Much evil must befall a country before it wholly forgets the Elves, if once they dwelt there.
J. R. R. TolkienRead
Early in life, when I first saw waterlilies on the ripples of a lake, I didn't think they were flowers which grew from the water, but rather flowers which were mirrored from the shore into the lake. So many flowers grow in the silent waters of our souls, and they unfold their petals over the glaze of our consciousness: they grow from within us, but we think them reflections from the external world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that our inner thoughts and feelings are often perceived as reflections of the outside world rather than originating from within us.
Lucian Blaga's quote emphasizes the philosophical idea that our consciousness and inner life shape our perceptions of reality. The waterlilies symbolize the thoughts and emotions that blossom within us, illustrating that our understanding of the world is often clouded by the belief that it is solely reflected from external sources, rather than recognizing that these feelings are cultivated from our own inner depths.
Themes
Inner SelfPerceptionConsciousnessSelf-DiscoveryWaterlilies
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about self-awareness, one can relate this quote to the importance of understanding our inner selves.
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