The Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus was the greatest scholar of the northern Renaissance, as well as the first editor of the New Testament. A classical scholar that wrote in a pure Latin style, Erasmus earned the sobriquet "Prince of the Humanists". Using the philological methods pioneered by Italian humanists, he helped lay the foundations for the historical-critical study of the past. This comprehensive eBook presents Erasmus’ collected works, with numerous illustrations, rare ...

In Praise of Folly (Latin: Stultitiae Laus or Moriae Encomium—sometimes translated as In Praise of More; Greek title: Morias enkomion (Μωρίας ἐγκώμιον); Dutch title: Lof der Zotheid) is an essay written in Latin in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in June 1511. Inspired by previous works of the Italian humanist Faustino Perisauli's De Triumpho Stultitiae, it is a satirical attack on superstitions and other traditions of European society as well as on the western Ch...

"In Praise of Folly" is a seminal work by Desiderius Erasmus that employs satire to critique the societal norms and practices of his time. Through the voice of Folly, Erasmus personifies foolishness, presenting it as a necessary aspect of human existence. The text explores themes of ignorance, vanity, and the folly of human behavior, challenging the reader to reflect on the absurdities of life. Erasmus's sharp wit and eloquent prose invite readers to reconsider the values and beliefs that ...

Handbook of the Militant Christian (Latin: Enchiridion militis Christiani), which has also been translated as Handbook of a Christian Knight and The Manual of a Christian Knight, is a work written by Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1503. First published in English in 1533 by William Tyndale, this is the 1962 English edition by John Patrick Dolan.During a stay in Tournehem, a castle near Saint-Omer in the north of modern-day France, Erasmus encountered an uncivilized...

"The Praise of Folly" is a satirical work by Desiderius Erasmus that critiques the societal norms and practices of his time. Through the voice of Folly, a personification of foolishness, Erasmus humorously examines the absurdities of human behavior, including the vanity of scholars, the hypocrisy of religious leaders, and the folly of war. The text is both entertaining and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on the nature of wisdom and folly in their own lives, while also cha...

The goddess Folly gives a speech, praising herself and explaining how much humanity benefits from her services, from politicians to philosophers, aristocrats, schoolteachers, poets, lawyers, theologians, monarchs and the clergy. At the same time, her discourse provides a satire of Erasmus's world, poking fun at false pedantry and the aberrations of Christianity. Woven throughout her monologue, a thread of irony calls into question the goddess's own words, in which ambiguities, allusions an...

Dutch thinker and theologian Desiderius Erasmus played a key role in the development of humanism during the Renaissance and early modern periods. In Against War, Erasmus mounts a stunningly lucid and detailed argument against armed combat on humanistic grounds. It's a must-read for anyone who has strong feelings about the moral and ethical dimensions of militaristic undertakings.

In Praise of Folly, also translated as The Praise of Folly, is an essay written in Latin in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in June 1511. Inspired by previous works of the Italian humanist Faustino Perisauli De Triumpho Stultitiae, it is a satirical attack on superstitions, other traditions of European society and on the Western Church. Erasmus revised and extended his work, which was originally written in the space of a week while sojourning with Sir Thomas More ...

A classic anti-war essay from the mid-1500s. Erasmus gives elegant arguments against war from both religious (Christian) and logical (economic, practical) points of view. He seems particularly alarmed and confused by Christians fighting wars with Christians. The problem, of course, is that people waging war only consider religious or logical reasons when they are looking for excuses to wage war. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.

Welcome to the witty and incisive world of Desiderius Erasmus's *In Praise of Folly*, a brilliant satirical work that critiques the follies of humanity and the absurdities of societal norms. This groundbreaking text combines humor with profound insight, offering readers a compelling exploration of the human condition and the paradoxes of wisdom and foolishness.Narrated by Folly herself, the book takes you on a delightful journey through the absurdities of life, tar...

Erasmus’ thorough engagement with the New Testament, in particular his revision of the Vulgate translation, aroused much controversy, especially in the orthodox Roman Catholic country of Spain. Erasmus had to fight fierce polemics with several people, including two Spanish scholars, Diego López Zúñiga and Sancho Carranza de Miranda, who were both connected to the University of Alcalà. This quarrel lasted from 1520 to 1524, with a late response by Erasmus in 1529. The discussion started as ...

These volumes are the first in a series containing works by Erasmus 'that concern literature and education': interests which to him were scarcely separable. The aim of Erasmian education was a civilized life, expressed in Christian piety and the fulfilment of public and private duties and embellished by learning and literature. Towards these ends the soundest training for youth was what Erasmus often called bonne litterae, 'good letters,' a literary and rhetorical training based o...