--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anaxagoras’ belief that lying on the…" description: "\"“Anaxagoras’ belief that lying on the right side during sex would produce a boy was so influential that centuries later some French aristocrats had the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/matt-ridley-8082_faith_anaxagoras-belief-that-lying-on-the-righ_746678.jpg" --- # Anaxagoras’ belief that lying on the right side during sex… ![“Anaxagoras’ belief that lying on the right side during sex would produce a boy was so influential that centuries later some French aristocrats had their left testicles amputated.” quote by Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/matt-ridley-8082_faith_anaxagoras-belief-that-lying-on-the-righ_746678.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/matt-ridley-8082_faith_anaxagoras-belief-that-lying-on-the-righ_746678.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/matt-ridley-8082_faith_anaxagoras-belief-that-lying-on-the-righ_746678.jpg) > ““Anaxagoras’ belief that lying on the right side during sex would produce a boy was so influential that centuries later some French aristocrats had their left testicles amputated.”” [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historically, a myth linked sexual position to child gender, influencing extreme practices among aristocracy. **In simple terms:** A false belief about sex led to harmful actions. Key Takeaway Question the basis of popular myths. Themes myths gender history science culture Mood skeptical reflective Type historical cautionary When to use this quote - medical decisions - family planning - cultural rituals - public health education Key Concepts Folklore medical misinformation social influence Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would you need to reject a widely held belief? - How do cultural myths affect health choices? A Different Perspective The belief persisted despite lack of evidence, showing how superstition can drive harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ## Related quotes > [Anaxagoras said to a man who was grieving because he was dying in a foreign land, "The descent to Hades is the same from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/anaxagoras-said-to-a-man-who-was-grieving-because-he-was-dying-in-a/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [I know that deep inside you there's a humongous set of testicles just waiting to pop out. Let 'em pop, bro. -Kenny Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eastbound-and-down/i-know-that-deep-inside-you-there-s-a-humongous-set-of-testicles-just-2/) Eastbound And Down > [I know that deep inside you there's a humongous set of testicles just waiting to pop out. 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