Pandemic advice from Martin Luther

My brother Bill Alrich sent me this quote from Martin Luther, part of a larger document:

" Indeed, such people behave as though a house were burning in the city and nobody were trying to put the fire out. Instead they give leeway to the flames so that the whole city is consumed, saying that if God so willed, he could save the city without water to quench the fire. No, my dear friends, that is no good. Use medicine; take potions which can help you; fumigate house, yard, and street; shun persons and places wherever your neighbor does not need your presence or has recovered, and act like a man who wants to help put out the burning city. What else is the epidemic but a fire which instead of consuming wood and straw devours life and body? "

He seems to have forgotten to mention vaccines and masks, but he does have social distancing down (plus he seems to understand post-disease immunity when he says “or has recovered”).

I would love to hear any comments or questions you have on this post. Drop me an email at tom@tomalrich.com.

 

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