The importation of foreigners into a country that has as…
“The importation of foreigners into a country that has as many inhabitants as the present employments and provisions for subsistence will bear, will be in the end no increase of people, unless the new comers have more industry and frugality than the natives, and then they will provide more subsistence, and increase in the country; but they will gradually eat the natives out. Nor is it necessary to bring in foreigners to fill up any occasional vacancy in a country for such vacancy will soon be filled by natural generation.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Immigration only benefits a nation if newcomers are more productive and frugal than natives; otherwise they may strain resources and displace locals.
In simple terms: Immigrants must be more industrious than locals to help a country.
Key Takeaway
Ensure newcomers contribute more than they take.
Themes
immigration
economics
resource management
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
economic
policy.
When to use this quote
- labor markets
- public policy
- social integration
- resource planning
Key Concepts
productivity
frugality
population dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a country balance openness with resource limits?
- What policies encourage productive immigration?
A Different Perspective
If newcomers lack industry, they can exacerbate scarcity.