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

That line — “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” — is a proverb of uncertain origin, though it’s best known through its association with Adlai Stevenson, who used it in tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt in 1962.

However, the phrase itself predates both of them. It likely comes from an old Chinese proverb and appeared in English-language missionary and proverb collections as early as the 1890s. The saying was later popularized by various humanitarian and peace movements, including Amnesty International, which adopted it as a motto in 1961.

This proverb has traveled the world because it’s practical truth, not poetry. Complaining about darkness doesn’t change it; action does. Lighting a candle—taking even a small step toward improvement—shifts focus from frustration to agency.

You don’t need to fix everything. You just need to do something. Progress often starts with the smallest possible act of courage or compassion.

What’s one small action you could take today that would bring light to a problem you’ve been complaining about?