wisdom

Praise of Folly by Erasmus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Erasmus is a really intriguing figure of the 16th century. In many ways, he paved the way for the Protestant Reformation, while firmly insisting on taking no alliance with it. His book,Â In Praise of Folly, is a wonderful instance of his rhetorical powers of wit. The “hook” of this work is the Lady Folly writing to Erasmus’ friend Thomas More. The irony of it all is that we learn great wisdom from the mouth of folly. A really enjoyable read, from a colossal intellect.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS

Some Quotes:

Do but observe our grim philosophers that are perpetually beating their brains on knotty subjects, and for the most part youâ€™ll find them grown old before they are scarcely young.

What man is that would submit his neck to the noose of wedlock, if, as wise men should, he did but first truly weigh the inconvenience of the thing? Or what woman is there would ever go to it did she seriously consider either the peril of child-bearing or the trouble of bringing them up?

What greater thing do [women] wish in their whole lives than that they may please the men? For to what other purpose are all those dresses, washes, baths, curlings, slops, perfumes, and those several little tricks of setting their faces, painting their eyebrows, and smoothing their skins?

If there can be any great entertainment without a woman at it, let others look to it.

Wisdom is a great obstacle to the true management of business

Few there are that rightly understand of what great advantage it is to blush at nothing and attempt everything.

For truth carries with it a certain peculiar power of pleasing, if no accident fall in to give occasion of offense; which faculty the gods have given only to fools.

I scarce know anyone in all mankind that is wise at all hours.

Nay, further, whereas the Church of Christ was founded in blood, confirmed by blood, and augmented by blood, now, as if Christ, who after his wonted manner defends his people, were lost, they govern all by the sword.

Fortune loves those that have least wit and most confidence.

Wisdom makes men bashful, which is the reason that those wise men have so little to do, unless it be with poverty, hunger, and chimney corners; that they live such neglected, unknown, and hated lives: whereas fools abound in money, have the chief commands in the commonwealth, and in a word, flourish every way.

I Might Be a Joke, But My MajorÂ Isn’t

As the joke my brother tells goes, “how do you get a history major off your doorstep? Pay him for the pizza!” He is currently pursuing a lucrative career in business management & administration, and, back in the day, I chose to be aÂ history major; which is certainly a less lucrative enterprise.

I heard on the radio aÂ few months back that many school are electing to replace history class with courses that are more sensory and will actuallyÂ prepare students for a life in the globalist & tech driven economy of the 21st century. As the thinking goes, no one can provide a curriculum that presents a cohesive history of past events, and it is always going to be lopsided (after all those who write the history textbooks control the perception of what happened).

But, as a history major, I would very much resent the idea of a wholesale disposal of historic instruction. I think vocationalÂ preparation is of great importance and would highly encourage a return to a master/apprentice model. And I suppose I might add that I would also very much like a dissolution of the entire behemoth of the Department of Education. The DMV should be enough of a reminder that government has noÂ business overseeing the education of our children, nor do they have much skill in it. [Read more…] about In Defense of the History Major