--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to light a single candle…" description: "\"“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.”\" — Eleanor Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/eleanor-roosevelt-381_candle_it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-th_610261.jpg" --- # It is better to light a single candle than to curse the… ![“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” quote by Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/eleanor-roosevelt-381_candle_it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-th_610261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/eleanor-roosevelt-381_candle_it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-th_610261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/eleanor-roosevelt-381_candle_it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-th_610261.jpg) > ““It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.”” [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A single positive act is more effective than complaining about problems. **In simple terms:** Do something good instead of just complaining. Key Takeaway Take action, not just lament. Themes action optimism responsibility Mood hopeful determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - community service - personal challenges - social issues Key Concepts Civic duty personal agency hope Questions to Reflect On - What small act can you do today? - How does action change perspective? A Different Perspective Action may seem small compared to larger problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-light-298169/) [Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) [Candle Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle-curse-1267604/) [Curse Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse-darkness-1267605/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Single Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-candle-478794/) ## Related quotes > [Remember, it is better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gorshin/remember-it-is-better-to-light-one-little-candle-than-to-curse-the/) [Frank Gorshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gorshin/) > [Better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-to-light-one-small-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-better-to-light-a-candle-than-curse-the-darkness/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Its better to light a candle then to curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-melendrez/its-better-to-light-a-candle-then-to-curse-the-darkness/) [Gabe Melendrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-melendrez/) > [Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/better-to-light-a-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/) [Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/) > [It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese/it-is-better-to-light-one-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese/) > [It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-light-a-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's better to light a candle than to curse the dark In the eyes of the youth, there are question marks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-naan/it-s-better-to-light-a-candle-than-to-curse-the-dark-in-the-eyes-of/) [K'naan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-naan/) > [“Twas said better to light a candle than curse the dark...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccammon/twas-said-better-to-light-a-candle-than-curse-the-dark/) [Robert McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccammon/) > [“I have always loved the expression it’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness because it's about hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-downey/i-have-always-loved-the-expression-it-s-better-to-light-a-candle-than/) [Roma Downey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roma-downey/) > [“Then Carrot said, "It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness, captain. That's what they say." "What?" Vimes' sudden rage was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/then-carrot-said-it-s-better-to-light-a-candle-than-curse-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You know what I want you to do? I want you to blow out the candle and curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/you-know-what-i-want-you-to-do-i-want-you-to-blow-out-the-candle-and/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [My heroes have always been the hardworking and unflappable. Those who light a candle rather than curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gray-gubler/my-heroes-have-always-been-the-hardworking-and-unflappable-those-who/) [Matthew Gray Gubler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gray-gubler/) > [Sometimes it is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sometimes-it-is-better-to-light-a-flamethrower-than-curse-the-darkness/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It is better to light one small candle of gratitude than to curse the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/it-is-better-to-light-one-small-candle-of-gratitude-than-to-curse-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More by Eleanor Roosevelt > [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [experience should teach us that it is always the unexpected that does occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/experience-should-teach-us-that-it-is-always-the-unexpected-that-does/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [To be mature you have to realize what you value most... Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one's own values is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-mature-you-have-to-realize-what-you-value-most-not-to-arrive-at/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I'm enormously interested in freedom and retaining the right to have whatever economy we want and to shape it as we want and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-m-enormously-interested-in-freedom-and-retaining-the-right-to-have/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-destiny-of-human-rights-is-in-the-hands-of-all-our-citizens-in/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-can-never-really-live-anyone-else-s-life-not-even-your-child-s/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“One of the things I believe most intensely is that every child’s why should be answered with care—and with respect. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-things-i-believe-most-intensely-is-that-every-child-s-why/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [What we must learn to do is to create unbreakable bonds between the sciences and the humanities. We cannot procrastinate. The world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/what-we-must-learn-to-do-is-to-create-unbreakable-bonds-between-the/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-we-want-a-free-and-peaceful-world-if-we-want-to-make-the-deserts/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) [Explore all 612 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## 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": "“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eleanor Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/eleanor-roosevelt-381_candle_it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-th_610261.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/eleanor-roosevelt-381_candle_it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-th_610261.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/eleanor-roosevelt-381_candle_it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-th_610261.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” — Eleanor Roosevelt", "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": "Eleanor Roosevelt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is better to light a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-better-to-light-a-single-candle-than-to-curse-the-darkness/#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 } } ] } ```