This quote, by the German monk and professor of theology, Martin Luther, states that to cause great reformation and change there must also be sacrifice and bloodshed. He was a religious reformer during the 16th century who split the Roman Catholic Church . Luther's religious reformation caused thousands to be killed during warfare or burnt at stake for their beliefs. What Luther means to imply is that great change will always have those opposed to it and we must fight for change for it to be successful. The term blood in his quote refers to the loss of human lives and warfare. One modern example of Luther's quote would be the Arab Spring this past summer and spring. Protesters were brutally killed by the police as they called for the end of government regimes. It started with a Tunisian man burning himself in protest of police corruption. This set off a wave of unrest across Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen. One could argue that the violence was the sole successful method of overthrowing corrupt regimes.
Personally, I disagree with this quote. Yes, violence and wars are one way to ensure reform but they are not the only methods. There are plenty of examples of huge changes in history such as the industrial revolution and the digital revolution. No blood was shed over the invention of computers and the progress of the internet into a digital world. Wars have shaped history and made the world the way it is today. America is no longer a British colony because of the American Revolution in 1775. Yet one example of a bloodless revolution was the printing press which allowed books to be made quickly and cheaply, resulting in education and the spread of ideas. Books are still a huge part of our culture today. If I were to revise this quote I would say "Blood and Innovation Move the Wheels of History".
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