--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Behold a candle, how it gives its light…" description: "\"Behold a candle, how it gives its light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light.\" — Abdu'l-Bahá" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/abdu-l-bah-4472_behold_behold-a-candle-how-it-gives-its-light-i_2480602.png" --- # Behold a candle, how it gives its light. It weeps its life… ![“Behold a candle, how it gives its light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light.” quote by Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/abdu-l-bah-4472_behold_behold-a-candle-how-it-gives-its-light-i_2480602.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/abdu-l-bah-4472_behold_behold-a-candle-how-it-gives-its-light-i_2480602.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/abdu-l-bah-4472_behold_behold-a-candle-how-it-gives-its-light-i_2480602.png) > “Behold a candle, how it gives its light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light.” [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uses candle metaphor to illustrate self‑sacrifice, giving light while losing life. **In simple terms:** Self‑sacrifice fuels others' enlightenment. Key Takeaway Embrace selfless service. Themes spirituality self‑sacrifice light Mood inspirational contemplative Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - teaching - community building Key Concepts candle metaphor service sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - How can one give without depleting self? - What practices sustain personal vitality while serving? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) [Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flame/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) ## Related quotes > [Sun gives light; torch gives light, candle gives light; smiling gives light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/sun-gives-light-torch-gives-light-candle-gives-light-smiling-gives/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Often, during combat, the warrior of light receives blows that he was not expecting. And he realizes that, during a war, his enemy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/often-during-combat-the-warrior-of-light-receives-blows-that-he-was/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [A small candle can gives us light at night even the big sun can't ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-small-candle-can-gives-us-light-at-night-even-the-big-sun-can-t/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [The ladies men admire, I've heard, Would shudder at a wicked word. Their candle gives a single light, They'd rather stay at home at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/the-ladies-men-admire-i-ve-heard-would-shudder-at-a-wicked-word-their/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [“God gave each of us a soul, which is a candle that He gives us to illuminate our surroundings with His light,” the Rebbe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-telushkin/god-gave-each-of-us-a-soul-which-is-a-candle-that-he-gives-us-to/) [Joseph Telushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-telushkin/) > [“When we have graciously endured every adversity, we become like a shining diamond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/when-we-have-graciously-endured-every-adversity-we-become-like-a/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Absence abates a moderate passion and intensifies a great one - as the wind blows out a candle but fans fire into flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/absence-abates-a-moderate-passion-and-intensifies-a-great-one-as-the/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“We are not special. We are lit from within by a single candle flame and when that flame is blown out and all light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/we-are-not-special-we-are-lit-from-within-by-a-single-candle-flame/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“If you hold a candle close to you, its flame rises. And if you hold it away from you, its flame shrinks. The same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-you-hold-a-candle-close-to-you-its-flame-rises-and-if-you-hold-it/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Like a pair of old slippers, I feel comfort and warmth as I slip into you. No, that is too crude. Like the match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/like-a-pair-of-old-slippers-i-feel-comfort-and-warmth-as-i-slip-into/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“The wind forgets. It will always forget as it never stays still long enough in one place for a memory to remain. A flame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/the-wind-forgets-it-will-always-forget-as-it-never-stays-still-long/) [Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/) > [A candle may melt and it's fire may die, but the love you have given me will always stay as a flame in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-candle-may-melt-and-it-s-fire-may-die-but-the-love-you-have-given/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you devote yourself to God, then He in turn will continually stay with you, as an eternal candle flame stays with a wick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/if-you-devote-yourself-to-god-then-he-in-turn-will-continually-stay/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“Some will see your flame and want to blow it out...others will approach with a candle...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/some-will-see-your-flame-and-want-to-blow-it-out-others-will-approach/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) ## More by Abdu'l-Bahá > [Help along one another's projects and plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/help-along-one-another-s-projects-and-plans/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Prejudices of any kind are the destroyers of human happiness & welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/prejudices-of-any-kind-are-the-destroyers-of-human-happiness-welfare/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/be-calm-be-strong-be-grateful-and-become-a-lamp-full-of-light-that/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Sometimes I want to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice when He could do something about it, but I'm afraid he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/sometimes-i-want-to-ask-god-why-he-allows-poverty-famine-and/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [The most important principle of divine philosophy is the oneness of the world of humanity, the unity of mankind, the bond conjoining East and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/the-most-important-principle-of-divine-philosophy-is-the-oneness-of/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Man is in reality a spiritual being and only when he lives in the spirit is he truly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/man-is-in-reality-a-spiritual-being-and-only-when-he-lives-in-the/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Until the reality of equality between man and woman is fully established and attained, the highest social development of mankind is not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/until-the-reality-of-equality-between-man-and-woman-is-fully/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Close investigation will show that the primary cause of oppression and injustice, of unrighteousness, irregularity and disorder, is the people's lack of religious faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/close-investigation-will-show-that-the-primary-cause-of-oppression/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [The primary, the most urgent requirement is the promotion of education. It is inconceivable that any nation should achieve prosperity and success unless this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/the-primary-the-most-urgent-requirement-is-the-promotion-of-education/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [The intellect is good but until it has become the servant of the heart, it is of little avail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/the-intellect-is-good-but-until-it-has-become-the-servant-of-the/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [The home of Religion is the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/the-home-of-religion-is-the-heart/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [“Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/love-the-creatures-for-the-sake-of-god-and-not-for-themselves-you/) [Abdu'l-Baha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Truthfulness is the foundation of all virtues of the world of humanity. Without truthfulness, progress and success in all the worlds of God are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/truthfulness-is-the-foundation-of-all-virtues-of-the-world-of/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. Although man is part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/the-reality-of-man-is-his-thought-not-his-material-body-the-thought/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Observe that the body of man is confined to a small place; it covers only two spans of earth. But the spirit and mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/observe-that-the-body-of-man-is-confined-to-a-small-place-it-covers/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) [Explore all 110 Abdu'l-Bahá quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) ## More Behold quotes > [The same faint song is heard in everything: "Behold yourself".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-same-faint-song-is-heard-in-everything-behold-yourself/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [You become what you behold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/you-become-what-you-behold/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“Behold a fire from the opposite shore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/behold-a-fire-from-the-opposite-shore/) [Chang-rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [“If you believe, you shall behold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-you-believe-you-shall-behold/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Behold the man I also know how to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/behold-the-man-i-also-know-how-to-be/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-god-saw-everything-that-he-had-made-and-behold-it-was-very-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had a little bit of resistance to the idea of taking energy away from my work, and the baby comes along and, lo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-had-a-little-bit-of-resistance-to-the-idea-of-taking-energy-away/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [“Come see," I was thinking. "Be the last thing you behold,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/come-see-i-was-thinking-be-the-last-thing-you-behold/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/beauty-was-not-simply-something-to-behold-it-was-something-one-could/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [ God . . . endowed \[the human race\] with capacity to attain to the inaccessible and invisible Supreme Good and behold it face to face . . . ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-iii/god-endowed-the-human-race-with-capacity-to-attain-to-the/) Pope Paul III > [Behold the face you hide a lot af heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blasio-kajuna/behold-the-face-you-hide-a-lot-af-heart/) [Blasio Kajuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blasio-kajuna/) > [Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/behold-i-stand-at-the-door-and-knock-if-anyone-hears-my-voice-and/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [“When you behold the face of pure evil, it will be beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-farland/when-you-behold-the-face-of-pure-evil-it-will-be-beautiful/) [David Farland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-farland/) > [All we behold is miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/all-we-behold-is-miracle/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“Believe to behold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/believe-to-behold/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) Browse all 118 Behold quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Behold a candle, how it gives its light. 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