Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur

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Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur, a Latin phrase, means "The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived."

[edit] Origins

The saying is ascribed to Petronius, a Roman satirist from the first century, CE.

Other attributions include the following:

  • "Mundus vult decipi." Sebastian Franck, Paradoxa Ducenta Octoginta, CCXXXVIII (1542) "The world loves to be deceived." [1]
  • "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 cities should be deceived 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." [2]
  • "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 [...].) Hence comes the adage "Mundus vult decipi, decipiatur ergo." [3]

[edit] Uses of the phrase

  • In James Branch Cabell's Biography of Manuel, the emblem of Manuel, which is the primary image associated with this series of novels, displays "Mundus Vult Decipi" as its motto.
  • "Mundus Vult Decipi" is printed on the bottom right hand corner of the Joker of the Ghost Deck[1] from Ellusionist, by the makers of Bicycle Playing Cards. These cards are very popular among magicians. The phrase also appears on the bottom left corner of their Bicycle Gaff deck jokers

[edit] References

  1. ^ Thomas Benfield Harbottle, Dictionary of Quotations (Classical), The Macmillan Co., 1906
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ 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
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