Not All Thumbs
The thumb is one of the most important character divulgers on the hand. It shows your degree of self-control and personal willpower, as well as your disposition, and should always be read together with the head line.

Not All Thumbs
The thumb is one of the most important character divulgers on the hand. It shows your degree of self-control and personal willpower, as well as your disposition, and should always be read together with the head line.
The length of your thumb is significant. A long, well-formed thumb indicates a strong will and sound judgment. A short, thick thumb means you can be quite contrary or stubborn — it's your way or the highway, and opposition from others only tends to make you more convinced that you're right.
A long thumb
A short thumb
The Right Angles
Let's look at the angle at which your thumb joins your hand, since this has direct bearing on your sense of justice and fairness. When it's close to the palm, at an acute angle, you have a more conservative nature and believe that everything should be viewed in terms of black and white. You just don't like to dive below the surface — your reality can be cut with a fork and knife. You follow the rules, pay your bills, and move on to the next experience.
The more idealistic types have a thumb that forms a right angle with the palm. If this is how your thumb is positioned, you are much more willing to see things from other perspectives, and have a strong sense of justice that leads you to give others the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty is your credo — and you will always look for the positive in every problem or situation.
Thumb at an acute angle
Thumb at a right angle
Joints of the Thumb
The joints of the thumb are divided into three sections, sometimes called phalanges, and each one relates to a certain ability. The top phalange, or nail, is devoted to personal will or strength. The middle phalange pertains to your ability to reason, and the phalange at the base of your thumb indicates your capacity for love.
In Eastern palmistry, the phalanges of your thumb can also be said to correspond to three aspects of your life: the physical (closest to palm), practical (the middle section of your finger), and mental (the fingertips). In fact, the same divisions may be applied to your fingers.
When the first and second phalanges are of equal length, you've got a great balance between your willpower and sound judgment; however, if the first phalange is much longer, your willpower is weak when weighed against your wants and desires. Consequently, your judgment can be impaired, and you may wind up with exactly the opposite of what you were attempting to achieve. If your first phalange is thick or clubbed-shaped in appearance, you are likely a person who will resort to angry, violent outbursts to achieve what you most want. Anger management therapy is highly recommended for these types!
When the second phalange is much longer than the other two, you are a person who can think clearly and logically enough but you may not have the right amounts of determination and concentration necessary to pull off your dreams. This can make you very unhappy, jealous, or suspicious of the success of others. You are convinced that you are intellectually superior in many ways, so why didn't the same success come your way? More than likely, it's because you have a weaker will, and this can be overcome with harder work; you should realize that what comes naturally to some people can also be yours with a little extra effort.
If you have a firm-jointed thumb, you have an obstinate will and strong determination. You enjoy healthy competition and are unafraid of challenge. You delight in proving your abilities to others: If someone says, “It can't be done,” you consciously set out to prove otherwise. You can be narrow in your views or opinions on life and are quite secretive and cautious in your ability to trust. But despite your competitive nature, you like to play by the rules, and if you do accidentally break a rule or two, you feel tremendous guilt and it really weighs on your conscience.
If yours is a supple-jointed thumb, you are more reasonable and adaptable. You can be easily redirected in your thinking, sometimes too easily to be considered credible. You don't need competition to succeed; all you ever need is to have your curiosity piqued or your imagination sparked. If your boss or coworkers really want you to succeed, they will praise you often and not place you into highly competitive situations. You are generally more tolerant, open, and giving than those with a firm-jointed thumb, and you give your thoughts, time, and cash more freely to those who seem in need. You are more concerned with intention rather than hard-and-fast rules, and will consider lobbying for change when it's for a cause you strongly believe in. You don't mind hearing some criticism along the way, either — especially when you're sure you're helping others.
One specific type of thumb is not better or worse than any other. Your thumb's shape can give you information about your potential for ambition and talent, but you should remember that you can overcome any limitations you have inherited in this life!
Other Types of Thumb
Also note what the top of your thumb looks like. The “waisted” thumb looks like it has a waist line, formed by the narrow joint that connects the second phalang