Progrss will bring us back to monkeys?

In Russia we have two well-known statements. 1. It was work that done Human from a monkey and 2. laziness is the engine of progress. May be one of these statements is wrong?

What will you choose if smbdy offered to you one of these traits? I know two people. Both of them are close friends of mine. I won't speak a lot of them niether of our relations. What I want to share with you is my thoughts about their traits. These traits are the opposite of one character. I speak about the sense of tact. Before I knew them it was definitely clear for me that the sense of tact is absolutely positive human character. But... I haven't noticed earlier that sense of tact could become a cover of heartlessness. On the other hand lack of tact could cause pain, unpleasant memories and uncomfortable situations. What would you prefer for yourself? And the last. Before you make your decision. When one of those friends forgetting as usual about his lack of tact asks uncomfortable questions it usually causes very comfortable even heart-to-heart talk. And it doesn't matter whom he asks, close friend or colleague or neighbour.

start point I'm not going to study or work abroad. I just want to help people who are really interesting in Russia. I love my language and it would be a pleasure for me to try teaching somebody else. Besides I daily have some free time while my baby is sleeping and want to spent it efficiently!