Date: 1705, 1714, 1732

"I could tell People that to extricate themselves from all worldly Engagements, and to purify the Mind, they must divest themselves of their Passions, as Men take out the Furniture when they would clean a Room thoroughly."

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1723, 1732

"From whence we may learn that to perform a meritorious Action, it is not sufficient barely to conquer a Passion, unless it likewise be done from a laudable Principle, and consequently how necessary that Clause was in the Definition of Virtue, that our Endeavours were to proceed from a ratio...

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

"It is evident, that the Mind of Man is the general Mint, where the Means of this sort must be coin'd."

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

"You have seen those Engines that raise Water by the Help of Fire; the Steam you know, is that which forces it up; it is as impossible to see the volatile Particles that perform the Labour of the Brain, when the Creature is dead, as in the Engine it would be to see the Steam, (which yet does all ...

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

"The Brain of a Child, newly born, is Charte Blanche; and, as you have hinted very justly, we have no Ideas, which we are not obliged for to our Senses."

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

"As Iron is to be hammer'd whilst it is hot and ductile, so Children are to be taught when they are young"

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

"But as the first Images are lost, so they are continually succeeded by new ones; and the Brain at first serves as a Slate to Cypher, or a Sampler to work upon."

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

"[Y]ou see then the Difference between Knowledge, as it signifies the Treasure of Images receiv'd, and Knowledge, or rather Skill, to find out those Images when we want them, and work them readily to our Purpose"

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

"What Numbers of learned Fools do we not meet with in large Libraries; from whose Works it is evident, that Knowledge must have lain in their Heads, as Furniture at an Upholder's; and the Treasure of the Brain was a Burden to them, instead of an Ornament!"

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)

Date: 1729

Because the outside of women is "more curiously wove" and like "fine cloth" in comparison to men's coarseness, "There is no Reason to imagine, that Nature should have been more neglectful of them out of Sight, than she has where we can trace her; and not have taken the same Care of them in the Fo...

— Mandeville, Bernard (bap. 1670, d. 1733)