Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, or simply Erasmus, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian...
NationalityDutch
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth26 October 1466
church-music modern music-is
Modern church music is so constructed that the congregation cannot hear one distinct word.
wind belly
Retain the wind by compressing the belly.
sweet peace war
War is sweet to those who have not experienced it.
philosophy power hands
If you look at history you'll find that no state has been so plagued by its rulers as when power has fallen into the hands of some dabbler in philosophy or literary addict.
sleep remember exquisite
Before you sleep, read something that is exquisite, and worth remembering.
giving advice
Don't give your advice before you are called upon.
life wise laughter
As an example of just how useless these philosophers are for any practice in life there is Socrates himself, the one and only wise man, according to the Delphic Oracle. Whenever he tried to do anything in public he had to break off amid general laughter. While he was philosophizing about clouds and ideas, measuring a flea's foot and marveling at a midge's humming, he learned nothing about the affairs of ordinary life.
teacher husband party
In short, no association or alliance can be happy or stable without me. People can't long tolerate a ruler, nor can a master his servant, a maid her mistress, a teacher his pupil, a friend his friend nor a wife her husband, a landlord his tenant, a soldier his comrade nor a party-goer his companion, unless they sometimes have illusions about each other, make use of flattery, and have the sense to turn a blind eye and sweeten life for themselves with the honey of folly.
knowledge delay height
You must acquire the best knowledge first, and without delay; it is the height of madness to learn what you will later have to unlearn.
eye special causes
Anything which causes trouble has special merit in their eyes.
dog culture bones
Do not put chewed bones back on plates. Instead, throw them on the floor for the dog.
eye religion atheism
The opinion formulated by the Church has more value in my eyes than human reasons, whatever they may be.
sweet dog hunting
They take unbelievable pleasure in the hideous blast of the hunting horn and baying of the hounds. Dogs dung smells sweet as cinnamon to them.
wise intelligent men
Ask a wise man to dinner and he'll upset everyone by his gloomy silence or tiresome questions. Invite him to a dance and you'll have a camel prancing about. Haul him off to a public entertainment and his face will be enough to spoil the people's entertainment.