in getting of riches, there is in it neither matter, form, effect, or cause, or any thing else that is good; therefore our Lord God commonly giveth riches to such, from whom he withholds all spiritual good.
[tr. Bell (1650), ed. Kerby (1818)]

Wealth is the smallest thing on earth, the least gift that God has bestowed on mankind. What is it in comparison with God's Word -- what, in comparison with corporal gifts, as beauty, health, &c.? -- nay, what is it to the gifts of the mind, as understanding, wisdom, &c.? Yet are men so eager after it, that no labour, pains, or risk is regarded in the acquisition of riches. Wealth has in it neither material, formal, efficient nor final cause, nor anything else that is good; therefore our Lord God commonly gives riches to those from whom he withholds spiritual good.
[tr. Hazlitt (1847), "Of the nature of the world," # 167]

Wealth is the least important of all things upon the earth, the smallest gift that God has bestowed on man. What is it, compared to the Word of God? Yes, what is it, compared even to bodily gifts and beauty? What is it, compared to the gifts of the mind? Yet people strive so for it! By no category of logic can [wealth] be called good — for its substance, its quality, as a means or as an end. Therefore God gives it commonly to coarse fools, to whom he means no good.
[tr. Smith / Gallinger (1915), ch. 36 "Miscellaneous"]

Riches are the most insignificant things on earth, the smallest gift that God can give a man. What are they in comparison with the Word of God? In fact, what are they in comparison even with physical endowments and beauty? What are they in comparison with gifts of the mind? And yet we act as if this were not so! The matter, form, effect, and goal of riches are worthless. That's why our Lord God generally gives riches to crude asses to whom he doesn't give anything else.
[ed. French (2017?), winter of 1542-1543]

Luther, Martin -- Table Talk, # 820 [tr. W. Hazlitt (1848)]

Dave — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:45:05 +0000

Cannon and fire-arms are cruel and damnable machines. I believe them to have been the direct suggestion of the devil. Against the flying ball, no valour avails; the soldier is dead ‘ere he sees the means of his destruction.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Table Talk, # 820 [tr. W. Hazlitt (1848)]

Luther, Martin -- Table Talk, #292 (1566) [tr. Hazlitt (1857)]

Dave — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:27:00 +0000

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Table Talk, #292 (1566) [tr. Hazlitt (1857)]

Luther, Martin -- Letter to Hieronymous Weller (1530)

Dave — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:09:58 +0000

Thou canst not prevent the birds from flying above they head, but thou canst prevent their building their nests in thy hair.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Letter to Hieronymous Weller (1530)
(Source)

On temptation, attributed to "a wise oracle."

Luther, Martin -- Letter to Jerome Weller (Jul 1530)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:40:44 +0000

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, aye, 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.” One must always do what Satan forbids.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Letter to Jerome Weller (Jul 1530)
(Source)

Alt. trans.: "We are soon defeated if we try too hard not to sin. So when the devil says ‘Do not drink’ answer him: ‘I shall drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to!’"

Luther, Martin -- Speech before the Diet of Worms (18 Apr 1521)

Dave — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:41:20 +0000

I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Speech before the Diet of Worms (18 Apr 1521)

Luther, Martin -- Table Talk

Dave — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 15:05:26 +0000

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 (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Table Talk
(Source)

Variations:

"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not go for texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn."
The best way to expel the devil, if he will not depart for texts from Holy Scripture, is to jeer and flout him. [Source]