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 …

- Bernard De Mandeville

If laying aside all worldly Greatness and Vain-Glory, I should be ask'd where I thought it was most probable that Men might enjoy true Happiness, I w…

- Bernard De Mandeville

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

- Bernard De Mandeville

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 …

- Bernard De Mandeville

Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and the fewer things a Man wishes for, the more easily his Necessities may be supply'd.

- Bernard De Mandeville

Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and may be either good or …

- Bernard De Mandeville

One good Man may take another's Word, if they so agree, but a whole Nation ought never to trust to any Honesty, but what is built upon Necessity; for…

- Bernard De Mandeville

Those who get their living by their daily labor . . . have nothing to stir them up to be serviceable but their wants which it is a prudence to reliev…

- Bernard De Mandeville

The first Rudiments of Morality, broach'd by skilful Politicians, to render Men useful to each other as well as tractable, were chiefly contrived tha…

- Bernard De Mandeville