In Praise of Folly

In Praise of Folly is a satirical essay written by Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus in 1509. The essay is a witty and humorous criticism of the society of the time, particularly the Catholic Church and its practices. The book is written in the form of a speech given by Folly, the goddess of foolishness, who praises herself and her followers while mocking the virtues of wisdom, reason, and piety. Erasmus uses Folly's speech to critique the hypocrisy and corruption of the Church, the greed of the clergy, and the blind adherence to tradition and superstition. He also takes aim at the human tendency to prioritize wealth, power, and pleasure over more noble pursuits. Despite its criticism, the book is not entirely negative. Erasmus also celebrates the joy and freedom that can come from embracing folly and rejecting societal norms. He argues that laughter and humor are important for human happiness and that a life lived in pursuit of virtue and wisdom can be just as foolish as a life of pleasure and indulgence. In Praise of Folly is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance literature and a significant influence on the Protestant Reformation. Its witty and irreverent tone, combined with its serious critique of the Church, made it a popular and controversial work in its time and continues to be studied and appreciated today.1925. Also the pictures of Holbein etched in the author's time, to which are added Mr. Angarola's conception of the period and drawings by way of contemporary comment by Gene Markey. The Praise of Folly is the best known work of the greatest of the renaissance humanists, Erasmus of Rotterdam. Originally meant for private circulation, it scourges the abuses and follies of the various classes of society, especially of the Church. It is a deliberate attempt to discredit the Church and its satire and stinging comment on ecclesiastical conditions are not intended as a healing medicine but a deadly blow. It ends with a straightforward and touching statement of the Christian ideals which Erasmus shared notably with his English friends, John Colet and Thomas More. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.