Thomas Malthus

"The constant multiplication of mankind must be checked by some limits."

"In the competition of life, the strongest often prevail, not always the most virtuous."

"Every effort of intellectual exertion carries with it its own reward."

"The principle of hope is the greatest blessing of the human condition."

"Morality and prudence must go hand in hand in the improvement of society."

"The desire to possess property is implanted deeply in the nature of man."

"All the forces of nature are less powerful than the principle of population."

"The greatest improvements in society come not from violent revolution but from gradual reform."

"To those who claim all will be well, we must ask: at what expense and to whom?"

"The improvement of circumstances must be accompanied by the improvement of character."

"Every individual seeks happiness according to his own understanding."

"The natural state of mankind is one of struggle for existence."

"To understand society, one must understand the principles of population and subsistence."

"The love of power is as natural as the love of life itself."

"In any well-organized society, the wants of individuals must be balanced against the common good."

"The capacity for suffering is proportional to the capacity for feeling."

"The greatest source of human misery is the discrepancy between desires and means."

"The principle of population teaches us that perfection on earth is impossible."

"Industry and temperance are the surest paths to respectability and comfort."

"The improvements in agriculture have not kept pace with the increase in population."

"Man is so constituted that he cannot be happy without exertion."

"The state of celibacy has advantages for those capable of appreciating solitude."

"The fundamental cause of poverty is the excessive multiplication of the poor."

"To live well is not merely to subsist, but to flourish in body and mind."

"The natural consequences of improvidence cannot be escaped by legislative act."

"Every system of political economy must be judged by its effects on human happiness."

"The pursuit of happiness often leads men astray from the path of virtue."

"In the economy of nature, waste and want are often neighbours."

"The constant effort of man to improve must be guided by reason and morality."

"Society must balance the rights of individuals with the necessities of the community."