Erasmus

Humanist scholar

Early Modern influential 124 sayings

Sayings by Erasmus

Nature has sown into the hearts of all men the seeds of self-love.

1511 — In Praise of Folly
Controversial Unverifiable

The sum of all wisdom is to be cheerful.

1518-1533 — Colloquies
Controversial Unverifiable

There are many who are more afraid of poverty than of hell.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

By a man's words, you shall know him.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

c. 1515 — Plutarch's 'On Listening to Lectures', paraphrased by Erasmus often
Controversial Unverifiable

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

It is not what we have, but what we enjoy, that constitutes our abundance.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

A fish out of water is not more helpless than a man without an education.

1518-1533 — Colloquies
Controversial Unverifiable

Everyone is taught to fear death, but no one to escape it.

1511 — In Praise of Folly
Controversial Unverifiable

The world is full of books, and the greater part of them are worthless.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

He who has a good wife, has a good life.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

No man is free who is not master of himself.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

It is a proof of wisdom not to do what others do, but what is right.

1518-1533 — Colloquies
Controversial Unverifiable

The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it.

N/A — Paraphrase of a sentiment in his writings, not a direct quote from a single text.
Controversial Unverifiable

Almost everything that is great has been done by solitary men.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

The foolish mind, that is forever running after pleasures, is never satisfied.

1511 — In Praise of Folly
Controversial Unverifiable

What is the use of running when you are on the wrong road?

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

The truth is the best physic.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable

A good laugh is sunshine in a house.

1518-1533 — Colloquies
Controversial Unverifiable

The less we desire, the more we have.

1500-1536 — Adagia
Controversial Unverifiable