Men Quote by Thomas Malthus
“Had population and food increased in the same ratio, it is probable that man might never have emerged from the savage state.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798
If food and people grew together, humanity might stay in a primitive state.
In simple terms: Population growth could keep humanity primitive.
Key Takeaway
Consider resource limits when planning growth.
Themes
population
resource limits
human progress
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
historical
economic
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- policy making
- environmental sustainability
Key Concepts
Malthusian theory
carrying capacity
economic development
Questions to Reflect On
- How would modern agriculture change this outcome?
- Can societies avoid primitive conditions through innovation?
A Different Perspective
Ignores technological advances that can increase food supply.
![“[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.” quote by Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16b/thomas-malthus-7621_circumstances_p-opulation-when-unchecked-goes-on-doubl_324443.jpg)
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)