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It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Meaning: Taking constructive action is more effective than complaining about a problem.

Origin: Ancient Chinese proverb, popularized in the West by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 20th century.

Translations

  • French: Il vaut mieux allumer une bougie que de maudire l'obscurité (literally: It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness)
  • Spanish: Es mejor encender una vela que maldecir la oscuridad (literally: It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness)
  • Japanese: 暗闇を呪うより、ろうそくに火を灯せ (Kurayami wo norou yori, rōsoku ni hi wo tomose) (literally: Rather than cursing the darkness, light a candle)

More proverbs about Challenge

  • When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion — Collective effort by many can overcome even the most powerful opposition.
  • It is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog — Determination and spirit matter far more than physical size or advantage.
  • The obstacle is the path — Difficulties are not barriers to our goals but the very means by which we achieve them.
  • After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb — Every achievement reveals further challenges ahead; success is a continuous journey.
  • Fortune favors the prepared mind — Success comes not from luck alone but from being ready to seize opportunities when they a…
  • Every wall is a door — What appears to be an impassable barrier can be transformed into an opportunity.

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