It's indeed surprising that replacing the elementary particle with a string leads to such a big change in things. I'm tempted to say that it has to do with the fuzziness it introduces.
Edward WittenI have a tendency, more than most other physicists, to try to figure out everything all at once, before I publish. And even to try to figure out everything in my head, without pencil and paper.
Edward WittenOne of the basic things about a string is that it can vibrate in many different shapes or forms, which gives music its beauty.
Edward Witten