[In response to Alfred Tennyson's poem "Vision of Sin,"…
![“[In response to Alfred Tennyson's poem "Vision of Sin," which included the line "Every moment dies a man, every moment one is born."] If this were true, the population of the world would be at a stand-still. In truth, the rate of birth is slightly in excess of death. I would suggest that the next…” quote by Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/88d/charles-babbage-8461_accurate_in-response-to-alfred-tennyson-s-poem-vi_598329.jpg)
“[In response to Alfred Tennyson's poem "Vision of Sin," which included the line "Every moment dies a man, every moment one is born."] If this were true, the population of the world would be at a stand-still. In truth, the rate of birth is slightly in excess of death. I would suggest that the next edition of your poem should read: "Every moment dies a man, every moment 1 [and] 1/16 is born." Strictly speaking, the actual figure is so long I cannot get it into a line, but I believe the figure 1 [and] 1/16 will be sufficiently accurate for poetry.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Population growth slightly exceeds death; a poetic line could reflect a modest net increase, like 1 + 1/16 births per death.
In simple terms: Population rises a bit faster than deaths.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge modest growth.
Themes
population
demography
poetry
mathematics
Mood
analytical
creative
Type
literary
informative
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- public health
- creative writing
Key Concepts
statistical modeling
literary adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can poetry convey demographic data?
- What are the ethical implications of portraying population growth?
A Different Perspective
Numbers are approximate; poetic license may oversimplify complex trends.