Phrase guide

better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

Even in the face of hopelessness and discontent, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response, than to complain about the situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Often claimed to be an ancient Chinese proverb. Also often misattributed to Eleanor Roosevelt. Earliest known usage is a 1907 sermon by English preacher William Lonsdale Watkinson.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 與其詛咒黑暗,不如點燃一根蠟燭 /与其诅咒黑暗 — in bad times it is worthwhile to do good
  • Chinese Mandarin: 不如点燃一根蜡烛 (yǔqí zǔzhòu hēi'àn, bùrú diǎnrán yī gēn làzhú) — in bad times it is worthwhile to do good
  • Finnish: marjakin on poimittava maasta — in bad times it is worthwhile to do good
  • Portuguese: em vez de amaldiçoar a escuridão, é melhor acender uma vela — in bad times it is worthwhile to do good
  • Spanish: es mejor encender una sola vela que maldecir a la penumbra — in bad times it is worthwhile to do good
  • Turkish: karanlığa söveceğine bir mum yak — in bad times it is worthwhile to do good