The Adagia as an Institutio Principis

Abstract

One of the most important topics in the complex didactic work of Erasmus, Adagia, is the question of good government. In this collection of proverbs, Erasmus uses ancient wisdom to establish some crucial principles of political education. He discusses different cases of good and bad rulers and proposes some instructions for his readers. It is not enough to properly instruct a prince; the society he governs must first be instructed. Thus, the Adages serve not only as an institutio principis, but also as a sort of institutio populi.