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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