In Praise of Folly



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In Praise of Folly

by

Desiderius Erasmus




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




iv

Desiderius Erasmus

In Praise of Folly



In Praise of Folly

Desiderius Erasmus

Translated by John Wilson

1688

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


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