As reported in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895) by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, p. 186; and in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Variant: Here I stand; I can do no other.
Source: Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
As cited in Country of My Skull, Antjie Krog, Random House, p. 270
Used in "Great Souls at Prayer", Edited by Mary W. Tileson, Pubished by J. Bowden, London 1898
Prayers
Account of 8 October 1918.
Diary of Alvin York
Though said the night before her execution this statement has often been presented as having been her last. Variants of these words have sometimes been misattributed to Florence Nightingale. "Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone." is inscribed beneath her statue at St. Martin's Place in London.
Last statements (1915)
“I can make affirmation; I can say "So help me God, I will tell the truth."”
Scopes Trial (1925), Day 7
Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life (2002)
“It was here in Big Sur that I first learned to say 'amen.'”
Source: Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch (1957), p. 32
Statement in defense of his writings at the Diet of Worms (19 April 1521), as translated in The Nature of Protestantism (1963) by Karl Heim, p. 78 Luther is often said to have declared, "Here I stand, I can do no other," before concluding with "God help me. Amen." However, there is no indication in the transcripts of the Diet or in eyewitness accounts that he ever said this. See "Disputed" section below.
“No clever person can help here; I see that clearly. Here, only stupidity can help the stupid one!”
Original: (de) "Hier hilft kein Kluger, das seh’ ich klar: hier hilft dem Dummen die Dummheit allein!"
Source: Quotes from his operas, Siegfried, Mime, the dwarf (and master metal-smith), Act 1, Scene 3
“And if God does not help me to go on, then I shall have to help God.”
The surface of the earth is gradually turning into one great prison camp, and soon there will be nobody left outside. … I don't fool myself about the real state of affairs, and I've even dropped the pretense that I'm out to help others. I shall merely try to help God as best I can, and if I succeed in doing that, then I shall be of use to others as well. But I mustn't have heroic illusions about that either.
11 July 1942, p. 484-85
Etty: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943
