A man who has spent most of his adult life trying out a series of patent medicines is always an optimist.
The quote highlights a man's enduring sense of optimism despite his continuous experiments with various patent medicines throughout his adult life. This suggests that the pursuit of quick fixes and instant solutions lead him to maintain hope, reflecting a tendency to believe in the possibility of improvement. His experiences may not have yielded expected results, yet he remains positive about the outcomes.
P.G. Wodehouse uses this observation to underscore a broader theme about human nature: our resilience and unwavering hope even in the face of disappointment. The man's optimism serves as a testament to the human spirit's ability to find light in persistent trials, suggesting that hope can be a powerful antidote to life's challenges.