The Fable of the Bees; Or, Private Vices, Public Benefits

“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.””

— Bernard Mandeville

“private vice can be publicly beneficial””

— Bernard Mandeville

“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.””

— Bernard Mandeville

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

— Bernard Mandeville

“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.””

— Bernard Mandeville

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

— Bernard Mandeville

“How vain is Mortal Happiness!Had they but known the Bounds of Bliss;And, that Perfection here belowIs more than Gods can well bestow””

— Bernard Mandeville

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

— Bernard Mandeville

“Then leave Complaints: Fools only striveTo make a Great an honest Hive.T' enjoy the World's Conveniencies,Be famed in War, Yet live in EaseWithout great Vices, is a vainEutopia seated in the Brain.Fraud, Luxury, and Pride must liveWhilst we the Benefits recieve.Hunger's a dreadful Plague, no doubt,Yet who digests or strives without?Do we not owe the Growth of WineTo the dry shabby crooked Vine?Which, whilst its Shutes neglected stood,Choak'd other Plants, and ran to Wood;But blest us with its Noble Fruit;As soon as it was tied, and cut:So Vice is Beneficial found,When it's by Justice lopt, and bound;Nay, where the People would be great,As necessary to the StateAs hunger is to make 'em eat.Bare Vertue can't make Nations liveIn Splendour; they, that would reviveA Golden Age, must be free,For Acorns, as for Honesty.””

— Bernard Mandeville