Work / monument · text

The Consolation of Philosophy

c. 524 · 6th century · Also known as De consolatione philosophiae

The Consolation of Philosophy is a Latin work by the Roman statesman Boethius, written around 524 while he awaited execution after falling from favour with the Ostrogothic king Theoderic. In alternating prose and verse, Lady Philosophy consoles the prisoner by showing that true happiness lies in God rather than fortune. It was one of the most widely read books of the Middle Ages and was translated into Old English in the circle of Alfred the Great.

The Consolation of Philosophy
Image: Boethius · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). The Consolation of Philosophy. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/the-consolation-of-philosophy
MLA
“The Consolation of Philosophy.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/the-consolation-of-philosophy. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “The Consolation of Philosophy.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/the-consolation-of-philosophy.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘The Consolation of Philosophy’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/the-consolation-of-philosophy (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻