In Praise of Folly

comes up to something, a man should press it more earnestly, they, however they begin, use a

strange contention of voice in every part, though the matter itself be never so flat, and end in that

manner as if they’d run themselves out of breath. Lastly, they have learned that among rhetoricians

there is some mention of laughter, and therefore they study to prick in a jest here and there; but, O

Venus! so void of wit and so little to the purpose that it may be truly called an ass’s playing on the

harp. And sometimes also they use somewhat of a sting, but so nevertheless that they rather tickle

than wound; nor do they ever more truly flatter than when they would seem to use the greatest

freedom of speech. Lastly, such is their whole action that a man would swear they had learned it

from our common tumblers, though yet they come short of them in every respect. However, they

are both so like that no man will dispute but that either these learned their rhetoric from them, or

they theirs from these. And yet they light on some that, when they hear them, conceive they hear

very Demosthenes and Ciceroes: of which sort chiefly are our merchants and women, whose ears

only they endeavor to please, because as to the first, if they stroke them handsomely, some part or

other of their ill-gotten goods is wont to fall to their share. And the women, though for many other

things they favor this order, this is not the least, that they commit to their breasts whatever discontents

they have against their husbands. And now, I conceive me, you see how much this kind of people

are beholding to me, that with their petty ceremonies, ridiculous trifles, and noise exercise a kind

of tyranny among mankind, believing themselves very Pauls and Anthonies.

But I willingly give over these stage-players that are such ingrateful dissemblers of the courtesies

I have done them and such impudent pretenders to religion which they haven’t. And now I have a

mind to give some small touches of princes and courts, of whom I am had in reverence, aboveboard

and, as it becomes gentlemen, frankly. And truly, if they had the least proportion of sound judgment,

what life were more unpleasant than theirs, or so much to be avoided? For whoever did but truly

weigh with himself how great a burden lies upon his shoulders that would truly discharge the duty

of a prince, he would not think it worth his while to make his way to a crown by perjury and

parricide. He would consider that he that takes a scepter in his hand should manage the public, not

his private, interest; study nothing but the common good; and not in the least go contrary to those

laws whereof himself is both the author and exactor: that he is to take an account of the good or

evil administration of all his magistrates and subordinate officers; that, though he is but one, all

men’s eyes are upon him, and in his power it is, either like a good planet to give life and safety to

mankind by his harmless influence, or like a fatal comet to send mischief and destruction; that the

vices of other men are not alike felt, nor so generally communicated; and that a prince stands in

that place that his least deviation from the rule of honesty and honor reaches farther than himself

and opens a gap to many men’s ruin. Besides, that the fortune of princes has many things attending

it that are but too apt to train them out of the way, as pleasure, liberty, flattery, excess; for which

cause he should the more diligently endeavor and set a watch over himself, lest perhaps he be led

aside and fail in his duty. Lastly, to say nothing of treasons, ill will, and such other mischiefs he’s

in jeopardy of, that that True King is over his head, who in a short time will call him to account for

every the least trespass, and that so much the more severely by how much more mighty was the

empire committed to his charge. These and the like if a prince should duly weigh, and weigh it he

would if he were wise, he would neither be able to sleep nor take any hearty repast.

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Desiderius Erasmus

In Praise of Folly

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But now by my courtesy they leave all this care to the gods and are only taken up with themselves,

not admitting anyone to their ear but such as know how to speak pleasant things and not trouble

them with business. They believe they have discharged all the duty of a prince if they hunt every

day, keep a stable of fine horses, sell dignities and commanderies, and invent new ways of draining

the citizens’ purses and bringing it into their own exchequer; but under such dainty new-found

names that though the thing be most unjust in itself, it carries yet some face of equity; adding to

this some little sweetening that whatever happens, they may be secure of the common people. And

now suppose someone, such as they sometimes are, a man ignorant of laws, little less than an enemy

to the public good, and minding nothing but his own, given up to pleasure, a hater of learning,

liberty, and justice, studying nothing less than the public safety, but measuring everything by his

own will and profit; and then put on him a golden chain that declares the accord of all virtues linked

one to another; a crown set with diamonds, that should put him in mind how he ought to excel all

others in heroic virtues; besides a scepter, the emblem of justice and an untainted heart; and lastly,

a purple robe, a badge of that charity he owes the commonwealth. All which if a prince should

compare them with his own life, he would, I believe, be clearly ashamed of his bravery, and be

afraid lest some or other gibing expounder turn all this tragical furniture into a ridiculous

laughingstock.

And as to the court lords, what should I mention them? than most of whom though there be nothing

more indebted, more servile, more witless, more contemptible, yet they would seem as they were

the most excellent of all others. And yet in this only thing no men more modest, in that they are

contented to wear about them gold, jewels, purple, and those other marks of virtue and wisdom;

but for the study of the things themselves, they remit it to others, thinking it happiness enough for

them that they can call the king master, have learned the cringe a la mode, know when and where

to use those titles of Your Grace, My Lord, Your Magnificence; in a word that they are past all

shame and can flatter pleasantly. For these are the arts that speak a man truly noble and an exact

courtier. But if you look into their manner of life you’ll find them mere sots, as debauched as

Penelope’s wooers; you know the other part of the verse, which the echo will better tell you than

I can. They sleep till noon and have their mercenary Levite come to their bedside, where he chops

over his matins before they are half up. Then to breakfast, which is scarce done but dinner stays

for them. From thence they go to dice, tables, cards, or entertain themselves with jesters, fools,

gambols, and horse tricks. In the meantime they have one or two beverages, and then supper, and

after that a banquet, and ’twere well, by Jupiter, there were no more than one. And in this manner

do their hours, days, months, years, age slide away without the least irksomeness. Nay, I have

sometimes gone away many inches fatter, to see them speak big words; while each of the ladies

believes herself so much nearer to the gods by how much the longer train she trails after her; while

one nobleman edges out another, that he may get the nearer to Jupiter himself; and everyone of

them pleases himself the more by how much more massive is the chain he swags on his shoulders,

as if he meant to show his strength as well as his wealth.

Nor are princes by themselves in their manner of life, since popes, cardinals, and bishops have so

diligently followed their steps that they’ve almost got the start of them. For if any of them would

consider what their alb should put them in mind of, to wit a blameless life; what is meant by their

forked miters, whose each point is held in by the same knot, we’ll suppose it a perfect knowledge

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Desiderius Erasmus

In Praise of Folly

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