better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Often claimed to be an ancient Chinese proverb. Also often misattributed to Eleanor Roosevelt. Earliest known usage is a 1907 sermon by English preacher William Lonsdale Watkinson.^[1]^[2]

Proverb

better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness

Even in the face of hopelessness and discontent, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response, than to complain about the situation.

Translations

in bad times it is worthwhile to do good

Chinese:
Mandarin: 與其詛咒黑暗，不如點燃一根蠟燭 / 与其诅咒黑暗，不如点燃一根蜡烛 (yǔqí zǔzhòu hēi'àn, bùrú diǎnrán yī gēn làzhú)
Finnish: marjakin on poimittava maasta
Portuguese: em vez de amaldiçoar a escuridão, é melhor acender uma vela
Spanish: es mejor encender una sola vela que maldecir a la penumbra
Turkish: karanlığa söveceğine bir mum yak

References

^ Watkinson, William Lonsdale (1907) “Sermon XIV: The Invincible Strategy, (Romans: xii, 21)”, in The Supreme Conquest and Other Sermons Preached in America by W. L. Watkinson‎^[1], F. H. Revell Company, page 218
^ O'Toole, Garson (2017 March 19) “Better to Light a Candle Than to Curse the Darkness”, in Quote Investigator‎^[2], retrieved 16 September 2022

[1] Watkinson, William Lonsdale (1907) “Sermon XIV: The Invincible Strategy, (Romans: xii, 21)”, in The Supreme Conquest and Other Sermons Preached in America by W. L. Watkinson‎^[1], F. H. Revell Company, page 218

[2] O'Toole, Garson (2017 March 19) “Better to Light a Candle Than to Curse the Darkness”, in Quote Investigator‎^[2], retrieved 16 September 2022

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