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Thomas Malthus

Thomas Malthus Quotes

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Thomas Malthus, a British economist and demographer, was born on February 14, 1766, in Surrey, England, and died on December 23, 1834. Malthus is known for his theory of population, which posits that population growth will outstrip food supply, leading to poverty and suffering.

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Famous Thomas Malthus Quotes

“[P]opulation, when unchecked, goes on doubling itself every twenty-five years, or increases in a geometrical ratio. ... [T]he means of subsistence, under circumstances the most favorable to human industry, could not possibly be made to increase faster than in an arithmetical ratio.”

Years Humans Mean Made Science Five Food Goes On Industry Circumstances Increase Twenties Faster Five Years Twenty Five Ratios Subsistence

Author:Thomas Malthus

“The moon is not kept in her orbit round the earth, nor the earth in her orbit round the sun, by a force that varies merely in the inverse ratio of the squares of the distances.”

Earth Force Sun Moon Distance Rounds Squares Vary Orbit Ratios Inverse

Book:An Essay on the Principle of Population: Illustrated

Source: An Essay on the Principle of Population: Illustrated

“Had population and food increased in the same ratio, it is probable that man might never have emerged from the savage state.”

Men States Might Population Savages Ratios

Book:Population: The First Essay

Source: Population: The First Essay

“Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio.”

Increase Ratios Subsistence

Book:An Essay on the Principle of Population and Other Writings

Source: An Essay on the Principle of Population and Other Writings

“Population, when unchecked, goes on doubling itself every 25 years or increases in a geometrical ratio.”

Years Goes On Increase Environmental Population Ratios World Population Population Explosion

Author:Thomas Malthus

“Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will shew the immensity of the first power in comparison of the second.”

Firsts Science Numbers Increase Population Comparison Acquaintance Ratios Immensity Subsistence

Book:Population: The First Essay

Source: Population: The First Essay