Quote of the Day: Desiderius Erasmus on Daily Inspiration

Notice Erasmus chooses “portion,” not “moment” or “risk.” A portion is a slice you can’t pretend isn’t on the plate, measurable, recurring, built into the meal. That one word refuses the comforting story that deception is a rare exception in communication, then lands the uncomfortable line: “A good portion of speaking will consist in knowing how to lie.”

Read generously, and it’s less a permission slip than a diagnostic. Most of us don’t struggle with vocabulary; we struggle with motives. We edit ourselves to be liked, to avoid conflict, to win, to keep doors open. Sometimes that “lie” is crude falsification. More often it’s a polished half-truth, a convenient omission, or a flattering frame that nudges perception without technically breaking the facts.

The practical question, then, is agency: will you lie by reflex, or will you speak with intention? Before you say the impressive thing, ask: What am I protecting, my ego, my image, or the relationship? Before you deliver the harsh truth, ask: Can I be accurate without being cruel? Skillful speaking isn’t merely being “honest.” It’s choosing the right level of candor for the moment, especially in leadership and in everyday humanity.

Desiderius Erasmus earned his authority the hard way: as a northern Renaissance humanist who reshaped European learning through sharp scholarship, moral clarity, and unmatched command of rhetoric. He understood that words don’t just report reality, they steer it.

Today, practice one deliberate upgrade: have one conversation where you refuse the easy “portion” of lying, no exaggeration, no strategic vagueness, only a clear truth delivered with tact, and a pause before you speak. May your words be both clean and kind.