"I looked over a celebrated book, "The Fable of the Bees." Till now I imagined there had never appeared in the world such a book as the works of Machiavel: but Dr. Mandeville goes far beyond it. The Italian only recommends a few vices, as useful to some particular men, and on some particular occasions: but the Englishman loves and cordially recommends vice of every kind; not only as useful now and then, but as absolutely necessary, at all times for all communities! Surely Voltaire would hardly have said so much! And even Mr. Sandiman could not have said more!"
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Poets from EnglandPhilosophers from EnglandEconomists from EnglandPhilosophers from the NetherlandsPeople from Rotterdam
Original Language: English
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Sources
John Wesley, journal entry (14 April 1756), quoted in The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, Volume III (1810), p. 235
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bernard_Mandeville
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Bernard Mandeville
1670 – 1733
niederländischer Arzt und Sozialtheoretiker
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