better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness

proverb

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.

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Meanings

proverb

alternative better to light one candle than to curse the darkness · alternative better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness · alternative better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

  1. 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.

Origin

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.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

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
  • 與其詛咒黑暗，不如點燃一根蠟燭 /与其诅咒黑暗in bad times it is worthwhile to do good
  • 不如点燃一根蜡烛 (yǔqí zǔzhòu hēi'àn, bùrú diǎnrán yī gēn làzhú)in bad times it is worthwhile to do good
Finnish marjakin on poimittava maasta
  • marjakin on poimittava maastain bad times it is worthwhile to do good
Portuguese em vez de amaldiçoar a escuridão, é melhor acender uma vela
  • em vez de amaldiçoar a escuridão, é melhor acender uma velain bad times it is worthwhile to do good
Spanish es mejor encender una sola vela que maldecir a la penumbra
  • es mejor encender una sola vela que maldecir a la penumbrain bad times it is worthwhile to do good
Turkish karanlığa söveceğine bir mum yak
  • karanlığa söveceğine bir mum yakin bad times it is worthwhile to do good
Cite this entry
APA

better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/better%20to%20light%20a%20single%20candle%20than%20to%20curse%20the%20darkness

MLA

“better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/better%20to%20light%20a%20single%20candle%20than%20to%20curse%20the%20darkness. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/better%20to%20light%20a%20single%20candle%20than%20to%20curse%20the%20darkness.

Source: better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.