Desiderius Erasmus

Change as the Lifelong Condition for Relevance

Erasmus knew from experience that unfinished work is the only kind that lives. He repeatedly revised his Greek New Testament, from the first edition in 1516 through later corrections in 1519, 1522, 1527, and 1535—an editorial pilgrimage that embodied his warning. Likewise, his Adages began with roughly 818 entries in 1500 and expanded to more than 4,000 by 1536, each edition a recalibration for new readers and fresh problems. Seen in this light, “When you are finished changing, you are finished” is not a flourish but a survival ethic for minds and cultures shaped by the printing press’s accelerating feedback loops. To stop revising, in Erasmus’s world, was to let error harden into dogma and relevance decay into relic. [...]

Question Comfort; Courage Opens New Realms of Possibility

Psychologically, we resist such disruptions. Cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957) shows how contradictions trigger discomfort we try to reduce, often by defending old beliefs. Yet a growth mindset (Dweck, 2006) reframes discomfort as the feeling of learning. Moreover, Amy Edmondson’s research on psychological safety (1999) demonstrates that teams dare to question assumptions when they will not be punished for honest error. Thus, courage is not bravado; it is a supported risk to learn. [...]

Give Light, and the Darkness Will Disappear of Itself – Desiderius Erasmus

The quote suggests that introducing positivity, knowledge, or goodness naturally removes negativity or ignorance. [...]

In the World of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man Is King — Desiderius Erasmus

Erasmus may be using this metaphor to criticize societal norms, suggesting that people often follow flawed leaders simply because they appear more competent than the rest. [...]

A Nail Is Driven Out by Another Nail; Habit Is Overcome by Habit - Desiderius Erasmus

This quote suggests that just as one nail can be driven out by another, a habit can only be effectively changed or replaced by another habit rather than simply being discarded. [...]