The Praise of Folly
by Desiderius Erasmus
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Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote the essay The Praise of Folly during a week at Sir Thomas More's estate in Bucklersbury. He later refined and extended the piece. In it he personifies Folly as a god, whose companions are likewise-personified sins and human weaknesses. His work criticizes the Catholic Church, and culminates in a statement of Christian ideals. Erasmus was a faithful Catholic, but his text is considered a catalyst to the Protestant movement..
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Written from the viewpoint of the character Folly, Erasmus' "The Praise of Folly" is a satirical and perceptive work that examines the nature of foolishness and its place in society. Erasmus highlights the value of embracing joy and simplicity while simultaneously criticizing the religious and social conventions of his day through wit and irony.
Erasmus offers a biting but humorous critique of social evils, especially in the church and among the educated elite, through the character of Folly. The book examines how embracing foolishness—in the form of joy, pleasure, and a straightforward lifestyle—can be advantageous and even essential for contentment and kinship. The book also sheds important light on the early 16th-century social show more and religious climate, including the shift from medieval to modern ideas.
Using irony and a first-person narrative, the book is a masterwork of satire that makes for an engaging and thought-provoking read. For readers today, the book's examination of human nature, societal imperfections, and the pursuit of happiness is still pertinent and perceptive. Even readers who are not familiar with the era will find the book to be entertaining and captivating due to Erasmus's keen wit and sense of humor.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, "The Praise of Folly" provides an insightful perspective on the Renaissance and the shift to the Reformation. show less
Erasmus offers a biting but humorous critique of social evils, especially in the church and among the educated elite, through the character of Folly. The book examines how embracing foolishness—in the form of joy, pleasure, and a straightforward lifestyle—can be advantageous and even essential for contentment and kinship. The book also sheds important light on the early 16th-century social show more and religious climate, including the shift from medieval to modern ideas.
Using irony and a first-person narrative, the book is a masterwork of satire that makes for an engaging and thought-provoking read. For readers today, the book's examination of human nature, societal imperfections, and the pursuit of happiness is still pertinent and perceptive. Even readers who are not familiar with the era will find the book to be entertaining and captivating due to Erasmus's keen wit and sense of humor.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, "The Praise of Folly" provides an insightful perspective on the Renaissance and the shift to the Reformation. show less
One of the high points of Renaissance literature and fuel for the coming Protestant Reformation, Erasmus' 'In Praise of Folly' is pretty thick going these days. It's a satirical take-down of human nature. Folly is praised as a god, along with its followers: self-love, oblivion, flattery, etc. The prose is exceedingly verbose, which has the virtue of providing a dense sort of lyricism to the screed but can make it a struggle to keep up with the overbearing number of allusions and double-to-triple meanings woven into the text. While the book (essay, really, since it tops at about 80 pages) has been described as a comedic classic, the humor is highly cerebral and works the better you understand the history from which it sprung. Regardless show more of the troubles modern readers uneducated in the humanities (such as myself) might have with a work it is a valuable text for understanding the history of humanism and Reformation politics. It's also a classic guideline for the construction of effective social commentary.
(This review originally appeared on zombieunderground.net) show less
(This review originally appeared on zombieunderground.net) show less
met enige regelmaat hardop lachen, zeker bij de theologie stukken. Ik merkte wel dat ik kennis te kort schoot om alles te begrijpen. Lezen was geen probleem, maar ik kon me niet aan de indruk onttrekken dat ik hier en daar toch veel miste; 0
Clever. A famous work of the Renaissance, it led to the questioning of absurd abuses of authority in the Church. Some say it laid the groundwork for the Reformation.
Un clásico, sin duda. Ya desde el Renacimiento era muy evidente que la humanidad está gobernada por la estulticia, la cual es hija de la avaricia.
With a short life of the author by Hendrik Willem ban Loon of Rotterdam who also illustrated the book.
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Author Information
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Desiderius Erasmus was born, probably in 1469, in Rotterdam, Holland. He studied in Paris, traveled in England, Germany, and Italy, and wrote in Latin. Living at the time of the Renaissance when most intellectual concepts were being examined, Erasmus was a great admirer of the ancient writers and edited many of their works. Erasmus remained a show more Roman Catholic, but believed that many of the priests and theologians had distorted the simple teachings of Jesus. He published an edition of the New Testament-the first edition in the original Greek-in order to make clear the essential teachings of Christianity. Erasmus liked above all things clear and honest thinking; he despised intolerance and persecution. He was the greatest of the humanists because his books, more effectively than any others, propagated a humane philosophy of life, teaching that one's chief duties are to be intelligent, open-minded, and charitable. The most famous and the most influential of Erasumus' books were The Praise of Folly (1509) and Colloquies (1518). These works, written in lively, colloquial, and witty Latin, expressed his ideas on the manners and customs of his time. Erasmus exerted a powerful influence not only through his books, but also through the private letters that he wrote to a great number of humanist scholars in all parts of Western Europe. He carried on extensive correspondences with Thomas More of England. More than 1500 of his letters survive today. Erasmus died in Basel, Switzerland, on July 12, 1536. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Röderberg Taschenbuch (144)
Bibliothèque de Cluny (vol. 8)
Wereldbibliotheek (109)
Berömda Filosofer (XXXVII)
Universale [Einaudi] (18)
Oneworld Classics (18)
Oriento-Okcidento (24)
Limited Editions Club (S:14.04)
Perpetua reeks (39)
Modern Library (331)
Centopaginemillelire (249)
insel taschenbuch (0369)
Reclams Universal-Bibliothek (1907)
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Desiderius Erasmus 2 - Lof en Blaam: Lof van het huwelijk / Lof van de geneeskunde / Lof der Zotheid / Brief aan Maarten van Dor / Julius buiten de hemelpoort by Desiderius Erasmus
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Das Lob der Torheit
- Original title
- Moriae encomium; Stultitiae Laus
- Alternate titles
- The Praise of Folly; In Praise of More; Praise of Folly; Lof der zotheid
- Original publication date
- 1509 (Original Latin) (Original Latin); 1511; 1668 (English: Wilson) (English: Wilson)
- Important places*
- Nederland
- Dedication*
- Thomas Morus
- First words
- Digan de mi los humanos cuanto quieran, lo cierto es que no soy tan insensata como los oigo decir, incluso a muchos que son tontos y ridículos, pues nadie tiene la gran virtud que yo para regocijar a hombres y dioses.
- Quotations*
- Ser Dios consiste en ayudar a los mortales
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Wherefore farewell, clap your hands, live and drink lustily, my most excellent disciples of Folly.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Aborrezco al convidado con memoria", se decía antiguamente. Ahora debe decirse que es detestable que el oyente la tenga. - Original language
- Latin
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Genres
- Philosophy, Nonfiction, Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 873.04 — Literature & rhetoric Latin & Italic literatures Latin epic poetry and fiction 1350–
- LCC
- PA8514 .E5 — Language and Literature Greek language and literature. Latin language and literature Medieval and modern Latin literature Individual authors
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