Animals only follow their natural instincts; but man, unless he has experienced the influence of learning and philosophy, is at the mercy of impulses that are worse than those of a wild beast. There is no beast more savage and dangerous than a human being who is swept along by the passions of ambition, greed, anger, envy, extravagance, and sensuality.

— Erasmus De pueris statim ac liberaliter instituendis declamatio (1529)

More quotes by Erasmus

Letter to Christian Northoff (1497)

Erasmus (1970)

Ciceronianus (1528)

Adagia (1508)

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