--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This laudable quality is commonly known…" description: "\"This laudable quality is commonly known by the name of Manners and Good-breeding, and consists in a Fashionable Habit, acquir'd by Precept and Example,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_breeding_this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known_2419975.png" --- # This laudable quality is commonly known by the name of… ![“This laudable quality is commonly known by the name of Manners and Good-breeding, and consists in a Fashionable Habit, acquir'd by Precept and Example, of flattering the Pride and Selfishness of others, and concealing our own with Judgment and Dexterity.” quote by Bernard de Mandeville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_breeding_this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known_2419975.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_breeding_this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known_2419975.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_breeding_this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known_2419975.png) > “This laudable quality is commonly known by the name of Manners and Good-breeding, and consists in a Fashionable Habit, acquir'd by Precept and Example, of flattering the Pride and Selfishness of others, and concealing our own with Judgment and Dexterity.” [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. Manners involve flattering others' pride while modestly hiding our own, a social habit learned by example. **In simple terms:** Politeness hides our pride. Key Takeaway Use humility and flattery wisely. Themes social etiquette humility flattery Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical social When to use this quote - diplomacy - networking - conflict management - leadership Key Concepts social psychology norms interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to flatter? - How can you show humility without self‑deprecation? A Different Perspective Flattery can be perceived as insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dexterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dexterity/) [Fashionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashionable/) [Good breeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-breeding/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-agache/saying-thank-you-is-more-than-good-manners-it-is-good-spirituality/) Alfred Agache > [The great secret...is not having bad manners or good manners...but having the same manner for all human souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-great-secret-is-not-having-bad-manners-or-good-manners-but-having/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-great-secret-eliza-is-not-having-bad-manners-or-good-manners-or/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Architecture, like dress, is an exercise in good manners, and good manners involve the habit of skillful insincerity - the habit of saying "good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/architecture-like-dress-is-an-exercise-in-good-manners-and-good/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/an-armed-society-is-a-polite-society-manners-are-good-when-one-may/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Not all the fine things that fine ladies possess Should teach them the poor to despise; For 'tis good manners, and not in good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor/not-all-the-fine-things-that-fine-ladies-possess-should-teach-them/) [Jane Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor/) > [“ Good girl lesson #2: When your BFF sends you a gorgeous guy, you call her and thank her. That's good manners. Good girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/good-girl-lesson-2-when-your-bff-sends-you-a-gorgeous-guy-you-call/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“HIGGINS. The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/higgins-the-great-secret-eliza-is-not-having-bad-manners-or-good/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Her bone-white face lit up like she was at a surprise party. “Hear that, Dwyer? He called me ma’am! Stay forever if you want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-starmer/her-bone-white-face-lit-up-like-she-was-at-a-surprise-party-hear-that/) [Aaron Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-starmer/) > [“Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal—you sockdologizing old man-trap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-taylor/don-t-know-the-manners-of-good-society-eh-well-i-guess-i-know-enough/) [Tom Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-taylor/) > [Good manners are a part of good morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/good-manners-are-a-part-of-good-morals/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [A big business man was telling Henry Ford about a coach driver of super-expertness with his whip. The driver was telling how he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/a-big-business-man-was-telling-henry-ford-about-a-coach-driver-of/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [I hate to paint portraits! I hope never to paint another portrait in my life. Portraiture may be all right for a man in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/i-hate-to-paint-portraits-i-hope-never-to-paint-another-portrait-in/) [John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/) > [“It is almost possible to measure a writer's skill by the dexterity with which he repeats, and yet avoids monotony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-g-williams/it-is-almost-possible-to-measure-a-writer-s-skill-by-the-dexterity/) George G. Williams > [Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swift/art-if-it-is-successful-in-the-task-of-questioning-reality-if-it-is/) [Patrick Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swift/) ## 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/) > [Knowledge both enlarges and multiplies our Desires, and the fewer things a Man wishes for, the more easily his Necessities may be supply'd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/knowledge-both-enlarges-and-multiplies-our-desires-and-the-fewer/) [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/) [Explore all 22 Bernard de Mandeville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-mandeville/) ## More Breeding quotes > [“Galton’s gospel of eugenics found fertile soil in Britain, in the intellectual salons of Europe, and in the United States. Beginning in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-loconte/galton-s-gospel-of-eugenics-found-fertile-soil-in-britain-in-the/) Joseph Loconte > [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/) [Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/) > [There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/there-are-few-defects-in-our-nature-so-glaring-as-not-to-be-veiled/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Exchange of breeding individuals between two populations tends to homogenize their gene pools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-grant/exchange-of-breeding-individuals-between-two-populations-tends-to/) [Peter R. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-grant/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [The right to live does not connote the right of each man to reproduce his kind ... As we lessen the stringency of natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pearson/the-right-to-live-does-not-connote-the-right-of-each-man-to-reproduce/) [Karl Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pearson/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [Easy writing's curst hard reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/easy-writing-s-curst-hard-reading/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [In a way, human beings have never been part of the natural order; we're not biological in the normal sense. Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Organized charity itself is. . . the surest sign that our civilization has bred, is breeding and is perpetuating constantly increasing numbers of defectives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/organized-charity-itself-is-the-surest-sign-that-our-civilization-has/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [I think it is more of an intuitive, circular kind of personality, for starters. And, as I say of horses, the secret to breeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walton/i-think-it-is-more-of-an-intuitive-circular-kind-of-personality-for/) Alice Walton > [Well, puppy mills are - it's just a name given to really, really bad dog breeding facilities and sadly, we have a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-trump/well-puppy-mills-are-it-s-just-a-name-given-to-really-really-bad-dog/) [Lara Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-trump/) Browse all 411 Breeding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This laudable quality is commonly known by the name of Manners and Good-breeding, and consists in a Fashionable Habit, acquir'd by Precept and Example, of flattering the Pride and Selfishness of others, and concealing our own with Judgment and Dexterity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernard de Mandeville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known-by-the-name-of-manners-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breeding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known-by-the-name-of-manners-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_breeding_this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known_2419975.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_breeding_this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known_2419975.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/bernard-de-mandeville-25947_breeding_this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known_2419975.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This laudable quality is commonly known by the name of Manners and Good-breeding, and consists in a…” — 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": "This laudable quality is commonly known...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known-by-the-name-of-manners-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-mandeville/this-laudable-quality-is-commonly-known-by-the-name-of-manners-and/#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 } } ] } ```