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
He loves to see an elegant nicety in every thing
that approaches him, and in what is to be employed about his person,
he desires a superlative cleanliness to be religiously observed. The
chief officers of his household he would have to be men of birth,
honour and distinction, as well as order, contrivance, and economy; for
though he loves to be honoured by every body, and receives the respects
of the common people with joy, yet the homage that is paid him by
persons of quality is ravishing to him in a more transcendent manner.
While thus wallowing in a sea of lust and vanity, he is wholly
employed in provoking and indulging his appetites, he desires the
world should think him altogether free from pride and sensuality,
and put a favourable construction upon his most glaring vices: nay,
if his authority can purchase it, he covets to be thought wise,
brave, generous, good-natured, and endued with the virtues he thinks
worth having. He would have us believe that the pomp and luxury
he is served with are as many tiresome plagues to him; and all the
grandeur he appears in is an ungrateful burden, which, to his sorrow,
is inseparable from the high sphere he moves in; that his noble
mind, so much exalted above vulgar capacities, aims at higher ends,
and cannot relish such worthless enjoyments; that the highest of his
ambition is to promote the public welfare, and his greatest pleasure
to see his country flourish, and every body in it made happy. These
are called real pleasures by the vicious and earthly-minded, and
whoever is able, either by his skill or fortune, after this refined
manner at once to enjoy the world, and the good opinion of it, is
counted extremely happy by all the most fashionable part of the people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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