Who said “There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures.”?

Verified

James Thurber. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLanterns and Lances‎ (1961), p. 146

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“There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures.”
— James Thurber
VerifiedLanterns and Lances‎ (1961), p. 146 · evidenceLight

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Lanterns and Lances‎ (1961), p. 146.

APA

Thurber, J. (n.d.). There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23398-there-are-two-kinds-of-light-the-glow/

MLA

Thurber, James. “There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23398-there-are-two-kinds-of-light-the-glow/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Thurber, James. “There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23398-there-are-two-kinds-of-light-the-glow/.

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“He who hesitates is sometimes saved.”
Verified"The Glass in the Field", The New Yorker (31 October 1939); Fables for Our Time & Famous Poems Illustrated (1940). · evidenceDetails & citeIndecision
“You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.”
Verified"The Owl who was God", The New Yorker (29 April 1939); Fables for Our Time & Famous Poems Illustrated (1940). Parody of "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." · evidenceDetails & citeLies and Lying
“Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?”
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