Accurate Quote by Charles Babbage
![“[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/quotes/img-quotes/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
Source Letter: Correspondence with Alfred Tennyson, 1865
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.
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