There are the girls we love, the men we look up to, the tenderness, the friendships, the opportunities, the pleasures! But the fact remains that you must touch your reward with clean hands, lest it turn to dead leaves, to thorns, in your grasp.
In "Lord Jim," Joseph Conrad reflects on the complexities of relationships and aspirations, highlighting the different connections we cherish in life—whether they be romantic, familial, or platonic. He emphasizes the importance of purity and integrity in our pursuits, suggesting that true rewards stem from honorable actions and intentions.
Conrad cautions against attaining these rewards through dishonest means, warning that without clean hands, the rewards we seek may ultimately become worthless or painful, much like dead leaves or thorns. This serves as a reminder of the necessity to align our actions with moral values to truly benefit from our experiences and relationships.