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 we see so many of the clergy, to indulge their lust, a brutish
appetite, run themselves after this manner upon an inevitable poverty,
which, unless they could bear it with greater fortitude, than they
discover in all their actions, must of necessity make them contemptible
to all the world, what credit must we give them, when they pretend that
they conform themselves to the world, not because they take delight
in the several decencies, conveniences, and ornaments of it, but only
to preserve their function from contempt, in order to be more useful
to others? Have we not reason to believe, that what they say is full
of hypocrisy and falsehood, and that concupiscence is not the only
appetite they want to gratify; that the haughty airs and quick sense
of injuries, the curious elegance in dress, and niceness of palate,
to be observed in most of them that are able to show them, are the
results of pride and luxury in them, as they are in other people,
and that the clergy are not possessed of more intrinsic virtue than
any other profession?
I am afraid, by this time I have given many of my readers a real
displeasure, by dwelling so long upon the reality of pleasure; but I
cannot help it, there is one thing comes into my head to corroborate
what I have urged already, which I cannot forbear mentioning: It is
this: Those who govern others throughout the world, are at least as
wise as the people that are governed by them, generally speaking: If,
for this reason, we would take pattern from our superiors, we have but
to cast our eyes on all the courts and governments in the universe,
and we shall soon perceive from the actions of the great ones, which
opinion they side with, and what pleasures those in the highest
stations of all seem to be most fond of: For, if it be allowable at
all to judge of people's inclinations, from their manner of living,
none can be less injured by it, than those who are the most at liberty
to do as they please.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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