For it is the function
of the god-like to think and to be wise; and no easy task were this
under the burden of a heavy body, pressing down from above and
obstructing by its weight the motions of the intellect and of the
general sense. When, moreover, the weight and corporeal substance
become excessive, the body must of necessity incline towards the
ground. In such cases therefore nature, in order to give support to
the body, has replaced the arms and hands by forefeet, and has thus
converted the animal into a quadruped. For, as every animal that walks
must of necessity have the two hinder feet, such an animal becomes a
quadruped, its body inclining downwards in front from the weight which
its soul cannot sustain. For all animals, man alone excepted, are
dwarf-like in form. For the dwarf-like is that in which the upper part
is large, while that which bears the weight and is used in progression
is small. This upper part is what we call the trunk, which reaches
from the mouth to the vent. In man it is duly proportionate to the
part below, and diminishes much in its comparative size as the man
attains to full growth. But in his infancy the contrary obtains, and
the upper parts are large, while the lower part is small; so that
the infant can only crawl, and is unable to walk; nay, at first cannot
even crawl, but remains without motion.
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