The fable of the bees: or, private vices, publick benefits / With an essay on charity and charity-schools, and a search into the nature of society.

Bernard Mandeville

Date:: 1725

Credit: The fable of the bees: or, private vices, publick benefits / With an essay on charity and charity-schools, and a search into the nature of society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

482/504 (page 464)

$( 4^4 ) Compofing it. The Accufations againft it ha¬ ving been made openly in the publick Papers, it is not equitable the Defence of it ihould ap¬ pear in a more private Manner. \V hat I have to fay in my Behalf, I lhall addrefs to all Men of Senfe and Sincerity, asking no other Favour of them than their Patience and Attention. Setting afide what in that Letter relates to o- thers, and every thing that is Foreign and Im¬ material, ] lhall begin with the Paflage that is quoted from the Book, viz. After this, I flat¬ ter my jelf to have demonfirated, that neither the Friendly Qualities and kind Affections that are natural to Man, nor the real Virtues he is capable of acquiring by Re a fin and Self-denial, are the Foundation of Society, but that what we call Evil in this World, Moral as well as Natural, is the grand ‘Principle that makes us fiociable Creatures-, the fiolid Bafis, the Life and Support of all Trades and Employments without Exception : That there we mufi look for the true Origin of all Arts and Sciences; and that the Moment Evil ceafies, the Society mufi he fpoiled, if not totally dijfolved. Thefe Words I own are in the Book, and, being both innocent and true, like to remain there in all future Impreffions. But I will likewife own very freely, that, if I had wrote with a Delign to be underftood by the meaneft Capacities, I would not have chofe the Subject there treat¬ ed of; or if I had, I would have amplify’d and explained every Period, talked and diftin- guilhed$