Perpetual type of the quietist, the moderate man, he censured the errors of the Church with discrimination and gentleness, as if Borgianism had not been too long rampant at Rome, as if men's minds throughout Christendom were not too deeply stirred to be satisfied with mild rebukes against sin, especially when the mild rebuker was in receipt of livings and salaries from the sinner.

Instead of rebukes, the age wanted reforms.

The Sage of Rotterdam was a keen observer, a shrewd satirist, but a moderate moralist.

He loved ease, good company, the soft repose of princely palaces, better than a life of martyrdom and a death at the stake.

He was not of the stuff of which martyrs are made, as he handsomely confessed on more than one occasion.
"Let others affect martyrdom," he said, "for myself I am unworthy of the honor;" and, at another time, "I am not of a mind," he observed "to venture my life for the truth's sake; all men have not strength to endure the martyr's death.