I found this aphorism in my book of Korean aphorisms.
뿌리 없는 나무에 잎이 필까
ppu.ri eops.neun na.mu.e ip.i pil.kka
root not-exist-PART tree-LOC leaf-SUBJ bloom-INTERROG
Can leaves bloom on a tree without roots?
The meaning of this seems quite straightforward. For there to be an effect, there must be a cause. It reminds me of Lucretius’ observation, “Nil fieri ex nihilo” (nothing can come from nothing).
