Stefan Zweig referred to his Erasmus book as a "veiled self-presentation," in which he illustrates the "greatness and limits of humanism" - the triumph and tragedy of a great thinker who was not resolved to act. Erasmus of Rotterdam, "the first conscious European, the first combative friend of peace, the most eloquent advocate of the humanistic, broad-minded, and spirit-friendly ideal," became a forerunner of the Reformation through his criticism of theology and the Church. However, he did not promote it; rather, he distanced himself from Luther's views with his own perspective on human free will. When Elector Frederick asked for his vote in the faith dispute between Luther and the Pope, Erasmus advised, with clear sympathy for the renewal of the Church, to appoint "respected and unprejudiced judges." Erasmus wanted and could not express his own opinion clearly.