The Resume

(February 17, 1739-April 7, 1811)
Born in Ciacova, Romania
Born Dimitrije Obradović
Pioneer of the Enlightenment in Serbia
Ordained a monk of the Hopovo monastery (February 17, 1757)
Writings include 'Pismo Haralampiju' (1783), 'Sovjeti zdravago razuma' (Counsels of Common Sense) (1784), 'Pesme o izbavleniju Serbije' (1789), 'Život i priključenija Dimitija Obradovića, narecenoga u kaludjerstvu Dositej, n'im' istim' spisan' I izdat' (The Life and Adventures of Dimitrije Obradović, Who as a Monk Was Given the Name Dositej) (1793), 'Etika ili filozofija naravnoučitelna' (1803), 'Vostani Serbije' (1804), 'Jastuk roda moga' (1813), and 'Mezimac I Budim' (1818)
Translated several foreign language works to Serbian, including some of Aesop's Fables (1788)
Established the Velika Škola, which would become the University of Belgrade (September 1808)
Died in Belgrade

Why he might be annoying:

He initially wanted to live like a saint after reading many writings on them.
To achieve this, he would sneak out with visiting abbots.
He left his monastery a year after he was ordained a monk. (1760)
He died shortly after his appointment as Minister of Education, which meant that he never got the chance to use the position.
One of his works, Jastuk roda moga, is now lost.

Why he might not be annoying:

His efforts at publishing his works in the Serbian vernacular increased the literacy rate of Serbs and gave rise to modern Serbian literature.
He lost his father when he was very young, and his mother when he was nine or ten.
He advocated coeducation for boys and girls in 'Counsels of Common Sense'.
Despite his disillusionment with monastic life, he remained faithful to the church while some of his fellow Serbian writers expressed anticlerical sentiments.
Cassell's Encyclopedia of World Literature called his writings 'characterized by enlightened common sense sane patriotism, sincerity, integrity, keen intellectual curiosity, and erudition'.

Credit: Big Lenny

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Big Lenny's Profiles [Series 04]
• Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do
• I am Yugoslavian
• I was Adopted or Orphaned
• Look at Me, I Got My Hands Clasped
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Profiles 37751-38000 (Ranked: 37977)
• Teachers

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 33 Votes: 48.48% Annoying