‘From a black perspective…the notion that a black (who passes for white) might reclaim his ethnic identity to take advantage of preferential admissions can only trigger an almost inexpressible sense of outrage.’ (Livingston, 1979)

‘Turning an elephant loose in a crowd offers everyone, except the beast and his rider, equal opportunities of being trampled.’ (Tawney, 1931)

The timing of births and marriages in Vietnam appears to have some statistically significant relationships with the signs of the Chinese and Vietnamese astrological calendars. Years considered to be good years have significantly more births and marriages than years that are not considered as desirable. Births and marriages also have some significant variations with seasons of the year. Infant deaths do not appear to have any significant relationships with the astrological signs although infant mortality has some significant relationships with seasons of the year. The findings indicate that there is some purposeful planning for marriages and births to coincide with optimal times defined in the astrological calendars.

More than a century ago, Francis Galton, the father of behavioural genetics, coined the scientific use of the phrase nature–nurture. He believed that ability, especially individual differences in intelligence, is due primarily to nature rather than nurture, as implied by the title of his earliest and most famous work, Hereditary Genius (1869). In a paper on twins, he declared that ‘there is no escape from the conclusion that nature prevails enormously over nurture’ (1875. p. 404).