Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Desiderius Erasmus

Quote by Desiderius Erasmus

“Ask a wise man to dinner and he'll upset everyone by his gloomy silence or tiresome questions. Invite him to a dance and you'll have a camel prancing about. Haul him off to a public entertainment and his face will be enough to spoil the people's entertainment.”

Quote by Desiderius Erasmus

Work

Praise of Folly

This book is a classic work of medieval philosophy that delves into the concept of folly, examining its manifestations and the impact it has on individuals and society. The author critically analyzes the various forms of folly and its consequences, offering a unique perspective on human behavior and societal norms. more

Author

Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus

Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch humanist, scholar, and theologian who played a pivotal role in the Northern Renaissance. He is renowned for his scholarly contributions, particularly his translation of the New Testament into Latin and his commentary on the Bible. Erasmus was a critic of the Church and a proponent of reform, making him a controversial figure in his era. more

You May Also Like

“Our intellect is not the most subtle, the most powerful, the most appropriate, instrument for revealing the truth. It is life that, little by little, example by example, permits us to see that what is most important to our heart, or to our mind, is learned not by reasoning but through other agencies. Then it is that the intellect, observing their superiority, abdicates its control to them upon reasoned grounds and agrees to become their collaborator and lackey.”

“The only chance for victory over the brainwash is the right of every man to have his ideas judged one at a time. You never get clarity as long as you have these packaged words, as long as a word is used by twenty-five people in twenty-five different ways. That seems to me to be the first fight, if there is going to be any intellect left.”