Abstract: This article offers a systematic clarification of the meaning of Bernard Mandeville's notoriously famous motto-"Private Vices, Public Benefits". As the earliest theoretical attempt to analyze the principles of modern commercial society, the Mandevillean maxim is often misunderstood, being interpreted as moral defense or satire of evils, or a popularized version of Hobbism. Sometimes, it is also regarded as a prototype of modern social sciences, especially of the theory of spontaneous order. In fact, Mandeville used this maxim to answer three different questions, embodied in three different forms. Firstly, for the origin of society, it is the fear of the individual that supports political power and gives the rise of political society. Secondly, for the origin of moral virtue and politeness, it is the pride of the individual that leads to self-discipline and a civilized way of life. Thirdly, for the origin of economic prosperity, it is the individual's pursuit of luxury that promotes economic activities,which in turn strengthens the power of the nation. A consistent idea of Mandeville's maxim is to artificially establish a "civil society" on the basis of men's self-love. The three different forms of this "civil society" point to the triple meaning of the concept, namely, political society (a unity of political power), civil society (civilized social relations) and bürglische gesellschaft (commercial life based on material exchange). It represents a conceptual transformation from Hobbism and natural jurisprudence to Scottish political economy and modern social science. An adequate appreciation of the Madevillean maxim will benefit our comprehensive understanding of the relationship between individuals, society and the state.

Key words: self-love, pride, luxury, political society, civil society, bürglische gesellschaft