Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

The line contrasts mere biological survival with a fuller, humane idea of living. “Sunshine” suggests joy, warmth, and the sustaining presence of beauty; “freedom” points to autonomy and the ability to choose one’s path; and “a little flower” evokes small, everyday pleasures—art, nature, tenderness—that give life texture and meaning. The ellipsis underscores that the speaker is adding essentials beyond subsistence, implying that a life stripped of beauty and liberty is impoverished even if it continues. Often quoted as Andersen, it functions as a compact credo for valuing simple beauty and personal freedom as necessities rather than luxuries.