The Praise of Folly

Translated by John Wilson

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"The Praise of Folly" by Desiderius Erasmus is an oration written in Latin in 1509. In this Renaissance masterwork, the goddess Folly takes center stage to praise herself and mock every corner of human society—from lovers and princes to priests and scholars. What begins as playful satire grows increasingly sharp, targeting religious corruption and self-deception. Yet this spiraling attack contains a surprising twist: beneath the mockery lies an orthodox Christian message about divine wisdom and human foolishness, pivoting ultimately toward the folly of the cross.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.