The Georgia Guidestones said ten “guidelines” for humanity, including keeping the world population under 500,000,000, using “a living new language,” and balancing personal rights with social duties.

The 10 guidelines

  1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
  1. Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.
  1. Unite humanity with a living new language.
  1. Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.
  1. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
  1. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
  1. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
  1. Balance personal rights with social duties.
  1. Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.
  1. Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature.

Quick context

The monument stood in Elbert County, Georgia, from 1980 until it was destroyed in 2022. The inscription was also repeated in multiple languages on the stones, and the wording has long been controversial because of the population target and broader social ideas it promoted.

If you want, I can also give you a short explanation of what each line meant in plain English.