The only thing we can really count on in this uncertain world is human unreliability itself.

(Technology reliability) x (Human reliability) = (System reliability)

The social arrangements that produce responsibility are arrangements that create coercion, of some sort.

In a finite world this means that the per capita share of the world's goods must steadily decrease.

But as population became denser, the natural chemical and biological recycling processes became overloaded, calling for a redefinition of property rights.

It is a mistake to think that we can control the breeding of mankind in the long run by an appeal to conscience.

Of course, a positive growth rate might be taken as evidence that a population is below its optimum.