--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing more insufferable and…" description: "\"“There is nothing more insufferable and poisonous on earth than a barefoot monk.”\" — Martin Luther" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/martin-luther-106_nature_there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-p_1841121.jpg" --- # There is nothing more insufferable and poisonous on earth… ![“There is nothing more insufferable and poisonous on earth than a barefoot monk.” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/martin-luther-106_nature_there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-p_1841121.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/martin-luther-106_nature_there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-p_1841121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/martin-luther-106_nature_there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-p_1841121.jpg) > ““There is nothing more insufferable and poisonous on earth than a barefoot monk.”” [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. A barefoot monk is a paradox, highlighting the absurdity of extreme asceticism when it becomes harmful. **In simple terms:** Extreme asceticism can be harmful. Key Takeaway Balance spiritual practice with practical health. Themes spirituality asceticism health paradox Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - monastic life - health advocacy - personal discipline - community leadership Key Concepts extremism bodily integrity religious critique Questions to Reflect On - When does devotion become self‑destructive? - How can faith guide healthier choices? A Different Perspective Rigid practices may ignore human needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barefoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barefoot/) [Barefoot Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barefoot-monk-2350673/) [Earth Barefoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-barefoot-2195729/) [Insufferable Poisonous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insufferable-poisonous-2350674/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Poisonous Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisonous-earth-2350675/) ## Related quotes > [“Soil is earth’s barefoot and when we walk barefoot, two barefoot touches each other with love!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/soil-is-earth-s-barefoot-and-when-we-walk-barefoot-two-barefoot/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I run in a pair of New Balances with a thinner sole, but they're nothing like those barefoot shoes that show all five toes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-run-in-a-pair-of-new-balances-with-a-thinner-sole-but-they-re/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [“My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-grimutter/my-own-prescription-for-health-is-less-paperwork-and-more-running/) [Leslie Grimutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-grimutter/) > [What HAPPINESS Means... To A Poor Barefoot Person, Happiness Is A Pair Of Shoes. To a Person With An Old Shoe, It's A Pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/what-happiness-means-to-a-poor-barefoot-person-happiness-is-a-pair-of/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [“If we were to actually walk a mile in the other person’s shoes, there’s a good chance that we’d end up opting to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-we-were-to-actually-walk-a-mile-in-the-other-person-s-shoes-there/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The truth is that running in shoes is high impact, heel-centric, promotes bad form, is relatively unstable and inflexible, tends to weaken rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sandler/the-truth-is-that-running-in-shoes-is-high-impact-heel-centric/) [Michael Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sandler/) > [Lord Maccon believed that if his trousers were on his legs, and something else was on his torso, he was dressed. The less done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/lord-maccon-believed-that-if-his-trousers-were-on-his-legs-and/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [I love being in the woods, when I can just walk barefoot in the grass and just sit down and breathe. I love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-reyez/i-love-being-in-the-woods-when-i-can-just-walk-barefoot-in-the-grass/) [Jessie Reyez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-reyez/) > [When people said Africa would change me, I didn't understand what they meant. To see the poverty in the townships, for instance, is overwhelming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/when-people-said-africa-would-change-me-i-didn-t-understand-what-they/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [I had no trainers to play, so I went barefoot. Everyone else had trainers. I also remember running 9 km. to training one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/i-had-no-trainers-to-play-so-i-went-barefoot-everyone-else-had/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [“When I was a teenager, I used to go about barefoot with no hat and sunglasses, just open to the Sun. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-used-to-go-about-barefoot-with-no-hat-and/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [To combat jet lag, when you get to your destination go straight to a park, take your shoes off and walk barefoot. It's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-willis/to-combat-jet-lag-when-you-get-to-your-destination-go-straight-to-a/) [Emma Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-willis/) > [He that sows thorns should never go barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-sows-thorns-should-never-go-barefoot/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“In my opinion, walking over moss was as enjoyable as walking barefoot on the beach, if not more so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-weldon/in-my-opinion-walking-over-moss-was-as-enjoyable-as-walking-barefoot/) [Phaedra Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-weldon/) ## 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 Barefoot quotes > [“In my opinion, walking over moss was as enjoyable as walking barefoot on the beach, if not more so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-weldon/in-my-opinion-walking-over-moss-was-as-enjoyable-as-walking-barefoot/) [Phaedra Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-weldon/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [He that sows thorns should never go barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-sows-thorns-should-never-go-barefoot/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [To combat jet lag, when you get to your destination go straight to a park, take your shoes off and walk barefoot. It's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-willis/to-combat-jet-lag-when-you-get-to-your-destination-go-straight-to-a/) [Emma Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-willis/) > [“When I was a teenager, I used to go about barefoot with no hat and sunglasses, just open to the Sun. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-used-to-go-about-barefoot-with-no-hat-and/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [I had no trainers to play, so I went barefoot. Everyone else had trainers. I also remember running 9 km. to training one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/i-had-no-trainers-to-play-so-i-went-barefoot-everyone-else-had/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [When people said Africa would change me, I didn't understand what they meant. To see the poverty in the townships, for instance, is overwhelming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/when-people-said-africa-would-change-me-i-didn-t-understand-what-they/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [I love being in the woods, when I can just walk barefoot in the grass and just sit down and breathe. I love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-reyez/i-love-being-in-the-woods-when-i-can-just-walk-barefoot-in-the-grass/) [Jessie Reyez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-reyez/) > [Lord Maccon believed that if his trousers were on his legs, and something else was on his torso, he was dressed. The less done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/lord-maccon-believed-that-if-his-trousers-were-on-his-legs-and/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“The truth is that running in shoes is high impact, heel-centric, promotes bad form, is relatively unstable and inflexible, tends to weaken rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sandler/the-truth-is-that-running-in-shoes-is-high-impact-heel-centric/) [Michael Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sandler/) > [“If we were to actually walk a mile in the other person’s shoes, there’s a good chance that we’d end up opting to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-we-were-to-actually-walk-a-mile-in-the-other-person-s-shoes-there/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [What HAPPINESS Means... To A Poor Barefoot Person, Happiness Is A Pair Of Shoes. To a Person With An Old Shoe, It's A Pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/what-happiness-means-to-a-poor-barefoot-person-happiness-is-a-pair-of/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [“My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-grimutter/my-own-prescription-for-health-is-less-paperwork-and-more-running/) [Leslie Grimutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-grimutter/) > [I run in a pair of New Balances with a thinner sole, but they're nothing like those barefoot shoes that show all five toes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-run-in-a-pair-of-new-balances-with-a-thinner-sole-but-they-re/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [“I felt like one who was toiling home barefoot from distant travel, and whose wanderings had lasted many years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-felt-like-one-who-was-toiling-home-barefoot-from-distant-travel-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Browse all 250 Barefoot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barefoot/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is nothing more insufferable and poisonous on earth than a barefoot monk.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-poisonous-on-earth-than-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barefoot" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-poisonous-on-earth-than-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/martin-luther-106_nature_there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-p_1841121.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/martin-luther-106_nature_there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-p_1841121.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/martin-luther-106_nature_there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-p_1841121.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is nothing more insufferable and poisonous on earth than a barefoot monk.” — Martin Luther", "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": "Martin Luther", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There is nothing more insufferable and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-poisonous-on-earth-than-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-is-nothing-more-insufferable-and-poisonous-on-earth-than-a/#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 } } ] } ```