First I shake the whole Apple tree, that the ripest might fall. Then I climb the tree and shake each limb, and then each branch and then each twig, and then I look under each leaf.

Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.

Be a sinner and sin strongly, but more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ.

Blood alone moves the wheels of history.

Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon.

Forgiveness is God’s command.

People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.

Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart.

For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel.

The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.

Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has.

Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.

My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.

Nothing good ever comes of violence.

I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.

First I shake the whole Apple tree, that the ripest might fall. Then I climb the tree and shake each limb, and then each branch and then each twig, and then I look under each leaf.

Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.

War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.

The will is a beast of burden. If God mounts it, it wishes and goes as God wills; if Satan mounts it, it wishes and goes as Satan wills; Nor can it choose its rider… the riders contend for its possession.

Reason is the enemy of faith.

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

If you are not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there.

Peace if possible, truth at all costs.

The man who has the will to undergo all labor may win to any good.

The Lord commonly gives riches to foolish people, to whom he gives nothing else.

If he have faith, the believer cannot be restrained. He betrays himself. He breaks out. He confesses and teaches this gospel to the people at the risk of life itself.

Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding.

I feel much freer now that I am certain the pope is the Antichrist.

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.

Pray, and let God worry.

I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.

Faith is permitting ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see.

The fewer the words, the better the prayer.

Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.

Music is the art of the prophets and the gift of God.

Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.

To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.

When I am angry I can pray well and preach well.

You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.

You should not believe your conscience and your feelings more than the word which the Lord who receives sinners preaches to you.

I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.

Be thou comforted, little dog, Thou too in Resurrection shall have a little golden tail.

The reproduction of mankind is a great marvel and mystery. Had God consulted me in the matter, I should have advised him to continue the generation of the species by fashioning them out of clay.

When schools flourish, all flourishes.

The God of this world is riches, pleasure and pride.

Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?

Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die.

All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.

I more fear what is within me than what comes from without.

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

I shall never be a heretic; I may err in dispute, but I do not wish to decide anything finally; on the other hand, I am not bound by the opinions of men.

If you young fellows were wise, the devil couldn’t do anything to you, but since you aren’t wise, you need us who are old.