I think it will be found that experience, the true source and foundation of all knowledge, invariably confirms its truth. — Thomas Malthus Copy Share Image
On the whole it may be observed, that the specific use of a body of unproductive consumers, is to give encouragement to wealth by… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
The germs of existence contained in this spot of earth, with ample food, and ample room to expand in, would fill millions of worlds… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
The proposition of Mr. Ricardo, which states that a rise in the price of labour lowers the price of a large class of commodities,… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
Thirty or forty proprietors, with incomes answering to between one thousand and five thousand a year, would create a much more effectual demand for… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
Every endeavor should be used to weaken and destroy all those institutions relating to corporations, apprenticeships, &c, which cause the labours of agriculture to… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
A great emigration necessarily implies unhappiness of some kind or other in the country that is deserted. — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
If I saw a glass of wine repeatedly presented to a man, and he took no notice of it, I should be apt to… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man. — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
[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… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
It is not the most pleasant employment to spend eight hours a day in a counting house. — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
A writer may tell me that he thinks man will ultimately become an ostrich. I cannot properly contradict him. — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
The doctrine of population has been conspicuously absent, not because I doubt in the least its truth and vast importance, but because it forms… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
In a state therefore of great equality and virtue, where pure and simple manners prevailed, the increase of the human species would evidently be… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
The greatest talents have been frequently misapplied and have produced evil proportionate to the extent of their powers. Both reason and revelation seem to… — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
Hard as it may appear in individual cases, dependent poverty ought to be held disgraceful. — Thomas Malthus Copy Share
