"Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided. But because we cannot keep birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them build a nest in our hair." -- Martin Luther's Large Catechism, "Explanation of the Sixth Petition" ("Lead us not into temptation.")
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2 comments:
I had heard of a similar quote (also from Dr. Luther), "We can't stop the birds from landing on our head but we stop them from building a nest."
Thanks for visiting.
The version you noted I've seen as "attributed to Martin Luther." When I sought specifics, this is what I found. Until then, I'd forgotten the connection to the 6th petition, "Lead us not into temptation", which I'd heard before.
My other blog, which is secular, has this cross-posted with a very similar Chinese proverb. It would be interesting to do a deep dive someday and see (1) which came first, and (2) whether one influenced the other, or whether they came about in separate but parallel ways.
Have a blessed day.
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