Only a waning candle sheds its light around












0















I found above mentioned sentence in a article is it some proverb? What does this mean? Below I am copying paragraph where I found this. May be this would be helpful to answer.




Only a waning candle sheds its light around. It is related that Abul
Hassan Ali, a jurist and friend of Al-Beruni visited him when he was
terminally ill. Al-Beruni requested him to repeat the mathematical
problem he was once discussing with him. Thinking that it was not an
appropriate occasion to talk about it, the jurist remained silent.
Al-Beruni insisted upon having a reply and said: “Is it not better to
die with knowledge then to die in ignorance?” Abul Hassan repeated
that problem to which Beruni listened intently and grasped it. A few
moments later he passed away at the age of 75 in 1048 A.D. and was
laid to rest at Ghazna. Thus, he acted upon the saying of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him): “Acquire knowledge
from the cradle to the grave.”




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    0















    I found above mentioned sentence in a article is it some proverb? What does this mean? Below I am copying paragraph where I found this. May be this would be helpful to answer.




    Only a waning candle sheds its light around. It is related that Abul
    Hassan Ali, a jurist and friend of Al-Beruni visited him when he was
    terminally ill. Al-Beruni requested him to repeat the mathematical
    problem he was once discussing with him. Thinking that it was not an
    appropriate occasion to talk about it, the jurist remained silent.
    Al-Beruni insisted upon having a reply and said: “Is it not better to
    die with knowledge then to die in ignorance?” Abul Hassan repeated
    that problem to which Beruni listened intently and grasped it. A few
    moments later he passed away at the age of 75 in 1048 A.D. and was
    laid to rest at Ghazna. Thus, he acted upon the saying of the Holy
    Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him): “Acquire knowledge
    from the cradle to the grave.”




    Note: I have googled but didn't find anything helpful.










    share|improve this question

























      0












      0








      0








      I found above mentioned sentence in a article is it some proverb? What does this mean? Below I am copying paragraph where I found this. May be this would be helpful to answer.




      Only a waning candle sheds its light around. It is related that Abul
      Hassan Ali, a jurist and friend of Al-Beruni visited him when he was
      terminally ill. Al-Beruni requested him to repeat the mathematical
      problem he was once discussing with him. Thinking that it was not an
      appropriate occasion to talk about it, the jurist remained silent.
      Al-Beruni insisted upon having a reply and said: “Is it not better to
      die with knowledge then to die in ignorance?” Abul Hassan repeated
      that problem to which Beruni listened intently and grasped it. A few
      moments later he passed away at the age of 75 in 1048 A.D. and was
      laid to rest at Ghazna. Thus, he acted upon the saying of the Holy
      Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him): “Acquire knowledge
      from the cradle to the grave.”




      Note: I have googled but didn't find anything helpful.










      share|improve this question














      I found above mentioned sentence in a article is it some proverb? What does this mean? Below I am copying paragraph where I found this. May be this would be helpful to answer.




      Only a waning candle sheds its light around. It is related that Abul
      Hassan Ali, a jurist and friend of Al-Beruni visited him when he was
      terminally ill. Al-Beruni requested him to repeat the mathematical
      problem he was once discussing with him. Thinking that it was not an
      appropriate occasion to talk about it, the jurist remained silent.
      Al-Beruni insisted upon having a reply and said: “Is it not better to
      die with knowledge then to die in ignorance?” Abul Hassan repeated
      that problem to which Beruni listened intently and grasped it. A few
      moments later he passed away at the age of 75 in 1048 A.D. and was
      laid to rest at Ghazna. Thus, he acted upon the saying of the Holy
      Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him): “Acquire knowledge
      from the cradle to the grave.”




      Note: I have googled but didn't find anything helpful.







      meaning grammar meaning-in-context proverbs homework






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      asked Apr 13 '14 at 20:01









      user3461957user3461957

      1518




      1518






















          3 Answers
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          2














          Only when a candle is burning does it shed light. A burning candle will get smaller as it does so, which is what waning means. (The opposite of waning is waxing; the moon waxes and wanes as it goes through its monthly cycle of visibility.)



          A candle which is not burning is static. It doesn't get smaller, but nor does it shed light. It is not making any progress towards its end, its 'death'.



          The simile is to human life. If you do not constantly acquire knowledge through life, you are not burning, you are merely static and stagnant with nothing useful to offer. A person who constantly acquires knowledge is like a candle burning, always offering light to those around it on its way to its natural end.






          share|improve this answer































            2














            A version of this proverb I've seen more often is: "The candle burns brightest just before it goes out." For example:




            But, as the old cliche says, perhaps a candle burns brightest just before it goes out.

            (Lawrence J. McCaffrey, Textures of Irish America, 1998)




            Quite often, a candle will get a burst of radiant light just before it flickers out, and some people have used that phenomenon in a metaphor.



            In this case, someone is sharing valuable information just before they pass away.






            share|improve this answer
























            • Liked the answer. Just a small correction. If you read carefully, he is not sharing knowledge, he didn't solve the problem - he talks of obeying the precept to acquire it.

              – chasly from UK
              Jul 16 '15 at 15:45





















            1














            Sit at your desk or table with a new (tall) candle and you'll notice the wax in the candle stem actually causes a shadow beneath the flame. Once the candle burns low, the shadow disappears as the flame gets closer to the desktop surface. Without the tall stem of wax, the light illuminates the desktop or table surface more completely.






            share|improve this answer








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            Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.




















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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              2














              Only when a candle is burning does it shed light. A burning candle will get smaller as it does so, which is what waning means. (The opposite of waning is waxing; the moon waxes and wanes as it goes through its monthly cycle of visibility.)



              A candle which is not burning is static. It doesn't get smaller, but nor does it shed light. It is not making any progress towards its end, its 'death'.



              The simile is to human life. If you do not constantly acquire knowledge through life, you are not burning, you are merely static and stagnant with nothing useful to offer. A person who constantly acquires knowledge is like a candle burning, always offering light to those around it on its way to its natural end.






              share|improve this answer




























                2














                Only when a candle is burning does it shed light. A burning candle will get smaller as it does so, which is what waning means. (The opposite of waning is waxing; the moon waxes and wanes as it goes through its monthly cycle of visibility.)



                A candle which is not burning is static. It doesn't get smaller, but nor does it shed light. It is not making any progress towards its end, its 'death'.



                The simile is to human life. If you do not constantly acquire knowledge through life, you are not burning, you are merely static and stagnant with nothing useful to offer. A person who constantly acquires knowledge is like a candle burning, always offering light to those around it on its way to its natural end.






                share|improve this answer


























                  2












                  2








                  2







                  Only when a candle is burning does it shed light. A burning candle will get smaller as it does so, which is what waning means. (The opposite of waning is waxing; the moon waxes and wanes as it goes through its monthly cycle of visibility.)



                  A candle which is not burning is static. It doesn't get smaller, but nor does it shed light. It is not making any progress towards its end, its 'death'.



                  The simile is to human life. If you do not constantly acquire knowledge through life, you are not burning, you are merely static and stagnant with nothing useful to offer. A person who constantly acquires knowledge is like a candle burning, always offering light to those around it on its way to its natural end.






                  share|improve this answer













                  Only when a candle is burning does it shed light. A burning candle will get smaller as it does so, which is what waning means. (The opposite of waning is waxing; the moon waxes and wanes as it goes through its monthly cycle of visibility.)



                  A candle which is not burning is static. It doesn't get smaller, but nor does it shed light. It is not making any progress towards its end, its 'death'.



                  The simile is to human life. If you do not constantly acquire knowledge through life, you are not burning, you are merely static and stagnant with nothing useful to offer. A person who constantly acquires knowledge is like a candle burning, always offering light to those around it on its way to its natural end.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Apr 13 '14 at 20:17









                  toandfrotoandfro

                  379210




                  379210

























                      2














                      A version of this proverb I've seen more often is: "The candle burns brightest just before it goes out." For example:




                      But, as the old cliche says, perhaps a candle burns brightest just before it goes out.

                      (Lawrence J. McCaffrey, Textures of Irish America, 1998)




                      Quite often, a candle will get a burst of radiant light just before it flickers out, and some people have used that phenomenon in a metaphor.



                      In this case, someone is sharing valuable information just before they pass away.






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • Liked the answer. Just a small correction. If you read carefully, he is not sharing knowledge, he didn't solve the problem - he talks of obeying the precept to acquire it.

                        – chasly from UK
                        Jul 16 '15 at 15:45


















                      2














                      A version of this proverb I've seen more often is: "The candle burns brightest just before it goes out." For example:




                      But, as the old cliche says, perhaps a candle burns brightest just before it goes out.

                      (Lawrence J. McCaffrey, Textures of Irish America, 1998)




                      Quite often, a candle will get a burst of radiant light just before it flickers out, and some people have used that phenomenon in a metaphor.



                      In this case, someone is sharing valuable information just before they pass away.






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • Liked the answer. Just a small correction. If you read carefully, he is not sharing knowledge, he didn't solve the problem - he talks of obeying the precept to acquire it.

                        – chasly from UK
                        Jul 16 '15 at 15:45
















                      2












                      2








                      2







                      A version of this proverb I've seen more often is: "The candle burns brightest just before it goes out." For example:




                      But, as the old cliche says, perhaps a candle burns brightest just before it goes out.

                      (Lawrence J. McCaffrey, Textures of Irish America, 1998)




                      Quite often, a candle will get a burst of radiant light just before it flickers out, and some people have used that phenomenon in a metaphor.



                      In this case, someone is sharing valuable information just before they pass away.






                      share|improve this answer













                      A version of this proverb I've seen more often is: "The candle burns brightest just before it goes out." For example:




                      But, as the old cliche says, perhaps a candle burns brightest just before it goes out.

                      (Lawrence J. McCaffrey, Textures of Irish America, 1998)




                      Quite often, a candle will get a burst of radiant light just before it flickers out, and some people have used that phenomenon in a metaphor.



                      In this case, someone is sharing valuable information just before they pass away.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Apr 13 '14 at 20:17









                      J.R.J.R.

                      55k582183




                      55k582183













                      • Liked the answer. Just a small correction. If you read carefully, he is not sharing knowledge, he didn't solve the problem - he talks of obeying the precept to acquire it.

                        – chasly from UK
                        Jul 16 '15 at 15:45





















                      • Liked the answer. Just a small correction. If you read carefully, he is not sharing knowledge, he didn't solve the problem - he talks of obeying the precept to acquire it.

                        – chasly from UK
                        Jul 16 '15 at 15:45



















                      Liked the answer. Just a small correction. If you read carefully, he is not sharing knowledge, he didn't solve the problem - he talks of obeying the precept to acquire it.

                      – chasly from UK
                      Jul 16 '15 at 15:45







                      Liked the answer. Just a small correction. If you read carefully, he is not sharing knowledge, he didn't solve the problem - he talks of obeying the precept to acquire it.

                      – chasly from UK
                      Jul 16 '15 at 15:45













                      1














                      Sit at your desk or table with a new (tall) candle and you'll notice the wax in the candle stem actually causes a shadow beneath the flame. Once the candle burns low, the shadow disappears as the flame gets closer to the desktop surface. Without the tall stem of wax, the light illuminates the desktop or table surface more completely.






                      share|improve this answer








                      New contributor




                      Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.

























                        1














                        Sit at your desk or table with a new (tall) candle and you'll notice the wax in the candle stem actually causes a shadow beneath the flame. Once the candle burns low, the shadow disappears as the flame gets closer to the desktop surface. Without the tall stem of wax, the light illuminates the desktop or table surface more completely.






                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.























                          1












                          1








                          1







                          Sit at your desk or table with a new (tall) candle and you'll notice the wax in the candle stem actually causes a shadow beneath the flame. Once the candle burns low, the shadow disappears as the flame gets closer to the desktop surface. Without the tall stem of wax, the light illuminates the desktop or table surface more completely.






                          share|improve this answer








                          New contributor




                          Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.










                          Sit at your desk or table with a new (tall) candle and you'll notice the wax in the candle stem actually causes a shadow beneath the flame. Once the candle burns low, the shadow disappears as the flame gets closer to the desktop surface. Without the tall stem of wax, the light illuminates the desktop or table surface more completely.







                          share|improve this answer








                          New contributor




                          Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer






                          New contributor




                          Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









                          answered 1 hour ago









                          Phil RadtkePhil Radtke

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                          92




                          New contributor




                          Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                          New contributor





                          Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.






                          Phil Radtke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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