"The Fable of the Bees", published in its final form in 1724, consists of a poem, "The Grumbling Hive", and a series of essays arguing the necessity of vice as the foundation of the emerging capitalist economy. Intended as a commentary on England as the author saw it, on first publication it was virtually ignored, but once the new edition in 1723 included two further essays ("An Essay on Charity and Charity-Schools" and "A Search into the Nature of Society"), it became the centre of one of the most heated controversies of the century and the target of a furious onslaught in the press, the pulpit and even the courts. Written with a glorious, pugnacious wit, Mandeville's "Fable" is a masterpiece of the great age of English satire.

The Fable of the Bees (Penguin Classics)

Bernard Mandeville

Penguin Books, Ltd.

Excerpt from The Fable of the Bees, or Private Vices Public Benefits: With an Essay on Charity and Charity Schools, and a Search Into the Nature of SocietyThus much I had faid to the reader in the firft edition; and have added nothing. By way of preface in the fecond. Butdince that, a violent outcry has been made againl't the book, exactly anfwering the expeétation I always had of the juttice, the wifdom, the charity, and fair-dailing of thofe whole good will I defpaired of. It has been prefented by the Grand Jury, and condemned by thoufands who never faw a word of it. It has been preached againit before my Lord Mayor; and an utter refutation of it is daily expeéted from areverend divine, who has called me names in the advertife ments, and threatened to anfwer me in two months time for above five months together. What I have to fay for my felf, the reader will fee in my Vindication at the end of the book, where he will likewife find the Grand Jury's Prefent ment, and a letter to the Right Honourable Lord C. Which is very rhetorical beyond argument or conneélion. The eu thor (hows a fine talent for 111vetftives, and great fagacity in dil'covering atheifm, where others can find none. He is zeal ous againlt wicked books, points at the Fable of the Bees, and is very angry with the author: He bell 0115 four drong epithets on the enormity of his guilt, and by le1eral elegant inuendos to the multitude, as the danger there IS in fulle1ing fuch authors to live, and the vengeance of Heaven upon a whole nation, very charitably recommends him to the1r care.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The Fable of the Bees, or Private Vices Public Benefits: With an Essay on Charity and Charity Schools, and a Search Into the Nature of Society (Classic Reprint)

Self-Help

Motivational

Forgotten Books

Excerpt from The Fable of the Bees, or Private Vices Public Benefits: With an Essay on Charity and Charity Schools, and a Search Into the Nature of SocietyHaving allowed the fmall advantage this little whlm 1s likely to produce, I think myfelf obliged to {how that it can not be prejudicial to any for u hat is publithed, if it does no good, ought at lead to do no harm. In order to this, I have made tome explanatory notes, to u hich the reader will find himfelf referred 1n thole palfages that feem to be mof't liable to exceptions.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Virgin Unmask'd, or Female Dialogues Betwixt an Elderly Maiden Lady, and Her Niece: On Several Diverting Discourses on Love, Marriage, Memoirs, and Morals, &C., Of the TimesLetting you know what had hap. Pened between us, and as a Wheel within a Wheel, prefixing it to the Preface.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The Virgin Unmask'd, or Female Dialogues Betwixt an Elderly Maiden Lady, and Her Niece: On Several Diverting Discourses on Love, Marriage, Memoirs, and Morals, &C., Of the Times (Classic Reprint)

Children's Books

Mandeville is the wittiest and shrewdest philosopher ever to make a significant impact upon economics. He anticipated Oscar Wilde in choosing his enemies with great care, and within his own century they included David Hume, Adam Smith, and Francis Hutcheson. He could afford even such enemies because his friends and admirers have been legion. — George J. Stigler, University of Chicago It used to be that everyone read the "notorious" Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733). He was a great satirist and came to have a profound impact on economics, ethics, and social philosophy. The Fable begins with a poem and continues with a number of essays and dialogues. It is all tied together by the startling and original idea that "private vices" (self-interest) lead to "publick benefits" (the development and operation of society). From that simple beginning, Mandeville saw that orderly social structures (such as law, language, the market, and even the growth of knowledge) were a spontaneous growth developing out of individual human actions.

The Fable of the Bees: Or Private Vices, Publick Benefits (2 Volume Set)

Liberty Fund

The Fable of the Bees: Or Private Vices, Publick Benefits, Volume One

Literature & Fiction

Liberty Fund, Inc.

La  Fable Des Abeilles, Ou Les Fripons Devenus Honnestes Gens (4)

Collected Works Vol. IV: The Fable of the Bees (Vol IV)

Georg Olms

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Books by Bernard Mandeville

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Bernard Mandeville. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Fable of the Bees (Penguin Classics)

The Fable of the Bees, or Private Vices Public Benefits: With an Essay on Charity and Charity Schools, and a Search Into the Nature of Society (Classic Reprint)

The Fable of the Bees, or Private Vices Public Benefits: With an Essay on Charity and Charity Schools, and a Search Into the Nature of Society (Classic Reprint)

The Virgin Unmask'd, or Female Dialogues Betwixt an Elderly Maiden Lady, and Her Niece: On Several Diverting Discourses on Love, Marriage, Memoirs, and Morals, &C., Of the Times (Classic Reprint)

The Fable of the Bees: Or Private Vices, Publick Benefits (2 Volume Set)

The Fable of the Bees: Or Private Vices, Publick Benefits, Volume One

La Fable Des Abeilles, Ou Les Fripons Devenus Honnestes Gens (4)

Collected Works Vol. IV: The Fable of the Bees (Vol IV)