In Praise of Folly Illustrated with Many Curious Cuts

"In Praise of Folly" by Desiderius Erasmus is a witty speech where Folly herself cheerfully judges the silliness of human actions, especially how they relate to what society thinks is right and wrong, wisdom, and the church. Using humor and irony, it points out the ridiculous things people do without realizing it, encouraging readers to think about what they consider smart or foolish. The story starts with Folly presenting herself as an amusing but clever watcher of people, saying that she is needed for true happiness. Her talk is both a celebration and a criticism, showing the happiness she brings while playfully making fun of people’s foolish actions and fake appearances. By sharing where she comes from and who her friends are—like Self-Love and Pleasure—Folly argues that she is important for making life exciting and keeping people together, convincing the audience to enjoy the fun, silly parts of life instead of being weighed down by wisdom.