--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies…" description: "\"Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and the fewer things a Man wishes for, the more easily his Necessities may be supply'd.\" — Bernard ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_desire_knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-o_1355359.png" --- # Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and… ![“Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and the fewer things a Man wishes for, the more easily his Necessities may be supply'd.” quote by Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_desire_knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-o_1355359.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_desire_knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-o_1355359.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_desire_knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-o_1355359.png) > “Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and the fewer things a Man wishes for, the more easily his Necessities may be supply'd.” [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire drives progress, but excess leads to need; moderation eases necessities. **In simple terms:** Desire fuels growth, but excess creates need. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with contentment. Themes economics human nature desire moderation Mood analytical critical Type economic philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - policy making - education curricula - marketing strategies Key Concepts consumer behavior wealth distribution psychology of wants Questions to Reflect On - How can societies curb excessive consumption? - What role does desire play in innovation? A Different Perspective Too much desire can cause societal strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Easily Necessities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easily-necessities-4622378/) [Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Enlarges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-enlarges-4622376/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Multiplies Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multiplies-desires-4622377/) [Necessities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessities/) [Necessities Supply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessities-supply-4622379/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Enjoy the necessities of life but eschew the excesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gardner/enjoy-the-necessities-of-life-but-eschew-the-excesses/) [Ian Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gardner/) > [Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lothrop-motley/give-us-the-luxuries-of-life-and-we-will-dispense-with-its-necessities/) [John Lothrop Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lothrop-motley/) > [“The need has to be defined by an Individual. If the basic need of quenching thirst can be met by a glass of water,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-chaturvedi/the-need-has-to-be-defined-by-an-individual-if-the-basic-need-of/) [Ajay Chaturvedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajay-chaturvedi/) > [Our values are not luxuries, but necessities. They are not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/our-values-are-not-luxuries-but-necessities-they-are-not-the-salt-in/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Our necessities are few, but our wants are endless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/our-necessities-are-few-but-our-wants-are-endless/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“The vessel was just comfortable for two people; there was room only for necessities, and Flambeau had stocked it with such things as his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-vessel-was-just-comfortable-for-two-people-there-was-room-only/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/necessities-can-be-many-but-the-one-that-is-stronger-is-that-which/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Capitalism is about turning luxuries into necessities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/capitalism-is-about-turning-luxuries-into-necessities/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-library-is-not-a-luxury-but-one-of-the-necessities-of-life/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Meeting a thousand needs for one client is better than having a thousand clients whose needs you cannot meet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/meeting-a-thousand-needs-for-one-client-is-better-than-having-a/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [The Constitution of the United States, like all systems of government which are permanent, had its origin in the history and necessities of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-like-all-systems-of-government/) [Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/) > [It's often hard for us to imagine going without some of our luxuries like travel, dining out, or Internet, much less our basic necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/it-s-often-hard-for-us-to-imagine-going-without-some-of-our-luxuries/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [so few in reality are the true necessities of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/so-few-in-reality-are-the-true-necessities-of-man/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“give me the luxuries of life and I will gladly do without the necessities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/give-me-the-luxuries-of-life-and-i-will-gladly-do-without-the/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Free choice - a small selection between pre-established necessities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/free-choice-a-small-selection-between-pre-established-necessities/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) ## More by Bernard de Mandeville > [What a vast Traffick is drove, what a variety of Labour is performed in the World to the Maintenance of Thousands of Families that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/what-a-vast-traffick-is-drove-what-a-variety-of-labour-is-performed/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [We seldom call anybody lazy, but such as we reckon inferior to us, and of whom we expect some service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/we-seldom-call-anybody-lazy-but-such-as-we-reckon-inferior-to-us-and/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [No habit or quality is more easily acquired than hypocrisy, nor any thing sooner learned than to deny the sentiments of our hearts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/no-habit-or-quality-is-more-easily-acquired-than-hypocrisy-nor-any/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [I don't believe that there is a human creature in his senses, arrived to maturity, that at some time or other has not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/i-don-t-believe-that-there-is-a-human-creature-in-his-senses-arrived/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [Some People are not to be persuaded to taste of any Creatures they have daily seen and been acquainted with, while they were alive;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/some-people-are-not-to-be-persuaded-to-taste-of-any-creatures-they/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [If laying aside all worldly Greatness and Vain-Glory, I should be ask'd where I thought it was most probable that Men might enjoy true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/if-laying-aside-all-worldly-greatness-and-vain-glory-i-should-be-ask/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [One good Man may take another's Word, if they so agree, but a whole Nation ought never to trust to any Honesty, but what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/one-good-man-may-take-another-s-word-if-they-so-agree-but-a-whole/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [People of substance may sin without being exposed for their stolen pleasure; but servants and the poorer sort of women have seldom an opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/people-of-substance-may-sin-without-being-exposed-for-their-stolen/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/because-impudence-is-a-vice-it-does-not-follow-that-modesty-is-a/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [Those who get their living by their daily labor . . . have nothing to stir them up to be serviceable but their wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/those-who-get-their-living-by-their-daily-labor-have-nothing-to-stir/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [They that examine into the Nature of Man, abstract from Art and Education, may observe, that what renders him a Sociable Animal, consists not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/they-that-examine-into-the-nature-of-man-abstract-from-art-and/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [The only thing of weight that can be said against modern honor is that it is directly opposite to religion. The one bids you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/the-only-thing-of-weight-that-can-be-said-against-modern-honor-is/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [There are many examples of women that have excelled in learning, and even in war, but this is no reason we should bring em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/there-are-many-examples-of-women-that-have-excelled-in-learning-and/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [Ye children of promise who are awaiting your call to glory, take possession of the inheritance that now is yours. By faith take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/ye-children-of-promise-who-are-awaiting-your-call-to-glory-take/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) > [The first Rudiments of Morality, broach'd by skilful Politicians, to render Men useful to each other as well as tractable, were chiefly contrived that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/the-first-rudiments-of-morality-broach-d-by-skilful-politicians-to/) [Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) [Explore all 22 Bernard de Mandeville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and the fewer things a Man wishes for, the more easily his Necessities may be supply'd.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernard de Mandeville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-our-desires-and-the-fewer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-our-desires-and-the-fewer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_desire_knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-o_1355359.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_desire_knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-o_1355359.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_desire_knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-o_1355359.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and the fewer things a Man wishes for, the more easily…” — Bernard de Mandeville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bernard de Mandeville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-our-desires-and-the-fewer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-our-desires-and-the-fewer/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```