Quote by Edith Wharton: “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

This quote offers a profound metaphor for influence, suggesting we can either originate inspiration ourselves or amplify the good of others. Both roles are vital in illuminating the world and fostering positive change.

Wharton, an astute observer of society, often wrote about individuals' roles within their communities and the impact they have, reflecting on moral and social responsibilities in her time, especially post-World War I.

American novelist and short story writer who chronicled the social mores of Gilded Age New York with devastating precision and irony. Her novel The Age of Innocence won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921, making her the first woman to receive the award.