--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are two ways of spreading light: to…" description: "\"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/anonymous-1_candle_there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to_393795.jpg" --- # There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or… ![“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/anonymous-1_candle_there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to_393795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/anonymous-1_candle_there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to_393795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/anonymous-1_candle_there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to_393795.jpg) > “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Two methods of spreading positivity: being a source of light yourself or reflecting light from others, emphasizing active contribution or supportive amplification. **In simple terms:** Spread light by being a candle or a reflective mirror. Key Takeaway Choose to give directly or amplify others’ goodness. Themes positivity influence service Mood hopeful inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - team leadership - mentorship programs Key Concepts leadership empathy community building Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer to lead or support? - How can you balance both roles? A Different Perspective Relying only on reflection may limit personal impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) [Candle Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle-mirror-426289/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-candle/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Mirror Reflects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-reflects/) [Spreading Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spreading-light-2097541/) ## Related quotes > [“There are 2 ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/there-are-2-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. --Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror-3/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [There are 2 ways to spread light...to be the CANDLE or the MIRROR that reflects it..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-2-ways-to-spread-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that refledts it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-warton-18621937/there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror-2/) [Edith Warton 18621937](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-warton-18621937/) > [“Two ways to be a light for all, is to be a flaming candle or the mirror that reflects it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/two-ways-to-be-a-light-for-all-is-to-be-a-flaming-candle-or-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [On your Birthday today, why don't you light one candle instead of blowing it out? May that candle bring you the light of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-your-birthday-today-why-don-t-you-light-one-candle-instead-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How many miles to Babylon? Three-score and ten. Can I get there by candle-light? Yes, there and back again. If your heels are nimble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-many-miles-to-babylon-three-score-and-ten-can-i-get-there-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-cursing-the-darkness-light-a-candle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To every soul you encounter, be a mirror, which reflects only their beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-every-soul-you-encounter-be-a-mirror-which-reflects-only-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-mirror-reflects-a-man-s-face-but-what-he-is-really-like-is-shown-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your smile is one of the most important part of your personality. It's a mirror that reflects thhe good things inside of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-smile-is-one-of-the-most-important-part-of-your-personality-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is so short and it's just like a mirror. You can only see as much as it reflects. so don't be too arrogant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-so-short-and-it-s-just-like-a-mirror-you-can-only-see-as-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They who do not fear darkness have learned to light their own candle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodinsky/they-who-do-not-fear-darkness-have-learned-to-light-their-own-candle/) [Dodinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodinsky/) > [“Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/learn-to-light-a-candle-in-the-darkest-moments-of-someone-s-life-be/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Candle quotes > [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/) > [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) > [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [Only by the candle, held in the skeleton hand of Poverty, can man read his own dark heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/only-by-the-candle-held-in-the-skeleton-hand-of-poverty-can-man-read/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Traveling is all very well if you can get home at night. I would be willing to go around the world if I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/traveling-is-all-very-well-if-you-can-get-home-at-night-i-would-be/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Two ways to be a light for all, is to be a flaming candle or the mirror that reflects it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/two-ways-to-be-a-light-for-all-is-to-be-a-flaming-candle-or-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“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/) > [So here I sit in the early candle-light of old age-I and my book-casting backward glances over out travel'd road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/so-here-i-sit-in-the-early-candle-light-of-old-age-i-and-my-book/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I was eating beans by candle light for a decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-was-eating-beans-by-candle-light-for-a-decade/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [The stars begin to fade like guttering candles and are snuffed out one by one. Out in the depths of space the great celestial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-robert-harrison/the-stars-begin-to-fade-like-guttering-candles-and-are-snuffed-out/) [Edward Robert Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-robert-harrison/) [Browse all 1,033 Candle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/anonymous-1_candle_there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to_393795.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/anonymous-1_candle_there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to_393795.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/anonymous-1_candle_there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to_393795.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are two ways of spreading...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```