---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Discrimination against Jews can be read…"
description: "\"Discrimination against Jews can be read in Thomas Aquinas, and insults against Jews in Martin Luther.\" — Lionel Blue"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/lionel-blue-13131_discrimination_discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read_2935855.jpg"
---

#  Discrimination against Jews can be read in Thomas Aquinas…

![“Discrimination against Jews can be read in Thomas Aquinas, and insults against Jews in Martin Luther.” quote by Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/lionel-blue-13131_discrimination_discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read_2935855.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/lionel-blue-13131_discrimination_discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read_2935855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/lionel-blue-13131_discrimination_discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read_2935855.jpg)

> “Discrimination against Jews can be read in Thomas Aquinas, and insults against Jews in Martin Luther.”

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

## About This Quote

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

Jewish discrimination appears in writings of Aquinas and Luther, showing historical prejudice.

**In simple terms:** Historical religious texts contain anti‑Jewish bias.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and challenge historic prejudice.

Themes

prejudice history religion justice

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

academic inspirational

When to use this quote

- interfaith dialogue
- educational curricula
- policy making

Key Concepts

theology social critique

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we learn from historical prejudice?
- What steps prevent repeat discrimination?

A Different Perspective

Addressing past bias can be controversial.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/)

## Related quotes

> [Jews read the books of Moses not just as history but as divine command. The question to which they are an answer is not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/jews-read-the-books-of-moses-not-just-as-history-but-as-divine/)

[Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/)

> [The first-cause and prime-mover argument, brilliantly proffered by St. Thomas Aquinas in the fourteenth century (and brilliantly refuted by David Hume in the eighteenth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/the-first-cause-and-prime-mover-argument-brilliantly-proffered-by-st/)

[Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/)

> [“The main danger is that of supposing that the thing to do is get a mind on the scale of Thomas (Aquinas)’s into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denys-turner/the-main-danger-is-that-of-supposing-that-the-thing-to-do-is-get-a/)

Denys Turner

> [“University of Chicago is a Baptist school, where atheist professors teach Jewish students about St. Thomas Aquinas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/university-of-chicago-is-a-baptist-school-where-atheist-professors/)

[Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/)

> [“The 'words' of Augustine, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, St. John of Damascus, St. Thomas Aquinas, et al, may not have carried the weight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-words-of-augustine-origen-clement-of-alexandria-st-john-of/)

[R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/)

> [Many statements about God are confidently made by theologians on grounds that today at least sound specious. Thomas Aquinas claimed to prove that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/many-statements-about-god-are-confidently-made-by-theologians-on/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [“Bonaventure was the first Superior of the Franciscan Order after the death of its founder. Thomas Aquinas once asked him where he got his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wurmbrand/bonaventure-was-the-first-superior-of-the-franciscan-order-after-the/)

[Richard Wurmbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wurmbrand/)

> [“The attempt to understand morality in the legalistic terms of a natural law is ancient but is now mostly associated with the formulation given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knud-haakonsen/the-attempt-to-understand-morality-in-the-legalistic-terms-of-a/)

Knud Haakonsen

> [“In the history of philosophy, the term “rationalism” has two distinct meanings. In one sense, it signifies an unbreached commitment to reasoned thought in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/in-the-history-of-philosophy-the-term-rationalism-has-two-distinct/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [I know that Colbert could quote Thomas Aquinas and all this, but I'm somebody who, because it's a necessity for me on a personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-know-that-colbert-could-quote-thomas-aquinas-and-all-this-but-i-m/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“Frederick agreed that the punishment of La Barre was extreme; for his part he would rather have condemned the youth to read the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/frederick-agreed-that-the-punishment-of-la-barre-was-extreme-for-his/)

[Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/)

> [“Saint Thomas Aquinas says, wisely, that the only way to drive out a bad passion is by a stronger good passion. The same is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/saint-thomas-aquinas-says-wisely-that-the-only-way-to-drive-out-a-bad/)

[Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/)

> [“As St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) taught, whatever we say about God is more unlike God than saying nothing. If we do say something, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/as-st-thomas-aquinas-1225-1274-taught-whatever-we-say-about-god-is/)

[Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/)

> [ The whole thing that Dante \[Alighieri\] did was summed up in the medieval world. It's like St. Thomas Aquinas, the Summa Theologica. He didn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/the-whole-thing-that-dante-alighieri-did-was-summed-up-in-the/)

[Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/)

> [“There are indeed solid ontological foundations for an understanding of signals of transformation. Both Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin take the notion of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-sire-2/there-are-indeed-solid-ontological-foundations-for-an-understanding/)

[James W Sire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-sire-2/)

## More by Lionel Blue

> [Someone gave me a New Testament. I had never before read it systematically. Some parts made sense, some parts shocked me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/someone-gave-me-a-new-testament-i-had-never-before-read-it/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [I thought of such Christian inventions as the ghetto and the Jewish badge of shame. The Nazis didn't have to go very far to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/i-thought-of-such-christian-inventions-as-the-ghetto-and-the-jewish/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [I was not comfortable worshipping another Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/i-was-not-comfortable-worshipping-another-jew/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [I found that when I did something for the sake of heaven, heaven happened. These things changed my life. I owe them to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/i-found-that-when-i-did-something-for-the-sake-of-heaven-heaven/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [Praying privately in churches, I began to discover that heaven was my true home and also that it was here and now, woven into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/praying-privately-in-churches-i-began-to-discover-that-heaven-was-my/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [My mother was a modern woman with a limited interest in religion. When the sun set and the fast of the Day of Atonement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/my-mother-was-a-modern-woman-with-a-limited-interest-in-religion-when/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [So many plusses, so many minuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/so-many-plusses-so-many-minuses/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [I have ended as a Reform Rabbi, grateful to Christianity for so many good things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/i-have-ended-as-a-reform-rabbi-grateful-to-christianity-for-so-many/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [It's more fun to watch without joining in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/it-s-more-fun-to-watch-without-joining-in/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [For a Christian, Jesus is the unique and only way that God has fully revealed himself. For a Jew this cannot be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/for-a-christian-jesus-is-the-unique-and-only-way-that-god-has-fully/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [Pious XII was too neutral to mention the gas chambers; decent people like my own family were turned into devils by crude Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/pious-xii-was-too-neutral-to-mention-the-gas-chambers-decent-people/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [I was certainly open for something being on the edge of a nervous breakdown, perplexed by my own sexuality. I was gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/i-was-certainly-open-for-something-being-on-the-edge-of-a-nervous/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [The real evidence is not practically speaking in scholarship but in how Jesus and the Christianity based on him manifest themselves in the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/the-real-evidence-is-not-practically-speaking-in-scholarship-but-in/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [I learnt pity, sympathy, and what it was like to be at the other end of the stick. Such lessons can't be learnt in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/i-learnt-pity-sympathy-and-what-it-was-like-to-be-at-the-other-end-of/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

> [I was not allowed a physical lover. Falling in love with Love was the best I could get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/i-was-not-allowed-a-physical-lover-falling-in-love-with-love-was-the/)

[Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

[Explore all 51 Lionel Blue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/)

## More Discrimination quotes

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/)

[Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/)

[Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/)

> [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/)

[Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/)

> [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [Judging someone by the color of their skin is ignorant. Their skin complexion has nothing to do with their morals, beliefs or intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judging-someone-by-the-color-of-their-skin-is-ignorant-their-skin/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We try to take a very strong stance against discrimination and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-try-to-take-a-very-strong-stance-against-discrimination-and-hatred/)

[Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/)

> [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/)

[Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/)

> [End discrimination and hate everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy/end-discrimination-and-hate-everyone/)

[Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy/)

> [This bill would allow an employee to bring a claim against an employer decades after the alleged initial act of discrimination occurred. Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/)

Buck McKeon

> [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/)

[Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/)

[Browse all 1,366 Discrimination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Discrimination against Jews can be read in Thomas Aquinas, and insults against Jews in Martin Luther.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lionel Blue"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read-in-thomas-aquinas-and-insults/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Discrimination"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read-in-thomas-aquinas-and-insults/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/lionel-blue-13131_discrimination_discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read_2935855.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/lionel-blue-13131_discrimination_discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read_2935855.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/lionel-blue-13131_discrimination_discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read_2935855.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Discrimination against Jews can be read in Thomas Aquinas, and insults against Jews in Martin Luther.” — Lionel Blue",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lionel Blue",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Discrimination against Jews can be read...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read-in-thomas-aquinas-and-insults/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/discrimination-against-jews-can-be-read-in-thomas-aquinas-and-insults/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
