Tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world, after all. He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it -- namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.

Summary

This quote implies that Tom has come to realize a significant insight about human behavior. He has learned that when something is made difficult to obtain, it becomes more desirable and coveted by individuals. Through his own experiences, Tom discovers this fundamental principle without consciously recognizing it. This understanding sheds light on the idea that people tend to be attracted to and value things more when they require effort or are perceived as being challenging to attain.

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