Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
The whole Turkish empire is nothing else but a crust cast by Heaven's great Housekeeper to His dogs.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the Turkish empire is insignificant and unworthy, as if discarded by a higher power.
Martin Luther's quote expresses a deeply critical view of the Turkish empire, implying that its existence was merely a byproduct of divine neglect. By comparing it to a crust thrown to dogs, he highlights his belief in its lowly status, reflecting his perspective on power, authority, and the workings of divine providence in the world.
Themes
Turkish EmpireDivine NeglectInsignificancePowerCritique
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on historical empires and their impacts, one might quote Luther to illustrate perspectives on power dynamics.
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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