Charming, indeed; she may simply have heard the phrase tossed about, but she uses it well, and responded with notable swiftness. There is a quickness of wit in Mademoiselle Boissy, and it further fixes his intention to continue this pursuit.

"So it may be admitted, but a rose is not (how happy for the rose!) a human being, and need not trouble itself over moving through a world in which action is demanded and decisions must be name. A rose is a rose is a rose; rarely do we distinguish between one and the next. Roses are born as roses, and will take no note if we should deem them hyacinths or lilies.

"For humans, existence acquires inevitable twists. We believe ourselves to be individuals, and so clasp our names with particular tenacity. My name suggests who I am, and I fill my name with what some might call meaning. Others know and make reference to me by my name. And I find myself assigned to suggestions that become connected with my name, I find that others approach me based on what they have heard of Aleron Grantaire. Were I not called Grantaire, who knows what I might be?

"I am a human being and I am Grantaire; you are a human being and you are Irma Boissy. But a rose is a rose is a rose, and remains solely so."