Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur

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The saying ascribed to Petronius mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur means "The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived."

Other attributions include the following:

  • "Mundus vult decipi." SEBASTIAN FRANCK. Paradoxa Ducenta Octoginta, CCXXXVIII (Ed. A.D. 1542.) "The world loves to be deceived." (Thomas Benfield Harbottle, Dictionary of Quotations (Classical), The Macmillan Co., 1906)
  • "Au[gu]stin[e], lib. 4. de civitat. Dei, cap. 9. censures Scævola saying and acknowledging expedire civitates religione falli, that it was a fit thing citties should bee deceaved by religion, according to the diverbe, Si mundus vult decipi, decipiatur, if the world will be gulled, let it be gulled, ’tis good howsoever to keep it in subjection." Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, Part 3, Sect. 4. Memb. 1. Subs. 2. (Nicolas K. Kiessling, Thomas C. Faulkner, Rhonda L. Blair (editors), Oxford University Press, Vol. 3, 1990, p. 347)
  • "The pontifex maximus Scævola thought it expedient that the people should be deceived in religion; and the learned Varro said plainly, that there are many truths, which it is useless for the vulgar to know; and many falsities which it is fit the people should not suppose are falsities. (Note: Vid Augustin. de civ. Dei, B. 4; as quoted by Cudworth, syst. intell. vol. 1, p. 672, & 812-813; conf. Vanin amphiteatr. p. 36; Blount's anim. mund. p. 58; and Montesquieu's most interesting and important "Dissertation sur la politique des Romains dans la religion.") Hence comes the adage "Mundus vult decipi, (Note: A graphical illustration of this motto constitutes the frontispiece of the "Charlatanerie des Savans".) decipiatur ergo." Plutarchus, and Theophrastus, on Superstition; with Various Appendices, and a Life of Plutarchus, Daniel Wyttenbach (translator), Printed by Julian Hibbert, No. 1 Fitzroy Place, Kentish Town, 1828, pp. 5-6
  • "Mundus Vult Decipi" is also printed on the bottom right hand corner of the joker in the ghost playing card deck from the manufacturers of Bicycle Playing Cards.

The last reference above is to De la charlatanerie des savans par Monsieur Menken [Johann Burckhard Mencke], avec des remarques de différens auteurs, traduit en françois [par D. Durand], La Haye, J. Van Duren, 1721.

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