40 Something Thumbs -

On the strange brevity of Montaigne's "Of Thumbs" - Essay Daily

Montaigne notes that physicians call the thumb the "master finger," derived from the Latin pollere , meaning "to be powerful". He explores how this small digit has historically been a symbol of authority and a target in warfare: 40 something thumbs

If you are looking for more contemporary takes or a "rule of thumb" for writing, scholars and modern essayists often use the thumb as a metaphor for human evolution and dexterity: On the strange brevity of Montaigne's "Of Thumbs"

: He even mentions that in Lacedaemon, teachers would discipline their students by biting their thumbs. Modern Perspectives and "Rule of Thumb" " derived from the Latin pollere