It's brain," I said; "pure brain! What do you do to get like that, Jeeves? I believe you must eat a lot of fish, or something. Do you eat a lot of fish, Jeeves?""No, sir.""Oh, well, then, it's just a gift, I take it; and if you aren't born that way there's no use worrying.
In this excerpt from P.G. Wodehouse's "My Man Jeeves," the narrator expresses admiration for Jeeves's intelligence, attributing it to some mystical quality. The narrator jokingly suggests that consuming fish might be the secret behind Jeeves's exceptional intellect, indicating a light-hearted curiosity about the source of his brilliance. Jeeves simply replies that he does not eat a lot of fish, hinting that such intelligence may be innate rather than cultivated through diet.
This interaction showcases the playful dynamic between the narrator and Jeeves, highlighting the former's awe and the latter's understated wisdom. The narrator concludes that if intellectual capacity is not a result of dietary habits, then it must come from inherent talent, suggesting a sense of acceptance of one's own limitations compared to Jeeves's impressive abilities.
