Category Archives: Erasmus

Delusion Makes You Happy

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“If Folly is any judge, that man is the happiest who is most thoroughly deluded.  May he remain in that state which comes from me alone and is so widespread that I doubt whether there can be found one person … Continue reading →

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The Happiness of Deceit

Posted on January 23, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“But they say it is an unhappy thought to be deceived.  To this I say no, for the unhappiest thought is not to be deceived.  For those who think that the happiness of a man can be found in things … Continue reading →

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Erasmus on the Folly of Political Leaders

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Show me a man such as princes commonly are: a man ignorant of the laws: an enemy of the public: intent upon private gain; taken to pleasure; against knowledge, liberty, and truth; never occupied with the safety of the state; … Continue reading →

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Erasmus on Reason, Speech, and Friendship

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“Man possesses a unifying principle in the fact that he is molded to the same figure and form and endowed with the same power of speech.  Whereas beasts differ in the variety of their shapes, man is identical with fellow … Continue reading →

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A Good Prince Must know Geography & History

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“Although the writers of antiquity divided the whole theory of state government into two sections, war and peace, the first and most objective is the instruction of the prince in the matter of ruling wisely during times of peace, in … Continue reading →

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Erasmus on Teachings of Christ, Plato, and the Prince

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“Before all else the story of Christ must be firmly rooted in the mind of the prince.  He should drink deeply of His teachings, gathered in handy texts, and then later from those very fountains themselves, whence he may drink … Continue reading →

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History and Education of a Prince

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“It is not enough just to hand out precepts to restrain the prince from vices or to incite him to a better course—they must be impressed, crammed in, inculcated, and in one way and another be kept before him, now … Continue reading →

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Humanity, Reason, and Education

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Matthew Phillips

“Nature, the mother of all things, has equipped brute animals with more means to fulfil the functions of their species; but to man alone she has given the faculty of reason, and so she has thrown the burden of human … Continue reading →

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