Erasmus' In Praise of Folly stands as the epitome of cultivated common sense. Here are some examples of the biting satire that he directed towards different groups in society:
[Merchants:] The merchants are the biggest fool of all. They carry on the most sordid business and by the most corrupt methods. Whenever it is necessary, they will lie, perjure themselves, steal, cheat, and mislead the public. Nevertheless, they are highly respected because of their money. There is no lack of flattering friars to kowtow to them, and call them Right Honorable in public. The motive of the friars is clear: they are after some of the loot.
[Philosophers:] The philosophers . . . are reverenced for their beards and the fur on their gowns. They announce that they alone are wise and that the rest of men are only passing shadows. . . . The fact that they can never explain why they constantly disagree with each other is sufficient proof that they do not know the truth about anything. They know nothing at all, yet profess to know everything. They are ignorant even of themselves, and are often too absent-minded or near-sighted to see the ditch or stone in front of them.
[Monks:] These smooth fellows simply explain that by their very filth, ignorance, boorishness, and insolence they enact the lives of the apostles for us. It is amusing to see how they do everything by rule, almost mathematically. . . . The monks of certain orders recoil in horror from money, as if it were poison, but not from wine or women.
In the comment section below, respond to this excerpt. Which of the three sections did you find most interesting/comical/mean/true/false/etc.? Why?
*http://oaks.nvg.org/erasmus.html
