Jan Hus quotes

Jan Hus was a Czech theologian and church reformer who became a key predecessor to Protestantism. His criticism of church abuses and demand for reforms inspired significant religious and social movements in Europe. He was executed for heresy, but his legacy continues to influence Christian thought and Czech national identity. Here are 16 of his quotes:

O holy simplicity! (Jan Hus)
The people from Prague and other Czechs should be whipped who speak half Czech and half German (...) And who could enumerate how the Czech language has already been corrupted, so that the true Czech hears they speak, but he does not understand them. And from that arises envy, anger, conflict, strife and Czech humiliation. View quote
Jan Hus
Even a most evil man is better than the devil! View quote
Jan Hus
God is my witness that I have never taught or preached that which false witnesses have testified against me. He knows that the great object of all my preaching and writing was to convert men from sin. In the truth of that gospel which hitherto I have written, taught and preached, I now joyfully die. View quote
Jan Hus
The only law that a Christian should listen to and read is the law of God's Commandments. And it is not right to comply with, implement or observe any other law. View quote
Jan Hus
If I knew a foreigner from anywhere in his virtue who would love God and would be interested in the good more than my own brother, he would be dearer to me than my brother. And hence I prefer good English priests over timid Czech priests and good German over an evil brother. View quote
Jan Hus
It is better to die well, than to live wrongly (...) who is afraid of death loses the joy of life; truth prevails all, prevails who is killed, because no adversity can harm him, who is not dominated by injustice. View quote
Jan Hus
I call God to witness that all I have written and preached, has been to rescue souls from sin. There can be no turning back. My Lord walked the path of truth and duty, even though it took Him to Calvary. Can I, one of his humble followers, turn back now? To witness to God's truth is more important than life. Joyfully then, will I confirm with my blood all the writings and preachings of truths that I've held. Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit. View quote
Jan Hus
It is impossible that Christendom finds its peace in God's will, if the priesthood is not being called to order. View quote
Jan Hus
As for antichrist occupying the papal chair, it is evident that a pope living contrary to Christ, like any other perverted person, is called, by common consent, antichrist. View quote
Jan Hus
O God and Lord, now the council condemns even Your own act and Your own law as heresy, since You Yourself did lay Your cause before Your Father as the just judge, as an example for us, whenever we are sorely oppressed. (Jan Hus)
For God is my witness that I neither preached, affirmed, nor defended them, though they say that I did. View quote
Jan Hus
For whoso dies for Christ, he is conqueror and is delivered from all misery and attains the eternal joy to which may it please our Saviour to bring us all. View quote
Jan Hus
He that fears death loses the joys of life. View quote
Jan Hus
I, Master John Hus, in chains and in prison, now standing on the shore of this present life and expecting on the morrow a dreadful death, which will, I hope, purge away my sins, find no heresy in myself, and accept with all my heart any truth whatsoever that is worthy of belief. View quote
Jan Hus
I hope, by God's grace, that I am truly a Christian, not deviating from the faith, and that I would rather suffer the penalty of a terrible death than wish to affirm anything outside of the faith or transgress the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ. View quote
Jan Hus