Martin Luther: The Insults

Note: Throughout the month of October, leading up to the 500^th anniversary of the legendary date of the outbreak of the Reformation on October 31, 1517, Pray Tell is publishing writings of Martin Luther reflecting his beliefs on liturgy and sacraments at various points in his life. But today we take a bit of a break from that and look at Luther’s choice insults.

I would not dream of judging or punishing you, except to say that you were born from the behind of the devil, are full of devils, lies, blasphemy, and idolatry; are the instigator of these things, God’s enemy, Antichrist, desolater of Christendom, and steward of Sodom.

-From Against the Roman Papacy, an Institution of the Devil, pg. 363 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

You are idiots and swine.

-From Against Latomus, pg. 148 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 32

You are a wolf and apostle of Satan.

-From Against Latomus, pg. 146 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 32

You curse, blaspheme, skriek, struggle, bellow, and spit, so that, if people really heard you utter words, they would gather with chains and bars, just as if you were possessed by a legion of devils and had to be seized and bound.

-From Against Hanswurst, pg. 185 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

You are an abominable arch-heretic.

-From Against the Roman Papacy, an Institution of the Devil, pg. 272 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

You’re a gross, ungrateful clod, worthy of being numbered among the beasts.

-From A Sermon on Keeping Children in School, pg. 241 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 46

Snot-nose!

-From On the Councils and the Church, pg. 150 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

You know less than does a log on the ground.

-From Defense and Explanation of All the Articles, pg. 41 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 32

You are a crude ass, and an ass you will remain!

-From Against the Roman Papacy, an Institution of the Devil, pg. 281 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

Your sin smells to high heaven.

-From Heidelberg Disputation, pg. 51 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 31

You are dumber than Seriphian frogs and fishes.

-From The Bondage of the Will, pg. 77 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 33

You are the most insane heretics and ingrafters of heretical perversity.

-From Explanations of the Ninety-Five Theses, pg. 88 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 31

All quotations are from The Luther Insulter.