How did Desiderius Erasmus believe education could shape a person’s character?

Desiderius Erasmus held a profound belief in the transformative power of education, maintaining that the very essence of human nature could be molded through diligent study. He was convinced that one is essentially what one reads, and he believed that a proper education could draw out peaceful and social dispositions while simultaneously discouraging unworthy appetites.1

Erasmus argued that engaging with the "humane letters" of classical and Christian antiquity would have a beneficent effect on the mind. He contrasted this with the negative influence of other educational approaches, such as the "disputatious temper" fostered by Scholastic logic or the vengeful attitudes he believed were bred by chivalric literature.1

His educational philosophy was rooted in an optimism about human potential; he felt that if individuals were adequately educated, they could learn any discipline. By emphasizing the study of ancient languages and the intelligent comprehension of texts, Erasmus sought to cultivate a cultured, moral individual, viewing such education as a vital public obligation.21