As time goes on, however, the advantage of numbers will end; and
in their higher stages, large numbers will be a great drawback. The
resources of a planet are limited, at each stage of the arts. Also,
there is only a limited space on a planet. Yet it will come hard
to them to think of ever checking their increase. They will bring
more young into existence than they can either keep well or feed.
The earth will be covered with them everywhere, as far as eye can
see. North and south, east and west, there will always be simians
huddling. Their cities will be far more distressing than cities of
vermin,--for vermin are healthy and calm and successful in life.

Ah, those masses of people--unintelligent, superstitious,
uncivilized! What a dismal drain they will be on the race's
strength! Not merely will they lessen its ultimate chance of
achievement; their hardships will always distress and preoccupy
minds,--fine, generous minds,--that might have done great things
if free: that might have done something constructive at least,
for their era, instead of being burned out attacking mere
anodyne-problems.

Nature will do what it can to lessen the strain, providing an
appropriate remedy for their bad behavior in plagues. Many
epochs will pass before the simians will learn or dare to
control them--for they won't think they can, any more than
they dare control propagation. They will reverently call
their propagation and plagues "acts of God." When they get
tired of reverence and stop their plagues, it will be too soon.
Their inventiveness will be--as usual--ahead of their wisdom;
and they will unfortunately end the good effects of plagues
(as a check) before they are advanced enough to keep down their