“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.”
- October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900
- Irish
- Author, poet, playwright
- Written novels, plays, and poems such as “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and “Salome,” he had a great influence on British literature in the late 19th century through his witty social criticism and humor.
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Quote
“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.”
Explanation
In this poignant quote, Oscar Wilde underscores the vitality of love in life. He compares a life without love to a garden without sunlight or flowers, emphasizing that without love, life becomes barren and devoid of the beauty and joy that love brings. The imagery of a sunless garden highlights the emptiness and sterility that can come from a lack of connection, affection, and emotional fulfillment. Wilde suggests that love is as essential to the human experience as sunlight is to the growth and flourishing of a garden.
Wilde, known for his romanticism and deep appreciation for beauty, often explored the importance of emotion and artistic expression in his works. For Wilde, love was not just an emotion but an enriching force that gives meaning and depth to life. His quote implies that love brings warmth, purpose, and vibrancy, while a life without it lacks the emotional nourishment that allows a person to fully thrive.
In modern times, this quote resonates with the ongoing emphasis on emotional well-being and the role that relationships—whether romantic, familial, or platonic—play in human happiness. Wilde’s words remind us that love, in its many forms, is not just a luxury but a fundamental aspect of a fulfilling life. A life without love may feel empty or lacking, much like a garden without its most essential element: the nurturing warmth of the sun.
