Desiderius Erasmus quotes - page 4

You'll see certain Pythagorean whose belief in communism of property goes to such lengths that they pick up anything lying about unguarded, and make off with it without a qualm of conscience as if it had come to them by law. (Desiderius Erasmus)
Ask a wise man to dinner and he'll upset everyone by his gloomy silence or tiresome questions. Invite him to a dance and you'll have a camel prancing about. Haul him off to a public entertainment and his face will be enough to spoil the people's entertainment.
Desiderius Erasmus
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.
Desiderius Erasmus
A good prince will tax as lightly as possible those commodities which are used by the poorest members of society grain, bread, beer, wine, clothing, and all other staples without which human life could not exist.
Desiderius Erasmus
In short, no association or alliance can be happy or stable without me. People can't long tolerate a ruler, nor can a master his servant, a maid her mistress, a teacher his pupil, a friend his friend nor a wife her husband, a landlord his tenant, a soldier his comrade nor a party-goer his companion, unless they sometimes have illusions about each other, make use of flattery, and have the sense to turn a blind eye and sweeten life for themselves with the honey of folly.
Desiderius Erasmus
(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.
Desiderius Erasmus
It is folly alone that stays the fugue of Youth and beats off touring Old Age.
Desiderius Erasmus
They take unbelievable pleasure in the hideous blast of the hunting horn and baying of the hounds. Dogs dung smells sweet as cinnamon to them.
Desiderius Erasmus
He that gives quickly gives twice.
Desiderius Erasmus
War is sweet to them that know it not.
Desiderius Erasmus
There are monasteries where there is no discipline, and which are worse than brothels. (Desiderius Erasmus)
I have no patience with those who say that sexual excitement is shameful and that venereal stimuli have their origin not in nature, but in sin. Nothing is so far from the truth.
Desiderius Erasmus
There are others where religion is nothing but ritual; and these are worse than the first, for the Spirit of God is not in them, and they are inflated with self-righteousness.
Desiderius Erasmus
But there is craft, and plenty of it - craft enough to impose on mature men, not to say innocent boys; and this is called profession.
Desiderius Erasmus
There is always a suspicion of something wrong, and on the least complaint such a person is sent back.
Desiderius Erasmus
I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is one of degree.
Desiderius Erasmus
If there is truth in the popular legend, that Antichrist will be born from a monk and a nun (which is the story these people keep putting about), how many thousands of Antichrists the world must have already!
Desiderius Erasmus
Women, can't live with them, can't live without them.
Desiderius Erasmus
Humility is truth.
Desiderius Erasmus
If you keep thinking about what you want to do or what you hope will happen, you don't do it, and it won't happen.
Desiderius Erasmus
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. (Desiderius Erasmus)
They may attack me with an army of six hundred syllogisms and if I do not recant, they will proclaim me a heretic.
Desiderius Erasmus
What passes out of ones mouth passes into a hundred ears. It is a great misfortune not to have sense enough to speak well.
Desiderius Erasmus
Jupiter, not wanting man's life to be wholly gloomy and grim, has bestowed far more passion than reason you could reckon the ration as twenty-four to one. Moreover, he confined reason to a cramped corner of the head and left all the rest of the body to the passions.
Desiderius Erasmus
There is no doubt about Martin Luther's marriage, but the rumour about his wife's early confinement is false; she is said however to be pregnant now. If there is truth in the popular legend, that Antichrist will be born from a monk and a nun (which is the story these people keep putting about), how many thousands of Antichrists the world must have already!
Desiderius Erasmus