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
To know nothing is the happiest life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Living in ignorance can sometimes lead to a simpler and more contented life.
Erasmus suggests that a lack of knowledge can shield one from the complexities and burdens of life, leading to a form of happiness that is untouched by the worries that come with awareness and understanding. This idea invites a reflection on whether blissful ignorance may be a preferable state for some individuals, as it allows them to avoid the anxieties and pressures that come with knowledge.
Themes
HappinessIgnoranceLifeContentmentKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about simplicity in life, one might say, 'To know nothing is the happiest life.'
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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