In the passage, the author reflects on the difficulty of resolving the complexities of life. Loose ends represent the unfinished aspects of human relationships and experiences, suggesting that truly tying them up is an impossible task. The metaphor of time being like the sea serves to illustrate how all efforts to find closure are ultimately undone as new challenges and uncertainties continuously arise.

Furthermore, the passage emphasizes that our judgments of others are not definitive; they are subject to change as we gain new insights. The idea that human arrangements are messy and inexact highlights the transient nature of life and relationships, challenging the notion of order and certainty that art might offer. This perspective encourages us to accept the fluidity and unpredictability inherent in our lives.