Laws and Government are to the Political Bodies of Civil Societies, what the Vital Spirits of Life it self are to the Natural Bodies of Animated Creatures; and as those that study the Anatomy of Dead Carkasses may see, that the chief Organs and nicest Springs more immediately required to continue the Motion of our Machine, are not hard Bones, strong Muscles and Nerves, nor the smooth white Skin that so beautifully covers the, but small trifling Films and little Pipes that are either overlook’d, or else seem inconsiderable to Vulgar Eyes; so they that examine into the Nature of Man, abstract from Art and Education, may observe, that what renders him a Sociable Animal, consists not in his desire of Company, good Nature, Pity, Affability, and other Graces of a fair Outside; but that his vilest and most hateful Qualities are the most necessary Accomplishments to fit him for the largest, and according to the World, the happiest and most flourishing Societies.

It should be recalled that Mandeville’s occupation was medicine, specializing in what were called ‘hypochondriack and hysterick passions.’

Also really good, from the same ‘Preface’: “every Moment must produce new Filth.”

By the way, I can’t imagine what sort of accent made his doggrel poem, “The Grumbling Hive or, Knaves Turn’d Honest” rhyme.