Bernard de Mandeville
1670 - 1733
5
Quotes
Biography
Bernard de Mandeville (1670-1733) was a Dutch-born British philosopher and satirist known for his controversial work 'The Fable of the Bees'. He studied medicine at the University of Leiden before moving to England where he practiced as a physician and later focused on writing. Mandeville's works often challenged conventional moral principles, advocating the idea that private vices can lead to public benefits. His writings sparked debates on ethics, economics, and social behavior during the Enlightenment period.
Famous Quotes (5)
1
Private vices by the dextrous management of a skillful politician may be turned into public benefits.
2
The more public provisions are made for the poor, the less they provide for themselves.
3
Fools who came to scoff remained to pray.
4
Flattery's the bellows blows up sin.
5
The Idle Drone - Gets it by heart that dirt is clean.