Quote#War
What have the Aldermen, the Common-Council, or indeed all People of…
Quote byBernard Mandeville · 1670–1733
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Fable of the Bees (1714), Remark L, p. 120.
English (original)
What have the Aldermen, the Common-Council, or indeed all People of any Substance to do with the War, but to pay Taxes? The Hardships and Fatigues of War that are personally suffer'd, fall upon them that bear the Brunt of every Thing, the meanest Indigent Part of the Nation, the working slaving People.
— Bernard Mandeville
More from Bernard Mandeville
The worst of all the Multitude Did something for the Common Good.
They put off hearings wilfully, To finger the refreshing fee.
Thus Vice nurs'd Ingenuity, Which join'd with Time and Industry, Had carry'd Life's Conveniences, It's real Pleasures, Comforts, Ease, To such a Height, the very Poor Liv'd better than the Rich before.
Thus every Part was full of Vice, Yet the whole Mass a Paradise; Flatter'd in Peace, and fear'd in Wars, They were th' Esteem of Foreigners, And lavish of their Wealth and Lives, The Balance of all other Hives.
Vast Numbers throng'd the fruitful Hive; Yet those vast Numbers made 'em thrive; Millions endeavouring to supply Each other's Lust and Vanity.
Luxury Employ'd a Million of the Poor, And odious Pride a Million more; Envy it self, and Vanity, Were Ministers of Industry; Their darling Folly, Fickleness,