The entire world is my temple, and a very fine one too, if I'm not mistaken, and I'll never lack priests to serve it as long as there are men.
Desiderius ErasmusRead
Human affairs are so obscure and various that nothing can be clearly known.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the complexity and uncertainty of human experiences and knowledge.
Desiderius Erasmus emphasizes the intricacies and unpredictability of human life. He suggests that due to the diverse and obscure nature of human affairs, achieving clear and absolute knowledge about them is virtually impossible. This reflects a philosophical viewpoint that recognizes the limitations of human understanding in a complex world.
Themes
Human AffairsKnowledgeUncertaintyComplexityPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the unpredictability of life, this quote could express the idea that certainty is elusive.
More from Desiderius Erasmus
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You'll see certain Pythagorean whose belief in communism of property goes to such lengths that they pick up anything lying about unguarded, and make off with it without a qualm of conscience as if it had come to them by law.
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[N]o party is any fun unless seasoned with folly.
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If you look at history you'll find that no state has been so plagued by its rulers as when power has fallen into the hands of some dabbler in philosophy or literary addict.
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Fortune favours the audacious.
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