and vinegar that makes them sour-and camomile that makes them bitter-and-and barley-sugar and such things that make children sweet-tempered. I only wish people knew that: then they wouldn't be so stingy about it, you know
In this passage from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass, the speaker reflects on various remedies and their effects on people and children. They mention quotes, vinegar, camomile, barley-sugar, and similar things, suggesting that certain substances can influence mood or temperament, especially in children. These items symbolize the idea that what people consume or experience can impact their behavior and feelings.
The speaker expresses a wish that everyone understood this concept better, implying that if they did, people would be less stingy with such remedies or influences. The underlying message is that knowledge of these subtle effects could lead to kinder, more generous attitudes, especially toward children, by nurturing their sweet-tempered nature through familiar, comforting substances.
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Other quotes in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
