--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are 2 ways of spreading light: to…" description: "\"“There are 2 ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.”\" — Edith Wharton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/edith-wharton-512_light_there-are-2-ways-of-spreading-light-to-b_2619558.png" --- # There are 2 ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or… ![“There are 2 ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/edith-wharton-512_light_there-are-2-ways-of-spreading-light-to-b_2619558.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/edith-wharton-512_light_there-are-2-ways-of-spreading-light-to-b_2619558.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/edith-wharton-512_light_there-are-2-ways-of-spreading-light-to-b_2619558.png) > ““There are 2 ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.”” [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spreading knowledge can be direct (candle) or indirect (mirror). **In simple terms:** Share light by being a source or reflecting it. Key Takeaway Choose how to illuminate others. Themes knowledge influence mentity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - teaching - mentorship - media broadcasting Key Concepts education leadership Questions to Reflect On - When is direct teaching better? - How to ensure reflections stay true? A Different Perspective Mirroring may dilute original message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) ## Related quotes > [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 two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-ways-of-spreading-light-to-be-the-candle-or-the-mirror/) [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 > [“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/) > [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 to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/there-are-two-ways-to-spread-happiness-either-be-the-light-who-shines/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“the mirror that reflects my naked fire-mutt body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-mirror-that-reflects-my-naked-fire-mutt-body/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [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/) > [I am what I want. What I seek to consume, possess, and achieve is a mirror that reflects my lusts and cravings, values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/i-am-what-i-want-what-i-seek-to-consume-possess-and-achieve-is-a/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [The mirror reflects all objects without being sullied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-mirror-reflects-all-objects-without-being-sullied/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A mirror reflects what you see, and a black mirror shows the dark side of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-brewer/a-mirror-reflects-what-you-see-and-a-black-mirror-shows-the-dark-side/) [Madeline Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-brewer/) > [Life is a mirror, it reflects your face. Be friendly, and all of life will reflect friendliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/life-is-a-mirror-it-reflects-your-face-be-friendly-and-all-of-life/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“The problem with our society is that everyone wants the limelight, but only a few care about spreading light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-problem-with-our-society-is-that-everyone-wants-the-limelight-but/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [If you're spreading light, you don't care where the sunshine goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/if-you-re-spreading-light-you-don-t-care-where-the-sunshine-goes/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [“Tithing really is about spreading the light and love”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/tithing-really-is-about-spreading-the-light-and-love/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) ## More by Edith Wharton > [“Suddenly the air was full of that deep clangor of bells which periodically covers Rome with a roof of silver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/suddenly-the-air-was-full-of-that-deep-clangor-of-bells-which/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Untrained human nature was not frank and innocent; it was full of the twists and defences of an instinctive guile. 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