The quote from Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" reflects on the inevitability of thoughts and feelings that return to our minds, much like the tides of the sea. It suggests that just as sailors cannot stop the ocean from washing ashore, individuals cannot escape their inner thoughts and emotions. This recurrence can manifest in different ways, such as the sailor’s acceptance of the tide or the guilty man's experience of remorse, illustrating the complexity of human emotions.

Moreover, Hugo implies that such powerful emotions are divinely influenced, as God stirs the soul akin to the movements of the ocean. This metaphor highlights how deeply rooted our feelings are and how they can emerge in waves, shaping our consciousness and experiences. The idea that we cannot fully control our thoughts underscores the universal relationship between humanity and nature, suggesting that we are all subject to the same emotional cycles.