One last one from Hobsbawm

From The New Century

"We should not forget that, whatever yardstick is used, the majority of peoples are better off at the end of the twentieth century, in spite of the extraordinary catastrophes that have marked it....Overall, we have today three times the population there was at the start of the twentieth century, and all these people are physically stronger, taller, longer living and healthier. They suffer less hunger and famine, enjoy a higher income, and have an immeasurably greater access to goods and services, including those which guarantee greater opportunities in life, such as education.... This is also true of poorer countries. After all, there has not been a famine in India since 1943."