In "Wolf Hall," Hilary Mantel explores the complexities of human desires and the nature of property through the character's struggle to reconcile spiritual beliefs with material realities. The quote reflects a tension between the immediacy of spiritual transformation and the slower, more challenging process of converting real estate into liquid assets. This highlights a character's frustration in navigating the practicalities of wealth compared to the divine miracles he witnesses.

The narrative delves into themes of power, faith, and the human condition, as it contrasts the sacred and the secular. The character's inability to accept the limitations of wealth creation emphasizes a deeper commentary on ambition and the often frustrating nature of life, where the transition from the sacred to the material does not occur as easily as he wishes.