Search

Shopping cart

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles
Newsletter image

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Join 10k+ people to get notified about new posts, news and tips.

Do not worry we don't spam!

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

In Praise of Folly

In Praise of Folly

In Praise of Folly is an essay by Desiderius Erasmus, first printed in June 1511. It is a satirical attack on superstitions and other traditions of European society as well as on the Western Church. In Praise of Folly starts off with a satirical speech, in which Folly praises herself; it then takes a darker tone in a series of orations, as Folly praises self-deception and madness and moves to a satirical examination of pious but superstitious abuses of Catholic doctrine and corrupt practices in parts of the Roman Catholic Church. Erasmus' close friends had warned him of possible dangers to himself from attacking the established religion, but apparently Leo X and Cardinal Cisneros are said to have found the work amusing.

Comments