--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One might think that Protestants, who had…" description: "\"“One might think that Protestants, who had been persecuted so viciously for their heresies against Catholic doctrines, would take a dim view of the ide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/steven-pinker-526_quote_one-might-think-that-protestants-who-had_2050869.jpg" --- # One might think that Protestants, who had been persecuted… ![“One might think that Protestants, who had been persecuted so viciously for their heresies against Catholic doctrines, would take a dim view of the idea of persecuting heretics, but no. In his 65,000-word treatise On the Jews and Their Lies, Martin Luther offered the following advice on what…” quote by Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/steven-pinker-526_quote_one-might-think-that-protestants-who-had_2050869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/steven-pinker-526_quote_one-might-think-that-protestants-who-had_2050869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/steven-pinker-526_quote_one-might-think-that-protestants-who-had_2050869.jpg) > ““One might think that Protestants, who had been persecuted so viciously for their heresies against Catholic doctrines, would take a dim view of the idea of persecuting heretics, but no. In his 65,000-word treatise On the Jews and Their Lies, Martin Luther offered the following advice on what Christians should do with this “rejected and condemned people”: First, . . . set fire to their synagogues or schools and . . . bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them… Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed… Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them… Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb… Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews… Sixth, I advise that usury be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping. Seventh, I recommend putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow, as was imposed on the children of Adam (Gen. 3\[:19\]). For it is not fitting that they should let us accursed Goyim toil in the sweat of our faces while they, the holy people, idle away their time behind the stove, feasting and farting, and on top of all, boasting blasphemously of their lordship over the Christians by means of our sweat. Let us emulate the common sense of other nations . . . \[and\] eject them forever from the country.35 At”” [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Luther advocated violent persecution and economic oppression of Jews, reflecting deep anti‑Jewish hatred. **In simple terms:** Luther called for destroying Jewish property and restricting their rights. Key Takeaway Recognize historical anti‑Semitism and its dangerous rhetoric. Themes religion hate history Mood critical cautionary Type historical ethical When to use this quote - education on religious tolerance - human‑rights advocacy - historical research - community dialogue Key Concepts anti‑Semitism theology propaganda human rights Questions to Reflect On - How does historical anti‑Jewish rhetoric influence modern prejudice? - What responsibilities do scholars have when presenting such texts? A Different Perspective The quote is a hateful, extremist text and should be contextualized carefully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Loss Of Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [“What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews?’ Luther offered seven actions. 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Unless we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twight/there-is-risk-known-and-unknown-in-all-aspects-of-life-we-often/) [Mark Twight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twight/) > [City government can and must help San Franciscans prepare for emergencies in order to avoid tragedy where possible and minimize loss of life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/city-government-can-and-must-help-san-franciscans-prepare-for/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [We noted the psychological problems facing many of the returning from Iraq veterans - of the 700,000 returning veterans, more than a 100,000 have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/we-noted-the-psychological-problems-facing-many-of-the-returning-from/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [It's not the loss of life that makes the death bitter -- it's the obituaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/it-s-not-the-loss-of-life-that-makes-the-death-bitter-it-s-the/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) ## More by Steven Pinker > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Consistent style prevents presentation from getting in the way of content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/consistent-style-prevents-presentation-from-getting-in-the-way-of/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [The supposedly immaterial soul, we now know, can be bisected with a knife, altered by chemicals, started or stopped by electricity, and extinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-supposedly-immaterial-soul-we-now-know-can-be-bisected-with-a/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. 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Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [It's a time of sorrow and sadness when we lose a loss of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-s-a-time-of-sorrow-and-sadness-when-we-lose-a-loss-of-life/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“The more you experience love, the more full of it you should be. 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In his 65,000-word treatise On the Jews and Their Lies, Martin Luther offered the following advice on what Christians should do with this “rejected and condemned people”: First, . . . set fire to their synagogues or schools and . . . bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them… Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed… Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them… Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb… Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews… Sixth, I advise that usury be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping. Seventh, I recommend putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow, as was imposed on the children of Adam (Gen. 3[:19]). For it is not fitting that they should let us accursed Goyim toil in the sweat of our faces while they, the holy people, idle away their time behind the stove, feasting and farting, and on top of all, boasting blasphemously of their lordship over the Christians by means of our sweat. Let us emulate the common sense of other nations . . . 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