--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These words are like so many thunderclaps…" description: "\"“These words are like so many thunderclaps of protest from heaven against every kind and type of self-merit.”\" — Martin Luther" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/martin-luther-106_quote_these-words-are-like-so-many-thunderclap_1105002.jpg" --- # These words are like so many thunderclaps of protest from… ![“These words are like so many thunderclaps of protest from heaven against every kind and type of self-merit.” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/martin-luther-106_quote_these-words-are-like-so-many-thunderclap_1105002.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/martin-luther-106_quote_these-words-are-like-so-many-thunderclap_1105002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/martin-luther-106_quote_these-words-are-like-so-many-thunderclap_1105002.jpg) > ““These words are like so many thunderclaps of protest from heaven against every kind and type of self-merit.”” [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. He likens divine protest to thunder, condemning pride and self‑praise as sinful. **In simple terms:** Pride is condemned as a sin. Key Takeaway Avoid self‑praise; stay humble. Themes humility pride spirituality Mood solemn reflective Type moral spiritual When to use this quote - personal reflection - public speaking - leadership Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize pride in your actions? - What does humility look like in daily life? A Different Perspective Even righteous anger can become self‑righteous if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Like Thunderclaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-thunderclaps-2915593/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) [Protest Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest-heaven-2915591/) [Thunderclaps Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thunderclaps-protest-2915592/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [The pessimism that protests and defends itself cannot be truly said to be pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-pessimism-that-protests-and-defends-itself-cannot-be-truly-said/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [There is all the difference in the world between the criminal's avoiding the public eye and the civil disobedience's taking the law into his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-criminal-s/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-a-sin-to-be-silent-when-it-is-your-duty-to-protest/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. 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I will be as harsh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-am-aware-that-many-object-to-the-severity-of-my-language-but-is/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) ## 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. 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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 Protest quotes > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. 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Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-a-sin-to-be-silent-when-it-is-your-duty-to-protest/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [There is all the difference in the world between the criminal's avoiding the public eye and the civil disobedience's taking the law into his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-criminal-s/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [The pessimism that protests and defends itself cannot be truly said to be pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-pessimism-that-protests-and-defends-itself-cannot-be-truly-said/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? 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