The phrase suggests that one should avoid harming oneself unnecessarily or compromising their own well-being simply to benefit someone else or gain an advantage over them. In a more literal sense, it means to refrain from damaging your own fingers just to blow out another person's candle, implying there’s no reason to hurt yourself in order to extinguish someone else’s light or success.
On a deeper level, this quote encourages individuals to think about the consequences of their actions and to act responsibly towards themselves. It advises against engaging in risky behavior for the sake of hurting others or stealing their glory. The message here is that self-preservation is important and that one should not undermine their own interests or well-being by attempting to sabotage others. This can also be interpreted as a call to integrity, suggesting that personal success and happiness are best achieved through honest means rather than at the expense of others.
James Howell was an English writer who lived from 1594 to 1666. He is known for his contributions to literature during the Jacobean and Caroline periods in England. His works include "Lexicon Tetraglotton," a dictionary in four languages, which was groundbreaking at the time. Howell's writing often contained wise sayings and proverbs that have endured over centuries due to their insightful and practical nature.
