Quote by Stephen Jay Gould
I had learned that a dexterous, opposable thumb stood among the hallmarks of human success. We had maintained, even exaggerated, this important flexibility of our primate forebears, while most mammals had sacrificed it in specializing their digits. Carnivores run, stab, and scratch. My cat may manipulate me psychologically, but he'll never type or play the piano.
Summary
This quote highlights the significance of the opposable thumb in human evolution. The speaker emphasizes that the flexibility of the human thumb has played a crucial role in our advancements as a species. While other mammals have sacrificed this ability in favor of specialized functions like running, stabbing, or scratching, humans have retained and even enhanced the dexterity of our primate ancestors. The quote also humorously contrasts the limitations of animals, such as a cat, in terms of their inability to perform complex tasks like typing or playing the piano, despite their manipulation skills.
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