My Little Apocalypse: Death by Mychelle on DeviantArt (original) (raw)
I'm going to quote Malthus in reference to the four apocalypses.
The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race. The vices of mankind are active and able ministers of depopulation. They are the precursors in the great army of destruction, and often finish the dreadful work themselves. But should they fail in this war of extermination, sickly seasons, epidemics, pestilence, and plague advance in terrific array, and sweep off their thousands and tens of thousands. Should success be still incomplete, gigantic inevitable famine stalks in the rear, and with one mighty blow levels the population with the food of the world.
— Malthus T.R. 1798. An essay on the principle of population. Chapter VII, p61
He was saying that when population overgrows food production, violent population decrease follows.