--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As one lamp lights another, nor grows…" description: "\"As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.\" — James Russell Lowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/james-russell-lowell-561_grows_as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-les_1626511.png" --- # As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,So nobleness… ![“As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.” quote by James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/james-russell-lowell-561_grows_as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-les_1626511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/james-russell-lowell-561_grows_as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-les_1626511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/james-russell-lowell-561_grows_as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-les_1626511.png) > “As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.” [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nobility spreads by example, increasing rather than diminishing. **In simple terms:** Goodness inspires more goodness. Key Takeaway Model noble behavior to inspire others. Themes leadership morality influence growth Mood optimistic inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team building - mentoring - community service - public speaking Key Concepts Ethics social contagion Questions to Reflect On - How can we amplify noble acts? - What barriers stop kindness from spreading? A Different Perspective Nobility may be ignored by skeptics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) ## Related quotes > [Be NOBLE! and the nobleness that liesIn other men, sleeping, but never dead,Will rise in majesty to meet thine own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/be-noble-and-the-nobleness-that-liesin-other-men-sleeping-but-never/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [When I was a beggarly boy, And lived in a cellar damp, I had not a friend nor a toy, But I had Aladdin's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/when-i-was-a-beggarly-boy-and-lived-in-a-cellar-damp-i-had-not-a/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [I am speaking now of the highest duty we owe our friends, the noblest, the most sacred - that of keeping their own nobleness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/i-am-speaking-now-of-the-highest-duty-we-owe-our-friends-the-noblest/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [A nobleness to try for, A name to live and die for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-parsons-lathrop/a-nobleness-to-try-for-a-name-to-live-and-die-for/) George Parsons Lathrop > [In our daily intercourse with men, our nobler faculties are dormant and suffered to rust. None will pay us the compliment to expect nobleness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-our-daily-intercourse-with-men-our-nobler-faculties-are-dormant/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Nobleness was one word for making a fuss about the trivial inevitabilities of life, but there were others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/nobleness-was-one-word-for-making-a-fuss-about-the-trivial/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/no-one-can-build-his-security-upon-the-nobleness-of-another-person/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [The heroic soul does not sell its justice and its nobleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-heroic-soul-does-not-sell-its-justice-and-its-nobleness/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [O beautiful for spacious skies, . . . O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-lee-bates/o-beautiful-for-spacious-skies-o-beautiful-for-heroes-proved-in/) [Katharine Lee Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-lee-bates/) > [Withal I did infer your lineaments, Being the right idea of your father, Both in your form and nobleness of mind; Laid open all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/withal-i-did-infer-your-lineaments-being-the-right-idea-of-your/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are epidemics of nobleness as well as epidemics of disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/there-are-epidemics-of-nobleness-as-well-as-epidemics-of-disease/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [Ambition is the germ from which all growth of nobleness proceeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/ambition-is-the-germ-from-which-all-growth-of-nobleness-proceeds/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [There is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, in work. Were he never so benighted, forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/there-is-a-perennial-nobleness-and-even-sacredness-in-work-were-he/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“She laughed and said not to confuse pride with nobleness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brom/she-laughed-and-said-not-to-confuse-pride-with-nobleness/) [Brom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brom/) > [Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-man-is-the-builder-of-a-temple-called-his-body-to-the-god-he-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by James Russell Lowell > [We kind o' thought Christ went agin war an' pillage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/we-kind-o-thought-christ-went-agin-war-an-pillage/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [He gives only the worthless gold who gives from a sense of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-gives-only-the-worthless-gold-who-gives-from-a-sense-of-duty/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [As life runs on, the road grows strange with faces new - and near the end. The milestones into headstones change, Neath every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-life-runs-on-the-road-grows-strange-with-faces-new-and-near-the/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Where one person shapes their life by precept and example, there are a thousand who have shaped it by impulse and circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/where-one-person-shapes-their-life-by-precept-and-example-there-are-a/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Granting our wish is one of Fate's saddest jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/granting-our-wish-is-one-of-fate-s-saddest-jokes/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The thing we long for, that we are For one transcendent moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-thing-we-long-for-that-we-are-for-one-transcendent-moment/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [O reputation! dearer far than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/o-reputation-dearer-far-than-life/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Keats longed for fame, but longed above all to deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/keats-longed-for-fame-but-longed-above-all-to-deserve-it/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is beginning to be doubtful whether Parliament and Congress sit in Westminster and Washington, or in the editorial rooms of the leading journals,--so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-beginning-to-be-doubtful-whether-parliament-and-congress-sit-in/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [ \[B\]ut in literature, it should be remembered, a thing always becomes his at last who says it best, and thus makes it his own. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/b-ut-in-literature-it-should-be-remembered-a-thing-always-becomes-his/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It may be glorious to write Thoughts that shall glad the two or three High souls, like those far stars that come in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-may-be-glorious-to-write-thoughts-that-shall-glad-the-two-or-three/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is the vain endeavor to make ourselves what we are not that has strewn history with so many broken purposes and lives left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-the-vain-endeavor-to-make-ourselves-what-we-are-not-that-has/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Take winter as you find him, and he turns out to be a thoroughly honest fellow; with no nonsense in him, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/take-winter-as-you-find-him-and-he-turns-out-to-be-a-thoroughly/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The intellect has only one failing, which, to be sure, is a very considerable one. It has no conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-intellect-has-only-one-failing-which-to-be-sure-is-a-very/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Explore all 471 James Russell Lowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## More Grows quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Their peace and their war Are like wind and storm. War grows from their peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/their-peace-and-their-war-are-like-wind-and-storm-war-grows-from/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-just-want-to-grow-spiritually-with-the-lord/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-al-din-attar/were-you-indeed-not-blinded-by-the-curse-of-self-exile-that-still/) [Farid al-Din Attar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid-al-din-attar/) Browse all 9,037 Grows quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Russell Lowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-less-so-nobleness-enkindleth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-less-so-nobleness-enkindleth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/james-russell-lowell-561_grows_as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-les_1626511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/james-russell-lowell-561_grows_as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-les_1626511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/james-russell-lowell-561_grows_as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-les_1626511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.” — James Russell Lowell", "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": "James Russell Lowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As one lamp lights another, nor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-less-so-nobleness-enkindleth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-one-lamp-lights-another-nor-grows-less-so-nobleness-enkindleth/#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 } } ] } ```