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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 perpetual tendency of the race of man to increase beyond the means of subsistence is one of the general laws of animated nature, which we can have no reason to expect to change.”

Men Mean Reason Law Race Increase Tendencies No Reason Perpetual Animated Subsistence

Book:An Essay on the Principle of Population, as it Affects the Future Imporvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers

Source: An Essay on the Principle of Population, as it Affects the Future Imporvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers

“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

“The constant effort towards population, which is found even in the most vicious societies, increases the number of people before the means of subsistence are increased.”

People Mean Found Numbers Effort Economy Increase Constant Population Vicious 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, 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