Explanation
Think of the flower as a simple picture of what we all need: warmth and light to open up. Muller’s line is saying that just like sunshine is essential for a bloom, love is essential for people to thrive. It’s not just romance — it’s the small, steady things: a friend who listens, a partner’s good morning text, a parent’s quiet support. When those are missing we feel closed off or tired, and when they’re present we grow, take risks, and feel alive. It’s a gentle reminder to give and seek that everyday nourishment.
About the Author
Friedrich Max Müller (Dec 6, 1823 – Oct 28, 1900) was a German-born philologist and Orientalist who spent much of his career as a prominent scholar and lecturer at Oxford. He pioneered the comparative study of religion and language, edited the monumental Sacred Books of the East series, and helped introduce Hindu and Buddhist texts to Victorian readers. Müller is most remembered for founding the modern academic study of comparative religion and for his talent for making complex spiritual ideas accessible to the public. The quotation reflects his long engagement with sacred literature and a Victorian-era belief that human flourishing—like a flower—depends as much on warmth and love as on intellectual light.
