Desiderius Erasmus Quotes

Many times what cannot be refuted by arguments can be parried by laughter.

There is nothing I congratulate myself on more heartily than on never having joined a sect.

Great eagerness in the pursuit of wealth, pleasure, or honor, cannot exist without sin.

The more ignorant, reckless and thoughtless a doctor is, the higher his reputation soars even amongst powerful princes.

Love that has nothing but beauty to keep it in good health is short-lived.

So our student will flit like a busy bee through the entire garden of literature, light on every blossom, collect a little nectar from each, and carry it to his hive.

It's the generally accepted privilege of theologians to stretch the heavens, that is the Scriptures, like tanners with a hide.

Nowadays the rage for possession has got to such a pitch that there is nothing in the realm of nature, whether sacred or profane, out of which profit cannot be squeezed.

I have turned my entire attention to Greek. The first thing I shall do, as soon as the money arrives, is to buy some Greek authors; after that, I shall buy clothes.

It is wisdom in prosperity, when all is as thou wouldn't have it, to fear and suspect the worst.

Man is to man either a god or a wolf.

Whether a party can have much success without a woman present I must ask others to decide, but one thing is certain, no party is any fun unless seasoned with folly.

Scarcely is there any peace so unjust that it is better than even the fairest war. -Vix ulla tam iniqua pax, quin bello vel aequissimo sit potior

[Only by] the good influence of our conduct may we bring salvation in human affairs; or like a fatal comet we may bring destruction in our train.

Human affairs are so obscure and various that nothing can be clearly known.

God has administered to us of the present age, a bitter draught and a harsh physician, on account of our abounding infirmities.

War is delightful for those who don't know it

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.

He who shuns the millstone, shuns the meal.

The entire world is my temple, and a very fine one too, if I'm not mistaken, and I'll never lack priests to serve it as long as there are men.

A good portion of speaking will consist in knowing how to lie.

Invoked or not invoked, the god is present.

It is folly alone that stays the fugue of Youth and beats off touring Old Age.

Anything which causes trouble has special merit in their eyes.

They are looking in utter darkness for that which has no existence whatsoever.

The wedlocks of minds will be greater than that of bodies.

Given a choice between a folly and a sacrament, one should always choose the folly—because we know a sacrament will not bring us closer to god and there’s always the chance that a folly will.

To know nothing is the happiest life.

Dulce bellum inexpertis. - War is lovely for those who know nothing about it.

Human affairs are so obscure and various that nothing can be clearly known. This was the sound conclusion of the Academic sceptics, who were the least surly of philosophers.

...it is a sneaking piece of cowardice for authors to put feigned names to their works, as if, like bastards of their brain, they were afraid to own them.

Retain the wind by compressing the belly.

The opinion formulated by the Church has more value in my eyes than human reasons, whatever they may be.

'Tis an easier matter to raise the devil than to lay him.

Modern church music is so constructed that the congregation cannot hear one distinct word.

Do not put chewed bones back on plates. Instead, throw them on the floor for the dog.

When I get a little money I buy books and if any is left I buy food and clothes.

Women, can't live with them, can't live without them.

Humility is truth.