The Fable of the Bees; Or, Private Vices, Public BenefitsMandeville, Bernard
Philosophy
The Fable of the Bees; Or, Private Vices, Public Benefits
Mandeville, Bernard
Charity-schools -- Early works to 1800; Ethics -- Early works to 1800; Virtue -- Early works to 1800
When this great work is brought to bear, and actually accomplished,
joy and serenity seem to overspread the face of every inhabitant,
which likewise to account for, I must make a short digression. There
are every where slovenly sorry fellows, that are used to be seen always
ragged and dirty: these people we look upon as miserable creatures in
general, and unless they are very remarkable, we take little notice
of them, and yet among these there are handsome and well-shaped men,
as well as among their betters. But if one of these turns soldier,
what a vast alteration is there observed in him for the better, as
soon as he is put in his red coat, and we see him look smart with
his grenadier's cap and a great ammunition sword! All who knew him
before are struck with other ideas of his qualities, and the judgment
which both men and women form of him in their minds, is very different
from what it was. There is something analogous to this in the sight
of charity children; there is a natural beauty in uniformity, which
most people delight in. It is diverting to the eye to see children
well matched, either boys or girls, march two and two in good order;
and to have them all whole and tight in the same clothes and trimming,
must add to the comeliness of the sight; and what makes it still more
generally entertaining, is the imaginary share which even servants,
and the meanest in the parish, have in it, to whom it costs nothing:
our parish church, our charity children. In all this there is a
shadow of property that tickles every body, that has a right to make
use of the words, but more especially those who actually contribute,
and had a great hand in advancing the pious work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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