--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dear rulers ... I maintain that the civil…" description: "\"Dear rulers ... I maintain that the civil authorities are under obligation to compel the people to send their children to school. ... If the government..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/martin-luther-106_authority_dear-rulers-i-maintain-that-the-civil-au_1338665.jpg" --- # Dear rulers ... I maintain that the civil authorities are… ![“Dear rulers ... I maintain that the civil authorities are under obligation to compel the people to send their children to school. ... If the government can compel such citizens as are fit for military service to bear spear and rifle, to mount ramparts, and perform other martial duties in time of…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/martin-luther-106_authority_dear-rulers-i-maintain-that-the-civil-au_1338665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/martin-luther-106_authority_dear-rulers-i-maintain-that-the-civil-au_1338665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/martin-luther-106_authority_dear-rulers-i-maintain-that-the-civil-au_1338665.jpg) > “Dear rulers ... I maintain that the civil authorities are under obligation to compel the people to send their children to school. ... If the government can compel such citizens as are fit for military service to bear spear and rifle, to mount ramparts, and perform other martial duties in time of war, how much more has it a right to compel the people to send their children to school, because in this case we are warring with the devil, whose object it is secretly to exhaust our cities and principalities of their strong men.” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Luther argues that just as governments compel military service, they must also compel education, viewing schooling as a moral battle against evil influences. **In simple terms:** Education is a civic duty like military service. Key Takeaway Support compulsory schooling for societal good. Themes education authority morality Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - public policy - parental decisions - school legislation Key Concepts political theory theology social contract Questions to Reflect On - Should education be mandatory for all? - How does compulsory schooling affect personal liberty? A Different Perspective Compulsion may conflict with individual freedoms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Compel Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compel-citizens-4515160/) [Compel People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compel-people-689318/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Compel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-compel-4515159/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-service/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rifles/) [Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-government-3514110/) [Send Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/send-children-828062/) [Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spears/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-man/) [Strong men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-men/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Every one of us deserves the right to have a great education that's going to prepare us and give us the tools that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/every-one-of-us-deserves-the-right-to-have-a-great-education-that-s/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [“But it is often easier to compel a hundred people to do what you could never compel one person to do. The lone man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-m-esolen/but-it-is-often-easier-to-compel-a-hundred-people-to-do-what-you/) [Anthony M. Esolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-m-esolen/) > [A culture's ability to understand the world and itself is critical to its survival. But today we are led into the arena of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/a-culture-s-ability-to-understand-the-world-and-itself-is-critical-to/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [AugustineThe wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy. To love with sternness is better than to deceive with gentleness……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/augustinethe-wounds-of-a-friend-are-better-than-the-kisses-of-an/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Families will not be broken. Curse and expel them, send their children wandering, drown them in floods and fires, and old women will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/families-will-not-be-broken-curse-and-expel-them-send-their-children/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Some parents do not send their children to school because they don't know its importance at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/some-parents-do-not-send-their-children-to-school-because-they-don-t/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [“Given greater freedom about where to send their children, parents of a kind would flock together and so prevent a healthy intermingling of children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/given-greater-freedom-about-where-to-send-their-children-parents-of-a/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The Catholic Church also opposes any effort to make it easier to deport children; last week, the archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis E. George,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-catholic-church-also-opposes-any-effort-to-make-it-easier-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Before 1920, it was technically legal to send children through the mail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-1920-it-was-technically-legal-to-send-children-through-the-mail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The main aim of education should be to send children out into the world with a reasonably sized anthology in their heads so that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/the-main-aim-of-education-should-be-to-send-children-out-into-the/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [The easiest thing that is done, unfortunately, in Washington is to spend money today and send the bill to our children and grandchildren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/the-easiest-thing-that-is-done-unfortunately-in-washington-is-to/) [Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/) > [It helps when 1 can send the children off to their fathers so I can support my new book with a national publicity tour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-tilly/it-helps-when-1-can-send-the-children-off-to-their-fathers-so-i-can/) [Meg Tilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-tilly/) > [I have seen a lot of men, for example, who will make a will and include their daughters whether they are married or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/i-have-seen-a-lot-of-men-for-example-who-will-make-a-will-and-include/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [When I worked in childcare, I could not afford to send my own children to the center where I worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/when-i-worked-in-childcare-i-could-not-afford-to-send-my-own-children/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [If these men decided that they have to go in there and fight, I want them to send their own children and grandchildren. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-murray-abraham/if-these-men-decided-that-they-have-to-go-in-there-and-fight-i-want/) [F. Murray Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-murray-abraham/) ## More by Martin Luther > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. 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This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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I maintain that the civil authorities are under obligation to compel the people to send their children to school. ... 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