In this passage, Jerott reflects on the importance of the mind over the body, suggesting that he values intellectual and spiritual qualities more highly. He implies that discovering a soul would have been more meaningful to him than physical or mental possessions.
And I would have claimed neither body nor mind, had I discovered a soul.
This statement underscores his belief that the existence of a soul holds greater significance than physical or mental attributes, emphasizing his desire for something transcendent beyond the material and intellectual world.