He might as well plant an oak in a flowerpot, and expect it to thrive, as imagine he can restore her to vigour in the soil of his shallow cares!
In this passage, the speaker compares someone’s efforts to revive a person’s vitality to a futile attempt to grow an oak tree in a small flowerpot. This vivid image emphasizes the impracticality and insincerity of trying to restore strength or life through superficial or insufficient means.
The quote highlights the idea that genuine restoration requires deep and proper care, not shallow or superficial efforts. It suggests that neglecting true needs while offering only surface-level attention will never bring about real recovery or vitality.
