Able Quote by Martin Luther
“If the peasants are in open rebellion, then they are outside the law of God. Therefore let all who are able slash, strike down, and kill (those who rebel) openly and secretly, remembering that there can be nothing more venomous, harmful, or devilish than a rebel. It is exactly like killing a mad dog.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Freedom of a Christian, 1520
Rebels are deemed dangerous and must be eliminated, likened to killing a mad dog.
In simple terms: Rebels are harmful and should be destroyed.
Key Takeaway
Condemn rebellion as a threat.
Themes
religion
authority
violence
Mood
serious
critical
Type
theological
political
When to use this quote
- church governance
- political uprisings
- social control
Key Concepts
theology
political power
Questions to Reflect On
- What moral issues arise from labeling rebels as evil?
- How can authority be challenged without violence?
A Different Perspective
Violence suppresses legitimate dissent.
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![“They [rulers] must act like a good physician who, when gangrene has set in proceeds without mercy to cut, saw, and burn flesh, veins, bone, and marrow. Such a procedure must also be followed in this instance. Burn down their synagogues, forbid all that I enumerated earlier, force them to work, and…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18d/martin-luther-106_bones_they-rulers-must-act-like-a-good-physici_473946.jpg)
![“Drive them [Jews] like mad dogs from our land... let not one of them live.” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b2a/martin-luther-106_dog_drive-them-jews-like-mad-dogs-from-our-l_405091.jpg)
