Julian Lincoln Simon

“There is no physical or economic reason why human resourcefulness and enterprise cannot forever continue to respond to impending shortages and existing problems with new expedients that, after an adjustment period, leave us better off than before.”

“The supply of natural resources is not finite in any economic sense.”

“The ultimate resource is people—skilled, spirited, and hopeful people who will exert their wills and imaginations for their own benefit, and so, inevitably, for the benefit of us all.”

“The main fuel to speed the world’s progress is our stock of knowledge, and the brake is our lack of imagination.”

“Adding more people causes problems, but people are also the means to solve these problems.”

“Human beings are not just more mouths to feed, but are productive and inventive minds that find new ways to support themselves.”

“The standard of living has risen along with the size of the world's population since the beginning of recorded time.”

“The world's problem is not too many people, but lack of political and economic freedom.”

“We have in our hands now... the technology to feed, clothe, and supply energy to an ever-growing population for the next 7 billion years.”

“More people, and increased income, cause resources to become more scarce in the short run. Heightened scarcity causes prices to rise. The higher prices present opportunity, and prompt inventors and entrepreneurs to search for new solutions... in the long run, the new developments leave us better off than if the problems had not arisen.”

“The most important benefit of population size and growth is the increase it brings to the stock of useful knowledge.”

“Immigrants are a bargain for the rest of us... they are a good investment for taxpayers.”

“Our vibrant and growing economy shows that we are better off than ever before.”