--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is it about a hand that seems…" description: "\"“What is it about a hand that seems quintessentially human? The answer must, at some level, be that the hand is a visible connection between us; it is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/neil-shubin-14335_hand_what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quint_2273414.png" --- # What is it about a hand that seems quintessentially human?… ![“What is it about a hand that seems quintessentially human? The answer must, at some level, be that the hand is a visible connection between us; it is a signature for who we are and what we can attain. Our ability to grasp, to build, and to make our thoughts real lies inside this complex of bones…” quote by Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/neil-shubin-14335_hand_what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quint_2273414.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/neil-shubin-14335_hand_what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quint_2273414.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/neil-shubin-14335_hand_what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quint_2273414.png) > ““What is it about a hand that seems quintessentially human? The answer must, at some level, be that the hand is a visible connection between us; it is a signature for who we are and what we can attain. Our ability to grasp, to build, and to make our thoughts real lies inside this complex of bones, nerves, and vessels.”” [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The hand symbolizes humanity’s capacity to connect, create, and manifest ideas through its physical complexity. **In simple terms:** Hands show who we are and what we can achieve. Key Takeaway Recognize the hand’s role in shaping thought into action. Themes humanity creativity embodiment Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical metaphorical When to use this quote - artistic creation - engineering projects - medical practice - personal expression Key Concepts anatomy symbolism agency Questions to Reflect On - How does your hand enable your personal goals? - In what ways do you use your hands to express identity? A Different Perspective The metaphor may overlook cultural differences in how hands are perceived. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [The hand is the visible part of the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-hand-is-the-visible-part-of-the-brain/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [I can't imagine a mental life, a spiritual existence, not inextricably bound up with language of a formal, mediated nature. Telling stories, choosing an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-can-t-imagine-a-mental-life-a-spiritual-existence-not-inextricably/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [If you see a wonderful archaic Greek marble object in a museum, it's not only that it's beautiful, but what comes to your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steinhardt/if-you-see-a-wonderful-archaic-greek-marble-object-in-a-museum-it-s/) [Michael Steinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steinhardt/) > [As a layperson, I consider myself fairly well-educated in terms of politics. My family always has been really interested in politics, and various members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/as-a-layperson-i-consider-myself-fairly-well-educated-in-terms-of/) [Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/) > [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-still-find-it-absurdly-difficult-to-concentrate-on-a-novel-if-there/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Music and the WWE go hand-in-hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/music-and-the-wwe-go-hand-in-hand/) [Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/) > [Me seeing how thick my callous is on my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/me-seeing-how-thick-my-callous-is-on-my-hand/) [Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [“He reached over for her hand. "I'm here for you. What's mine is yours. I'll share everything I have with you - knowledge, money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gray/he-reached-over-for-her-hand-i-m-here-for-you-what-s-mine-is-yours-i/) [Amanda Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gray/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) ## More by Neil Shubin > [“... two little patches of tissue essentially control the development of the pattern of bones inside limbs. A strip of tissue at the extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/two-little-patches-of-tissue-essentially-control-the-development-of/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“In areas close to the ZPA, where there is a high concentration of this molecule, cells would respond by making a pinky. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/in-areas-close-to-the-zpa-where-there-is-a-high-concentration-of-this/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“All the genetic switches that make fingers, arm bones, and toes do their thing during the third to eighth week after conception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/all-the-genetic-switches-that-make-fingers-arm-bones-and-toes-do/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“My building was constructed in 1896, and the utilities reflect an odd design that has been jerry-rigged further with each renovation. If you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/my-building-was-constructed-in-1896-and-the-utilities-reflect-an-odd/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“So here is the trick to designing a new fossil expedition: find rocks that are of the right age, of the right type (sedimentary),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/so-here-is-the-trick-to-designing-a-new-fossil-expedition-find-rocks/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“Our hundreds of useless olfactory genes are left over from mammal ancestors who relied more heavily on the sense of smell to survive ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/our-hundreds-of-useless-olfactory-genes-are-left-over-from-mammal/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“The retina absorbs the light via sensitive light-gathering cells ... In humans these cells make up about 70 percent of all the sensory cells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/the-retina-absorbs-the-light-via-sensitive-light-gathering-cells-in/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“Some fish, for example the lungfish, have the one bone at the base. Other fish, for example Eusthenopteron, have the one bone–two bones arrangement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/some-fish-for-example-the-lungfish-have-the-one-bone-at-the-base/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“The key to tooth development is that an interaction between these two layers of tissue, an outer sheet of cells and an inner loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/the-key-to-tooth-development-is-that-an-interaction-between-these-two/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“The molecules that allow microbes to catch their prey and hold on to them are likely candidates for the molecules that form the rivet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/the-molecules-that-allow-microbes-to-catch-their-prey-and-hold-on-to/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“In a perfectly designed world —one with no history— we would not have to suffer everything from hemorrhoids to cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/in-a-perfectly-designed-world-one-with-no-history-we-would-not-have/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“Whole batteries of genes are turned on and off during fly development, and this pattern of gene activity serves to demarcate the different regions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/whole-batteries-of-genes-are-turned-on-and-off-during-fly-development/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“The first hard hydroxyapatite-containing body parts were teeth. Hard bones arose not to protect animals, but to eat them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/the-first-hard-hydroxyapatite-containing-body-parts-were-teeth-hard/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“Tiktaalik has a shoulder, elbow, and wrist composed of the same bones as an upper arm, forearm, and wrist in a human. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/tiktaalik-has-a-shoulder-elbow-and-wrist-composed-of-the-same-bones/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“Our body dries out with every passing year; newborns are about 75 percent water, not much different from an average potato.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/our-body-dries-out-with-every-passing-year-newborns-are-about-75/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) [Explore all 47 Neil Shubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) ## More Hand quotes > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [“He reached over for her hand. "I'm here for you. What's mine is yours. I'll share everything I have with you - knowledge, money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gray/he-reached-over-for-her-hand-i-m-here-for-you-what-s-mine-is-yours-i/) [Amanda Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gray/) > [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Me seeing how thick my callous is on my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/me-seeing-how-thick-my-callous-is-on-my-hand/) [Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/) > [Music and the WWE go hand-in-hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/music-and-the-wwe-go-hand-in-hand/) [Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/) > [I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-still-find-it-absurdly-difficult-to-concentrate-on-a-novel-if-there/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [As a layperson, I consider myself fairly well-educated in terms of politics. My family always has been really interested in politics, and various members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/as-a-layperson-i-consider-myself-fairly-well-educated-in-terms-of/) [Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/) > [Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-meyer/being-authentic-can-be-a-good-thing-in-that-often-people-who-are/) [Edgar Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-meyer/) > [“You mean you don't want to come in and hold my hand while I piss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/you-mean-you-don-t-want-to-come-in-and-hold-my-hand-while-i-piss/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/candidate-trump-held-out-his-hand-to-vladimir-putin-he-rejected/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) Browse all 1,848 Hand quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What is it about a hand that seems quintessentially human? The answer must, at some level, be that the hand is a visible connection between us; it is a signature for who we are and what we can attain. Our ability to grasp, to build, and to make our thoughts real lies inside this complex of bones, nerves, and vessels.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Shubin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quintessentially-human-the-answer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hand" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quintessentially-human-the-answer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/neil-shubin-14335_hand_what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quint_2273414.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/neil-shubin-14335_hand_what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quint_2273414.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/neil-shubin-14335_hand_what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quint_2273414.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is it about a hand that seems quintessentially human? The answer must, at some level, be that the hand…” — Neil Shubin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neil Shubin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What is it about a hand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quintessentially-human-the-answer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/what-is-it-about-a-hand-that-seems-quintessentially-human-the-answer/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```