This beautiful gardening metaphor illustrates the natural process of intellectual and personal development. Just as plants require the right conditions to thrive, wisdom needs specific elements to grow within us.

"Learning" provides the foundational "soil"—the knowledge, information, and experiences that give wisdom something to root in. But soil alone isn't enough. "Effort" acts as the "water"—the consistent work, practice, and application that nourishes understanding and helps it "flourish." Without effort, learning remains theoretical; without learning, effort lacks direction.

This quote emphasizes that both acquisition of knowledge and dedicated practice are essential for developing true wisdom. It's not enough to just gather information—we must actively work with it to make it come alive within us.