Carlyle was inspired, if that's the word, by the writings of Thomas Malthus, who predicted that population growth would always outpace economic growth, keeping most people in perpetual poverty.
Carlyle read thirty of Thomas Malthus' writings.
mnli hypothesis: Carlyle read thirty of Thomas Malthus' writings. premise: Carlyle was inspired, if that's the word, by the writings of Thomas Malthus, who predicted that population growth would always outpace economic growth, keeping most people in perpetual poverty.