Desiderius Erasmus's "The Praise of Folly" stands as a seminal work in Renaissance literature, intertwining humorous satire with profound philosophical inquiry. Composed in 1509, this essay employs a voice of playful irony through the character of Folly, who extols the virtues of foolishness in contrast to the pervasive seriousness of learned scholars and religious leaders. Erasmus's deft use of r...