Quotes from Bernard Mandeville

Private Vices, Public Benefits.

Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves, their ugly nakedness, from each other, and wrapping up the true motives of their hearts in the specious cloak of sociableness, and their concern for the public good, they are in hopes of concealing their filthy appetites and the deformity of their desires.

People of substance may sin without being exposed for their stolen pleasure; but servants and the poorer sort of women have seldom an opportunity of concealing a big belly, or at least the consequences of it.

The multitude will hardly believe the excessive force of education, and in the difference of modesty between men and women, ascribe that to nature, which is altogether owing to early instruction: Miss is scarce three years old, but she's spoke to every day to hide her leg, and rebuked in good earnest if she shows it; whilst little Master at the same age is bid to take up his coats, and piss like a man.

The only thing of weight that can be said against modern honor is that it is directly opposite to religion. The one bids you bear injuries with patience, the other tells you if you don't resent them, you are not fit to live.

There are many examples of women that have excelled in learning, and even in war, but this is no reason we should bring em all up to Latin and Greek or else military discipline, instead of needle-work and housewifery.

There is no intrinsic worth in money but what is alterable with the times, and whether a guinea goes for twenty pounds or for a shilling, it is the labor of the poor and not the high and low value that is set on gold or silver, which all the comforts of life must arise from.

We seldom call anybody lazy, but such as we reckon inferior to us, and of whom we expect some service.

When Men fly from danger, it is natural for them to run farther than they need.

One of the greatest Reasons why so few People understand themselves, is, that most Writers are always teaching Men what they should be, and hardly ever trouble their heads with telling them what they really are.

private vice can be publicly beneficial

To shew, that these Qualifications, which we all pretend to be asham'd of, are the great support of a flourishing Society,

The Root of evil Avarice, That damn ill-natur'd baneful vice, Was slave to Prodigality, That Noble Sin; whilst Luxury Employ'd a Million of the Poor, And odious Pride a Million more. Envy it self, and Vanity Were Ministers of Industry; Their darling Folly, Fickleness In Diet, Furniture, and Dress, That strange ridic'lous Vice, was made The very Wheel, that turn'd the Trade.

Do we not owe the Growth of Wine To the dry shabby crooked Vine?

First, to define the passion of shame, I think it may be called a sorrowful reflection on our own unworthiness, proceeding from an apprehension that others either do, or might, if they knew all, deservedly despise us.

Weinig mensen kunnen het nalaten zichzelf hoog te achten met betrekking tot de kennis die zij zich eens hebben verworven, zelfs als zijn deze zijn kwijtgeraakt. En als zij niet erg bescheiden en discreet zijn, zullen de onverteerde flarden die zulke mensen zich gewoonlijk van het Latijn herinneren, hen bijna altijd op een of ander moment belachelijk maken voor degenen die er wel goed van op de hoogte zijn.

Passions may do good by chance, but there can be no merit but in the conquest of them.

the humblest man alive must confess, that the reward of a virtuous action, which is the satisfaction that ensues upon it, consists in a certain pleasure he procures to himself by contemplating on his own worth: which pleasure, together with the occasion of it, are as certain signs of pride, as looking pale and trembling at any imminent danger, are the symptoms of fear.