For
all these differences there is, so to say, one common explanation, and
this is that of all animals man alone stands erect. It was to
facilitate the maintenance of this position that Nature made his upper
parts light, taking away some of their corporeal substance, and
using it to increase the weight of lithe parts below, so that the
buttocks, the thighs, and the calves of the legs were all made fleshy.
The character which she thus gave to the buttocks renders them at
the same time useful in resting the body. For standing causes no
fatigue to quadrupeds, and even the long continuance of this posture
produces in them no weariness; for they are supported the whole time
by four props, which is much as though they were lying down. But to
man it is no task to remain for any length of time on his feet, his
body demanding rest in a sitting position. This, then, is the reason
why man has buttocks and fleshy legs; and the presence of these fleshy
parts explains why he has no tail. For the nutriment which would
otherwise go to the tail is used up in the production of these
parts, while at the same time the existence of buttocks does away with
the necessity of a tail. But in quadrupeds and other animals the
reverse obtains. For they are of dwarf-like form, so that all the
pressure of their weight and corporeal substance is on their upper
part, and is withdrawn from the parts below.
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