Each finger has three phalanges/parts: the one on which the nail grows is the first phalange, the next to it is the middle phalange and the one adjacent to the palm is the third phalange.

The Index Finger

The finger next to the thumb is called the index finger. It represents the ego of a person and his desire for recognition or prestige. If the Index finger is longer than normal it is indicative of a person's desire to dominate others; smaller than normal it represents a lack of ambition. Such a person is only a follower, never a leader.

The Middle Finger

The finger next to the Index finger is called the middle finger. It represents the balance of mind, sagacity and the love of solitude. It is, in most cases, longer than the rest of the digits or fingers. If it is equal in length to the index or the third, or Ring finger, it is supposed to be a small middle finger. A person with such a finger will be petty-minded and those having a very long middle finger shy away from human company.

The Ring Finger

The third or the ring finger is indicative of a person's desire for ostentation and fame. A person with a small ring finger is totally devoid of the tendency towards ostentation. Nor do persons with such fingers take any risks. If the Ring finger is longer than usual, i.e., if it is longer than the Index finger, a person would be given to too much ostentation and would love to take risks. Those risks include speculation, gambling and other games of chance.

The Little Finger

The fourth or the little finger represents eloquence and wit. A Little finger which extends to the end of the first phalange of the third finger is considered to be of average length. If it is longer, these qualities become more pronounced in a person. Converse is the case if the finger is of less than average length. A person with a small Little finger suffers from an inferiority complex and he does not have the courage to speak out his mind.