“In a state therefore of great equality and virtue, where pure and simple manners prevailed, the increase of the human species would evidently be much greater than any increase that has been hithert...”

“I do not know that any writer has supposed that on this earth man will ultimately be able to live without food.”

“The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.”

“I think it will be found that experience, the true source and foundation of all knowledge, invariably confirms its truth.”

“The great and unlooked for discoveries that have taken place of late years have all concurred to lead many men into the opinion that we were touching on a period big with the most important changes.”

“Population, when unchecked, goes on doubling itself every 25 years or increases in a geometrical ratio.”

“But that woman is an encyclopedia!Of all vices, ancient and modern, and terribly interesting to leaf through!”

“A strange girl, all phosphorous and cantharides, burning with every desire! And burning with every vice!”

“The modern world is not evil; in some ways the modern world is far too good. It is full of wild and wasted virtues. When a religious scheme is shattered...it is not merely the vices that are let lo...”

“But love's a malady without a cure.”

“One cannot violate the promptings of one's nature without having that nature recoil upon itself.”

“My whole family could sing. My family harmonized without any instruments to accompany them.”

“Whoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others. We must all carry our share of the misery which lies upon the world.”

“I do believe God gave me a spark of genius, but he quenched it in misery.”

“We spent as much money as we could, and got as little for it as people could make up their minds to give us. We were always more or less miserable, and most of our acquaintance were in the same con...”