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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Martin Luther 1483-1546 John Bartlett

 
1
    A mighty fortress is our God,
  A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood
  Of mortal ills prevailing.
          Psalm. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (trans. by Frederic H. Hedge).
2
    Tell your master that if there were as many devils at Worms as tiles on its roofs, I would enter. 1
          Psalm. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (trans. by Frederic H. Hedge).
3
    Here I stand; I can do no otherwise. God help me. Amen!
          Speech at the Diet of Worms.
4
    For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel. 2
          Table-Talk. lxvii.
5
    A faithful and good servant is a real godsend; but truly ’t is a rare bird in the land.
          Table-Talk. clvi.
 
Note 1.
On the 16th of April, 1521, Luther entered the imperial city [of Worms]…. On his approach… the Elector’s chancellor entreated him, in the name of his master, not to enter a town where his death was decided. The answer which Luther returned was simply this.—Bunsen: Life of Luther.

I will go, though as many devils aim at me as there are tiles on the roofs of the houses.—Ranke: History of the Reformation, vol. i. p. 533 (Mrs. Austin’s translation). [back]
Note 2.
See Burton, Quotation 80. [back]