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About this quote

What does it mean?
Humans are distinct from other animals because of their unique ability to greatly increase their means of support.
In plain terms
Humans differ from animals by their capacity to boost survival resources.
What can you take from it?
Recognize human uniqueness in resource creation.

Where it applies

  • economic analysis
  • biological study
  • historical comparison

Putting it to work

  • innovation
  • economic development
  • education

Questions to consider

  • What other traits distinguish humans?
  • Is this ability always positive?

Another view

Other animals also adapt to increase survival means.

More from Thomas Malthus

  1. The immediate cause of the increase of population is the excess of the births above deaths; and the rate of increase, or the period of doubling, depends upon t…

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  2. The finest minds seem to be formed rather by efforts at original thinking, by endeavours to form new combinations, and to discover new truths, than by passivel…

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  3. The perpetual tendency of the race of man to increase beyond the means of subsistence is one of the general laws of animated nature, which we can have no reaso…

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