Why should an irrational method work when rational methods were all so rotten? He had an intuitive feeling, growing rapidly, that what he had stumbled on was no small gimmick. It went far beyond. How far, he didn’t know.

Meaning: The saying promises vigorous beans after sowing in mud. Growing like wood gives its confidence in that method an exaggerated image of strength.

Meaning: A large amount of material may contain little that serves the purpose. The bran and meal contrast questions apparent abundance, encouraging attention to useful substance rather than volume alone.

Meaning: Even an attentive observer cannot be assumed to notice every event. The cat-and-mouse image points to limits of oversight, without proving that an unnoticed action is harmless or acceptable.

Meaning: Another worker can often find something to improve in work already considered finished. The second barber’s remaining task suggests that completion depends on standards and perspective, without proving that earlier work was careless or endless correction is necessary.