Erasmus reached England after a stay in Italy early in the summer of 1510. Soon afterwards, in Thomas More's house at Bucklersbury, he rapidly wrote his famous satire, the Encomium Moriae, or "Praise of Folly," in which Folly celebrates her own praises as the great source of human pleasures. He had been meditating this piece on the long journey from Rome; it is a kaleidoscope of his experiences in Italy, and of earlier memories. As to the title, Moria, the Greek word for "folly," was a pla...

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...

"The Praise of Folly" is a satirical work by Desiderius Erasmus that critiques the societal norms and practices of his time. Through the voice of Folly, a personification of foolishness, Erasmus humorously examines the absurdities of human behavior, including the vanity of scholars, the hypocrisy of religious leaders, and the folly of war. The text is both entertaining and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on the nature of wisdom and folly in their own lives, while also cha...

Dutch thinker and theologian Desiderius Erasmus played a key role in the development of humanism during the Renaissance and early modern periods. In Against War, Erasmus mounts a stunningly lucid and detailed argument against armed combat on humanistic grounds. It's a must-read for anyone who has strong feelings about the moral and ethical dimensions of militaristic undertakings.

Erasmus critiques the hypocrisy of rulers and clergy who claim divine justification for war while ignoring Christ's message of peace and love. He vividly describes the horrors of war—suffering, destruction, and the loss of innocent lives—to emphasize its futility and moral corruption. Instead of glorifying war as a means to power or justice, Erasmus advocates for diplomacy, reason, and compassion as the true paths to resolving conflicts.His writings against war resonate as a call for ethic...

NOT YOUR PROFESSOR'S FOLLY.In 1925, the celebrated Chicago publisher Pascal Covici brought out an eclectic if unorthodox edition of In Praise of Folly, the classic Renaissance-era essay by philosopher and theologian Desiderius Erasmus. A work of many hands, the limited edition of eleven hundred numbered copies, bound in cloth and boards, and printed on fine paper (Coventry Book), quickly sold out and the edition went out of print. Since then, the ...

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...

In "Erasmus Against War," Desiderius Erasmus presents a poignant critique of militarism and the moral implications of warfare, countering the prevalent jubilation surrounding conquest in Renaissance Europe. Employing a humanist literary style interwoven with satirical wit, Erasmus articulates his philosophical objections to war, emphasizing its devastating effects on human life and society. The text is situated within the broader context of the humanist movement, which sought to reconcile ...

In Praise of Folly is an essay written in Latin in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in 1511. The essay was inspired by De Triumpho Stultitiae, written by the Italian humanist Faustino Perisauli, born at Tredozio, near Forlì. 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 considered one of the most notable works of the Renaissance an...

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...

Desiderius Erasmus was a very human man. A humanist, who was no more humane than the rest of the wits and cynics of his time, there was in him a plenty of human weaknesses and uglinesses. Nevertheless he does strike occasionally a note that is genuinely human, universally true, accordant with all the race of men. And this is eminently so of the "Complaint of Peace." The complaints which he puts in the mouth of Peace might have come from the lips of Divae Paris with as much verisimilitude a...

In Praise of Folly Desiderius Erasmus - Because some of English extant translations of In Praise of Folly are from the 18th, 19, and 20th centuries, Ive endeavored to present a version with the American reader in mind. Although Erasmus cunning, wit, and sharp criticism are timeless, he wrote in Latin. While Latin is a dead language and fixed, American English transforms itself with each passing year so that meanings change.Erasmus deserves not only to be read, but also to be understood.Fol...