The natural inequality of the two powers of population and of production in the earth, and that great law of our nature which must constantly keep their efforts equal, form the great difficulty that to me appears insurmountable in the way to the perfectibility of society.
Thomas MalthusIt is not the most pleasant employment to spend eight hours a day in a counting house.
Thomas MalthusIf a country can only be rich by running a successful race for low wages, I should be disposed to say at once, perish such riches!
Thomas MalthusThe greatest talents have been frequently misapplied and have produced evil proportionate to the extent of their powers. Both reason and revelation seem to assure us that such minds will be condemned to eternal death, but while on earth, these vicious instruments performed their part in the great mass of impressions, by the disgust and abhorrence which they excited.
Thomas Malthus