There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

The aphorism contrasts two forms of moral or intellectual influence. To “be the candle” is to originate illumination—through one’s own insight, creativity, courage, or example. To “be the mirror” is to transmit and amplify light that comes from elsewhere—by recognizing excellence, encouraging others, teaching, or faithfully reflecting truths one did not invent. The pairing dignifies secondary or supportive roles: reflection is not mere passivity but a way of increasing brightness in the world. Read this way, the line argues for a plural ethics of contribution, where leadership and stewardship, invention and advocacy, can be equally valuable modes of “spreading light.”