Thought-Culture; or, Practical Mental Training

...from the scene of the world's activities. And it would have been so, had he possessed no equipment other than that of the other animals—namely original: "viz." (videlicet), a Latin abbreviation for "namely" or "that is to say", strength, natural weapons, and speed. And yet, humanity not only survived despite these disadvantages, but has actually conquered, mastered, and enslaved these other animals which once seemed likely to cause his destruction. Why? How?

This feeble animal called man In this context, the author uses "man" to refer to the human species as a whole. had within him the elements of a new power—a power manifested only to a slight degree in other animals. He possessed an intellect by which he was able to deduce, compare, and infer—the power to reason.

He overcame his lack of natural weapons by borrowing the idea of the teeth and claws of other animals, imitating them in flint and shaping them into spears. He borrowed the concept of the elephant's trunk and the tiger's paw, reproducing their blow-striking qualities in his wooden club. Not only this, but he took lessons from the flexible original: "supple" limbs and branches of the trees, copying that principle in his bow in order to launch its miniature original: "minature" spear: his arrow. He sheltered himself, his mate...