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There was a common proverb of old, "What is it to the…

“There was a common proverb of old, "What is it to the Romans that the Greeks die?" So we think that our dangers and calamities only belong to ourselves. But how does this principle agree with the commandment of God? For his will is that we should all live together, and be to each other as brethren.” quote by Martin Luther
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““There was a common proverb of old, "What is it to the Romans that the Greeks die?" So we think that our dangers and calamities only belong to ourselves. But how does this principle agree with the commandment of God? For his will is that we should all live together, and be to each other as brethren.””

Martin Luther

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote questions that human suffering is personal, yet divine command calls for communal love, suggesting a tension between individual fate and collective responsibility.

In simple terms: Human pain is personal, but we must love each other.

Key Takeaway

Balance personal trials with communal care.

Themes

theology humanism community responsibility

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

religious philosophical

When to use this quote

  • church life
  • social ethics
  • personal crisis
  • interfaith dialogue

Key Concepts

suffering divine command brotherhood

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we reconcile personal hardship with communal duty?
  • What does brotherhood mean in modern society?
A Different Perspective

May overlook systemic causes of suffering.

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