I had a consuming ambition to possess a miller's thumb. I believe I have never since wanted anything more desperately than I wanted my right thumb to be flattened as my father's had become, during his earlier years of a miller's life.

Summary

This quote suggests that the speaker had a strong and all-encompassing desire to have a flattened thumb, just like their father's. The speaker emphasizes that they have never wanted anything else as desperately as they desired this particular physical attribute. This longing stems from a fascination with their father's experiences as a miller and an admiration for the qualities associated with that occupation. Overall, the quote expresses the intense yearning the speaker had to take on a physical trait as a symbol of their connection to their family and an idealized way of life.

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