Martin Luther

Whoever smells it first, out of him it crept.

1530s-1540s (Table Talk) — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

Devil, if you want to eat me, start from behind.

1530s-1540s (Table Talk) — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

If God has no sense of humor, I don't want to go to Heaven.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

One should praise women, whether it be true or false.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

Whoever sticks his nose in every corner will get it stuck.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

Medicine causes illness, Mathematics melancholy, and Theology sinful people.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

Whoever enters into marriage, enters a cloister full of struggles.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

If I am not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

The church is not a pen-house but a mouth-house.

1530s-1540s (Table Talk) — Luther's Works, Companion Volume, p. 63.

Humorous Unverifiable

These are the Scriptures which make fools of all the wise and understanding, and are open only to the small and simple, as Christ says in Matthew 11:25.

c. 1545 (Preface) — Luther, Luther's Works, vol. 35: Prefaces to the Old Testament, 236.

Humorous Unverifiable

A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a cardinal without it.

Undated, but reflects his Reformation stance — Quoted in 'Martin Luther--The Early Years', Christian History, no. 34.

Humorous Confirmed

Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing. Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, and even sin a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you: do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to.

1530s-1540s (Table Talk) — Quoted in collections of his sayings, often from 'Table Talk'.

Humorous Unverifiable

Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!

1530s-1540s (Table Talk) — Quoted in collections of his sayings, often from 'Table Talk'.

Humorous Confirmed

The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

Let the wife make her husband glad to come home and let him make her sorry to see him leave.

Undated — Quoted in collections of his sayings.

Humorous Unverifiable

You are the worst rascal of all the rascals on earth!

Undated, from his polemical writings — An insult directed at an opponent.

Humorous Unverifiable

In lying fashion you ignore what even children know.

Undated, from his polemical writings — An insult directed at an opponent.

Humorous Unverifiable

I would not smell the foul odor of your name.

Undated, from his polemical writings — An insult directed at an opponent.

Humorous Unverifiable

You people are more stupid than a block of wood.

Undated, from his polemical writings — An insult directed at opponents.

Humorous Unverifiable

The Holy Spirit unveiled the Scriptures for me in this tower at the lavatory.

Undated, from 'Table Talk' — Reported as said, referring to a spiritual revelation.

Humorous Unverifiable

Sayings by Martin Luther