投资 · 西方古典
托马斯·马尔萨斯：人口论·摘录 141
托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资
The lower classes of people in Europe may at some future period be much better instructed than they are at present; they may be taught to employ the little spare time they have in many better ways than at the ale-house; they may live under better and more equal laws than they have ever hitherto done, perhaps, in any country; and I even conceive it possible, though not probable that they may have more leisure; but it is not in the nature of things that they can be awarded such a quantity of money or subsistence as will allow them all to marry early, in the full confidence that they shall be able to provide with ease for a numerous family.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位：Excerpt 141 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
马尔萨斯认为欧洲下层民众未来可能受到更好教育、有更健康的消遣、更平等的法律，甚至更多闲暇；但他断定，从事物本性看，不可能给他们足够的钱财或生活资料，让他们都能早婚并轻松养活大家庭。因为人口增长会超过资源增长，所以早婚的普遍自信不现实。这意味着改善底层处境要靠教育、法律和习惯，而非指望物质无限供给。
上下文
马尔萨斯在《人口论》中论述下层阶级改善的限度，强调资源约束。
今日一问
如果资源有限，你认为改善底层生活的优先项是什么？
公版作品；原文逐字取自 Project Gutenberg，仅摘录段落并附全书链接。
你的邮箱
只用于发送原典。不发广告，不卖名单。
本文本为公版；底本与原文链接见上。 版权