The motto of the American Christopher Society (founded 1945), said by the society to derive from ‘an ancient Chinese proverb’.
She [Eleanor Roosevelt] would rather light a candle than curse the darkness, and her glow has warmed the world.
[1962 Adlai Stevenson in New York Times 8 Nov. 34]
He is certainly one who believes it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
[2000 Straits Times (online ed.) 26 Aug.]
A fortnight ago, protesters‥wound their way on a candlelit walk through deep snow from the forest up into the citadel. ‘There is an English saying,’ one of them‥told me. ‘It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.’
[2002 Spectator 12 Jan. 26]
Related to: action and inaction
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
