Quote by Bernard 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 the principle we act from: but the seeds of every passion are innate to us, and nobody comes into the world without them.
Summary
This quote suggests that hypocrisy is a very common and easily acquired habit or quality. It claims that denying one's genuine emotions and principles is something people quickly learn to do. However, it also asserts that every individual possesses natural inclinations towards different emotions or desires, and these tendencies are inherent from birth. Taken together, the quote implies that while hypocrisy can be learned and developed, the presence of innate passions within us is unavoidable.