sed for personal desires and not for the greater good.

Erasmus, in Praise of Folly, believes that money is a ridiculous thing in life that is just as consuming as our passions and desires. Passions and desires blind a person from living life the right way, and Erasmus believes that money is no different. Erasmus believes that money leads men to do foolish things and madness. For example, "some [men] desire to be accounted wealthy abroad and are yet ready to starve at home (Praise Of Folly). Other men, "marries a woman's money, not herself, another for a small and uncertain gain exposes his life to the casualties of seas and winds, which yet no money can restore. Another had rather get riches by war than live peaceably at home. And some there are that think them easiest attained by courting old childless men with presents; and others again by making rich old women believe they love them" (Praise Of Folly). Erasmus, through the eyes of folly, looks at these men with wonder and disbelief. For in his eyes, it is absolutely ridiculous and hilarious how men can risk everything for the chance of money. This is why Erasmus believes that money consumes people and blinds them from life. Money is a dangerous social power, because of its consuming power, but Erasmus believes that it was even more treacherous in the way the Church was using money. During Erasmus' time, the church held a lot of political power, and Erasmus believed that the church was doing nothing more then blinding the people. "And now suppose some merchant, soldier, or judge, out of so many rapines, parts with some small piece of money. He straight conceives all that sink of his whole life quite cleansed so many perjuries, so many lusts, so many debaucheries, so many contentions, so many murders, so many deceits, so many breaches of trusts, so many treacheries bought off, as it were by compact; and so bought off that they may begin upon a new score" (Praise Of Folly). In this excerpt, Erasmus is talking about the debatable topic of indulgences, in which a person pays a certain amount to the church in order to have his sins forgiven. Erasmus believes that this is ridiculous, because the church forgives so many sins, with just a small sum of money. Erasmus asks whether or not this can possibly be justified, or is this nothing more then another way in which the church can get more money. Money is very powerful in blinding the common people of society, but Erasmus is disgusted that it can blind even "the professors of religion" (Praise Of Folly). As mentioned before, the priests and clergymen are constantly denouncing earthly pleasure, sins, and desire for material possessions while they themselves are the worst offenders! Erasmus believes that the men of the church "should endeavor how they may be like Christ", but instead of living like Christ, they are living exactly opposite, surrounding themselves with limitless riches. Erasmus says that the church is supposed to "harvest the people" in helping them maintain their understanding and faith in Christ, but instead the only thing they harvest is the "harvest of money". Erasmus believes that everyone from the common people to the men of the church are consumed in the desire for money; but Erasmus says only "fools [should be] abound in money because wise men have so little to do, unless it be with poverty" (Praise Of Folly). This statement very thoroughly reflects Erasmus' opinion on money and riches in that the wise will learn to stay away from it and remain in poverty; the fools on the other hand will consume themselves in it and eventually lose their way in life because of their crazy and desperate attempts to acquire it. "In brief, go whither you will, among prelates, princes, judges, magistrates, friends, enemies, from highest to lowest, and you'll find all things done by money; which, as a wise man condemns it, so it takes a special care not to come near him" (Praise Of Folly). Money is best handled as "having as if

Some common words found in the essay are:
Praise Folly, Folly Erasmus, Discorsi Machiavelli, Utopia Utopians, Utopia Money, Machiavelli Erasmus, Roman Republic, Similarly Machiavelli, According Machiavelli, Utopia Personal, praise folly, desires passions, passions desires, praise folly erasmus, machiavelli believed, personal desires, according machiavelli, folly erasmus, erasmus believes, discorsi machiavelli, believed money, personal desires passions, money powerful force, passions desires money, money erasmus believes,
Approximate Word count = 4718
Approximate Pages = 19 (250 words per page double spaced)