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.