Who said “Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves,…”?

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Bernard Mandeville. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Fable of the Bees (1714)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves, their ugly nakedness, from each other, and wrapping up the true motives of their hearts in the specious cloak of sociableness, and their concern for the public good, they are in hopes of concealing their filthy appetites and the deformity of their desires.”
VerifiedThe Fable of the Bees (1714) · evidenceShame
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Fable of the Bees (1714).

APA

Mandeville, B. (n.d.). Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves, their ugly nakedness, from each other, and wrapping up the true motives of their hearts in the specious cloak of sociableness, and their concern for the public good, they are in hopes of concealing their filthy appetites and the deformity of their desires. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37839-ashamed-of-the-many-frailties-they-feel-within/

MLA

Mandeville, Bernard. “Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves, their ugly nakedness, from each other, and wrapping up the true motives of their hearts in the specious cloak of sociableness, and their concern for the public good, they are in hopes of concealing their filthy appetites and the deformity of their desires.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37839-ashamed-of-the-many-frailties-they-feel-within/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Mandeville, Bernard. “Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves, their ugly nakedness, from each other, and wrapping up the true motives of their hearts in the specious cloak of sociableness, and their concern for the public good, they are in hopes of concealing their filthy appetites and the deformity of their desires.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37839-ashamed-of-the-many-frailties-they-feel-within/.