This sixteenth-century religious satire by a Renaissance critic and theologian is "a masterpiece of humor and wise irony" (Johan Huizinga, Dutch historian).At the onset of his hugely successful satire of medieval European society, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus invokes the goddess Folly, daughter of Youth and Wealth, who was raised by Drunkenness and Ignorance. She's followed by idolatrous companions, including Self-love, Flattery, Pleasure, and Laziness.T...

Finally available, a high quality book of the original classic edition of The Praise of Folly.This is a new and freshly published edition of this culturally important work by Desiderius Erasmus, which is now, at last, again available to you.Enjoy this classic work today. These selected paragraphs distill the contents and give you a quick look inside The Praise of Folly:But I would have them whom the lightness or foolery of the argument may offend to consider that mi...

The central theme of the essay is the personification of Folly as a wise, witty, and entertaining speaker who praises herself and her own influence. Through this personification, Erasmus uses satire to critique the folly and foolishness that he saw prevalent in society, particularly within the Church and among the clergy. Folly's speech is a blend of humor, irony, and sharp criticism, making it a powerful tool for societal commentary.Erasmus uses Folly's voice to expose various vices and f...

We get some sense of things which were moving deeply in Erasmus' life from his "Manual of a Christian Knight." We find here a characteristic criticism of religious forms taking the place of religious substance. We find a tremendous emphasis upon the intelligence which in no way lessens the emphasis on vital piety. Prayer and knowledge are to work together in the life of the Christian knight. The inner is to give force and power to the outer. The outer is never to take the place of the inne...

Considered one of the most important works of literature in Western Civilization, Desiderius Erasmus's essay In Praise of Folly is a classic satirical work in the style of the ancients, in which the Goddess of Folly extols the virtues of frivolousness and indulgence of one's passions and then turns to a satirical examination of Christian piousness. In a humorously satirical way, the work examines the abuses of power of the Roman Catholic Church at the time and is seen as one of th...

*In Praise of Folly* by Desiderius Erasmus is a masterful satirical work that presents a sharp critique of the societal norms and religious practices of the early 16th century. Narrated by Folly herself, the personification of foolishness, this essay explores the themes of human folly, ignorance, and the absurdities of life. Through Folly's witty observations, Erasmus dissects the behaviors of various social classes, from the learned scholars to the religious figures, high...

Erasmus of Rotterdam (c. 1466-1536) is one of the greatest figures of the Renaissance humanist movement, which abandoned medieval pieties in favour of a rich new vision of the individual's potential. Praise of Folly, written to amuse his friend Sir Thomas More, is Erasmus's best-known work. Its dazzling mixture of fantasy and satire is narrated by a personification of Folly, dressed as a jester, who celebrates youth, pleasure, drunkenness and sexual desire, and goes on to lambast human pre...

Erasmus was the most facetious man, and the greatest critic of his age. He carried on a reformation in learning at the same time he advanced that of religion; and promoted a purity of style as well as simplicity of worship. This drew on him the hatred of the ecclesiastics, who were no less bigotted to their barbarisms in language and philosophy, than they were to their superstitious and gaudy ceremonies in religion; they murdered him in their dull treatises, libelled him in their wretched ...

"In Praise of Folly" is a seminal work by Desiderius Erasmus that employs satire to critique the societal norms and practices of his time. Through the voice of Folly, Erasmus personifies foolishness, presenting it as a necessary aspect of human existence. The text explores themes of ignorance, vanity, and the folly of human behavior, challenging the reader to reflect on the absurdities of life. Erasmus's sharp wit and eloquent prose invite readers to reconsider the values and beliefs that ...

Handbook of the Militant Christian (Latin: Enchiridion militis Christiani), which has also been translated as Handbook of a Christian Knight and The Manual of a Christian Knight, is a work written by Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1503. First published in English in 1533 by William Tyndale, this is the 1962 English edition by John Patrick Dolan.During a stay in Tournehem, a castle near Saint-Omer in the north of modern-day France, Erasmus encountered an uncivilized...

In Praise of Folly is an essay written in Latin in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in 1511. Inspired by Italian humanist Faustino Perisauli's De Triumpho Stultitiae, it is a satirical attack on superstitions and other traditions of European society as well as on the western Church. Erasmus revised and extended the work, which he originally wrote in the space of a week while sojourning with Sir Thomas More at More's estate in Bucklersbury. In Praise of Folly is con...

The Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus was a hugely influential author of the Renaissance. His prolific and diverse writings made him a contentious figure, often inciting controversy for his criticism of religious institutions. Called the "Prince of Christian Humanists", Erasmus did a great deal to shape the course of the Protestant Reformation. His 1516 work "The Colloquies of Erasmus" elevated his profile due to their controversial nature. Designed as a Latin study book for young students...