That book of [Melancthon], to my mind, deserves not merely…
![“That book of [Melancthon], to my mind, deserves not merely to live as long as books are read, but to take its place in the Church canon; whereas your book, by comparison, struck me as so worthless and poor that my heart went out to you for having defiled your lovely, brilliant flow of language…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/451/martin-luther-106_books_that-book-of-melancthon-to-my-mind-deser_1378110.jpg)
““That book of [Melancthon], to my mind, deserves not merely to live as long as books are read, but to take its place in the Church canon; whereas your book, by comparison, struck me as so worthless and poor that my heart went out to you for having defiled your lovely, brilliant flow of language with such vile stuff. I thought it outrageous to convey material of so low a quality in the trappings of such rare eloquence; it is like using gold or silver dishes to carry garden rubbish or dung.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Luther condemns a work that pretends high style while delivering poor content, likening it to using fine dishes for trash.
In simple terms: Criticizes pretentiousness and poor substance.
Key Takeaway
Value substance over superficial style.
Themes
art
integrity
critique
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theological
literary
When to use this quote
- publishing
- education
- artistic creation
Key Concepts
aesthetics
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you judge true quality?
- When is form more important than content?
A Different Perspective
High style can mask low quality.