Summary
Erasmus of Rotterdam: Praise of Folly
When I was recently returning from Italy to England, in order not to waste all the time I had to spend on horseback, in trivial conversations "without muses", I preferred to think here and there about our common spiritual work and enjoy the memory of the friends, dear as well as learned, that I left there. Among them, you first appeared before my eyes, my sea; I thought of you even when you were not with me with the same pleasure that I used to enjoy in your presence, than which, may the devil take me away, I ever tasted anything sweeter in my life. And since I thought I should certainly do something, and the circumstances were not suitable for serious spiritual reflection, I decided to compose the Praise of Folly. Which Pallas, you say, put that bug in your head? First of all, I was attracted to your last name, which is as close to the word madness (moria) as you are far from it. And the opinion of the whole world testifies that you are really very far from her. I foresaw then that this game of my mind would meet with your special approval, for you usually enjoy such pranks...
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