Quote
Where you tend a rose, my lad, / A thistle cannot grow.
Note
This verse appears near the end of the novel as a simple truth about care and cultivation. It leans toward an internal standard. The metaphor suggests that nurturing beauty and goodness leaves no room for negativity. The gentle address 'my lad' and the imagery of roses and thistles invite readers to consider what they choose to cultivate in their own lives.