Against War

Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian. Erasmus was a classical erudite who wrote in a pure Latin style. He was critical of the abuses within the Church. The author remained a member of the Roman Catholic Church during all his life.

War shocked Erasmus alike on every side of his uncommon complex and sensitive nature. It was impious; it was inhuman; it was grotty; it was in every sense of the word barbarous, to one who before all things and in the full meaning of the word was civilized and a lover of civilization.