Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
The Pope is a mere tormentor of conscience. The assembly of his greased and religious crew in praying was altogether like the croaking of frogs, which edified nothing at all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Martin Luther criticizes the Pope's role in religion as ineffective and superficial, likening it to the meaningless croaking of frogs.
In this quote, Martin Luther expresses his disdain for the Pope and the religious practices surrounding him, suggesting that they bring no real value or enlightenment. He compares the collective prayers of the Pope and his followers to the sounds made by frogs, indicating that they may appear ritualistic but ultimately serve no substantial purpose in moral or spiritual development. Luther's words reflect his belief in the importance of genuine faith and personal conscience over institutionalized religion.
Themes
PopeReligionConscienceCriticismMeaninglessness
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about organized religion, this quote can illustrate the critique of institutional authority.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes βNow if I believe in God's Son and remember that He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the stars, trees, apples, as I reflect that he is Lord over all things. ...God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Martin LutherRead
It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and wellbeing, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ.
Martin LutherRead
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
Martin LutherRead
We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.
Martin LutherRead
In a mouse we admire God's creation and craft work. The same may be said about flies.
Martin LutherRead
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