Praise of Folly

Considered one of the most important works of literature in Western Civilization, Desiderius Erasmus's essay, "Praise of Folly," is a classic satirical work in the style of Lucian, the ancient Greek, in which the Goddess of Folly extols the virtues of frivolousness and indulgence of ones passions and then turns to a satirical examination of Christian piousness. In a humorously satirical way, "Praise of Folly" examines the abuses of power of the Roman Catholic Church at the time and is seen as one of the major catalysts for the Protestant Reformation.