About
In Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus
In Praise of Folly
Title:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/erasmus/folly.html
URL:
Erasmus, Desiderius (c. 1466-1536)
Author(s):
Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Publisher:
University of Michigan Press [1958]
Print Basis:
2000-07-09
Date Created:
All; Classic; Fiction;
CCEL Subjects:
PA8514.E5
LC Call no:
Medieval and modern Latin literature
LC Subjects:
Individual authors
Table of Contents
p. ii
About This Book. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 1
Title Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 2
Letter: Erasmus to Thomas More. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 4
The Praise of Folly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 54
Indexes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p. 54
Latin Words and Phrases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iii
Desiderius Erasmus
In Praise of Folly
ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM
to his friend
THOMAS MORE, health:
As I was coming awhile since out of Italy for England, that I might not waste all that time I was to
sit on horseback in foolish and illiterate fables, I chose rather one while to revolve with myself
something of our common studies, and other while to enjoy the remembrance of my friends, of
whom I left here some no less learned than pleasant. Among these you, my More, came first in my
mind, whose memory, though absent yourself, gives me such delight in my absence, as when present
with you I ever found in your company; than which, let me perish if in all my life I ever met with
anything more delectable. And therefore, being satisfied that something was to be done, and that
that time was no wise proper for any serious matter, I resolved to make some sport with the praise
of folly. But who the devil put that in your head? you’ll say. The first thing was your surname of
More, which comes so near the word Moriae (folly) as you are far from the thing. And that you are
so, all the world will cleat you. In the next place, I conceived this exercise of wit would not be least
approved by you; inasmuch as you are wont to be delighted with such kind of mirth, that is to say,
neither unlearned, if I am not mistaken, not altogether insipid, and in the whole course of your life
have played the part of a Democtitus. And though such is the excellence of your judgment that it
was even contrary to that of the people’s, yet such is your incredible ability and sweetness of temper
that you both can and delight to carry yourself to all men a man of all hours. Wherefore you will
not only with good will accept this small declamation, but take upon you the defense of it, for as
much as being dedicated to you, it is now no longer mine but yours. But perhaps there will not be
wanting some wranglers that may cavil and charge me, partly that these toys are lighter than may
become a divine, and partly more biting than may beseem the modesty of a Christian, and
consequently exclaim that I resemble the ancient comedy, or another Lucian, and snarl at everything.
But I would have them whom the lightness or foolery of the argument may offend to consider that
mine is not the first of this kind, but the same thing that has been often practiced even by great
authors: when Homer, so many ages since, did the like with the battle of frogs and mice; Virgil,
with the gnat and puddings; Ovid, with the nut; when Polycrates and his corrector Isocrates extolled
tyranny; Glauco, injustice; Favorinus, deformity and the quartan ague; Synescius, baldness; Lucian,
the fly and flattery; when Seneca made such sport with Claudius’ canonizations; Plutarch, with his
dialogue between Ulysses and Gryllus; Lucian and Apuleius, with the ass; and some other, I know
not who, with the hog that made his last will and testament, of which also even St. Jerome makes
mention. And therefore if they please, let them suppose I played at tables for my diversion, or if
they had rather have it so, that I rode on a hobbyhorse. For what injustice is it that when we allow
every course of life its recreation, that study only should have none? Especially when such toys
are not without their serious matter, and foolery is so handled that the reader that is not altogether
thick-skulled may reap more benefit from it than from some men’s crabbish and specious arguments.
As when one, with long study and great pains, patches many pieces together on the praise of rhetoric
or philosophy; another makes a panegyric to a prince; another encourages him to a war against the
Turks; another tells you what will become of the world after himself is dead; and another finds out
some new device for the better ordering of goat’s wool: for as nothing is more trifling than to treat
2
Desiderius Erasmus
In Praise of Folly