When Scrooge expresses concern for Cratchit's sickly son Tiny Tim, the spirit uses Scrooge's own words against him, saying "if they are to die, they had better do it now, and decrease the surplus population".
When Scrooge expresses concern for Cratchit's sickly son Tiny Tim, the spirit informs him that the boy will die unless Scrooge changes his ways. He then uses Scrooge's own words against him, saying "if they are to die, they had better do it now, and decrease the surplus population".