Skip to content

Asks Quote by Desiderius Erasmus

“Ask a wise man to dinner and he'll upset everyone by his gloomy silence or tiresome questions. Invite him to a dance and you'll have a camel prancing about. Haul him off to a public entertainment and his face will be enough to spoil the people's entertainment.” quote by Desiderius Erasmus
Download Open image
“Ask a wise man to dinner and he'll upset everyone by his gloomy silence or tiresome questions. Invite him to a dance and you'll have a camel prancing about. Haul him off to a public entertainment and his face will be enough to spoil the people's entertainment.”

Desiderius Erasmus

About This Quote

Source Play: The Praise of Folly, 1511

People react differently to the same person based on context, revealing social expectations and the power of setting.

In simple terms: Context changes how we perceive others.

Key Takeaway

Adapt behavior to suit the setting.

Themes

social perception context expectations

Mood

reflective observational

Type

aphilosophical observational

When to use this quote

  • dinner parties
  • dance events
  • public performances

Key Concepts

human behavior social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does setting influence interaction?
  • Can you change perception by altering context?
A Different Perspective

Not everyone will respond positively in every setting.

4.3 out of 5 (10 ratings)

More by Desiderius Erasmus

Explore all 124 Desiderius Erasmus quotes

More Asks quotes

Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes