--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No state has hitherto existed (at least…" description: "\"No state has hitherto existed (at least that we have any account of) ... that no check whatever has existed to early marriages, among the lower classes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/thomas-malthus-7621_accounts_no-state-has-hitherto-existed-at-least-t_1400203.png" --- # No state has hitherto existed (at least that we have any… ![“No state has hitherto existed (at least that we have any account of) ... that no check whatever has existed to early marriages, among the lower classes, from a fear of not providing well for their families, or among the higher classes, from a fear of lowering their condition in life.” quote by Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/thomas-malthus-7621_accounts_no-state-has-hitherto-existed-at-least-t_1400203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/thomas-malthus-7621_accounts_no-state-has-hitherto-existed-at-least-t_1400203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/thomas-malthus-7621_accounts_no-state-has-hitherto-existed-at-least-t_1400203.png) > “No state has hitherto existed (at least that we have any account of) ... that no check whatever has existed to early marriages, among the lower classes, from a fear of not providing well for their families, or among the higher classes, from a fear of lowering their condition in life.” [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historically, societies have not imposed age limits on marriage, despite economic or social fears, indicating cultural norms shape family formation more than policy. **In simple terms:** Marriage ages vary by culture, not just economics. Key Takeaway Consider cultural influences when shaping family policies. Themes demography family structure economic fear social norms history Mood analytical critical thoughtful Type sociological historical policy When to use this quote - policy design - public health - education programs - social research - legislative reform Key Concepts population theory social stratification economic incentives Questions to Reflect On - What balance should be struck between cultural tradition and protective legislation? - How do economic anxieties influence marriage norms today? A Different Perspective Modern societies may still enforce age restrictions for protection, which can conflict with cultural practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Early Marriages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-marriages-1183715/) [Eugenics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eugenics/) [Euthanasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/euthanasia/) [Existed Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existed-early-4904539/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lower class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lower-class/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriages/) [Marriages Lower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriages-lower-4904538/) [Providing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providing/) [State Hitherto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-hitherto-4904540/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“Many people wake up in middle age with the realization that in their youthful romances and early marriages, they were drawn to precisely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/many-people-wake-up-in-middle-age-with-the-realization-that-in-their/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [Where there are few people, and a great quantity of fertile land, the power of the earth to afford a yearly increase of food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/where-there-are-few-people-and-a-great-quantity-of-fertile-land-the/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [The redundant population, necessarily occasioned by the prevalence of early marriages, must be repressed by occasional famines, and by the custom of exposing children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/the-redundant-population-necessarily-occasioned-by-the-prevalence-of/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [“Aping the lower class will only lead to fatherless children, unusable muscles, and the fear of tomorrow’s sobriety.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bauvard/aping-the-lower-class-will-only-lead-to-fatherless-children-unusable/) [Bauvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bauvard/) > [Morality is only for the middle class, sweet. 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