Electricity is of two kinds, positive and negative. The

Hear the jesting yet piercing words of Stephen Leacock, who declared: “Electricity is of two kinds, positive and negative. The difference is, I presume, that one comes a little more expensive, but is more durable; the other is a cheaper thing, but the moths get into it.” Though cloaked in humor, this saying contains wisdom deeper than it first appears. For behind his playful tone lies a reflection on the nature of opposites, of human choices, and of the folly with which mankind often regards great forces. What he names positive and negative electricity becomes a mirror of life itself—of cost and durability, of what is cheap but fleeting, and of what is costly but enduring.

The ancients themselves would have smiled at such a saying, for they too clothed truth in riddles and parables. When Leacock speaks of durability and expense, he is not merely speaking of the wires and currents that flow unseen through the world; he is speaking of the choices of men. There is always the cheap path, the easy road, the one lined with comfort yet quickly consumed. And there is the costly road, demanding effort, patience, sacrifice—but in return it endures. Even the moths, creatures of decay, are powerless against it. Thus the positive current may be seen as the enduring force of character, while the negative current is that which withers at the first touch of time.

Reflect upon the fate of the Great Library of Alexandria, whose treasures of knowledge were cheap in the sense that they were fragile, vulnerable to fire and neglect. Though rich in wisdom, they lacked the durability of transmission that later invention would bring—such as the printing press, which, though costly in its birth, preserved learning for centuries. In this tale we see the lesson of Leacock’s jest: what is not made durable will be devoured by the moths of history. What endures is often more costly to establish, but it survives the centuries.

Yet let us also remember that humor itself is a vessel of wisdom. Leacock’s wit disguises his teaching, for he reminds us that even in the face of powerful forces like electricity, humans often stumble in their attempts to comprehend. And so it is with life: we often make light of what we do not understand. But in the laughter, truth gleams like a hidden gem—that the choices we make, like currents of energy, are both positive and negative, and each brings its own consequence.

Therefore, the teaching for us is clear. Choose always the road of durability, even if it comes at greater cost. Do not be deceived by the cheapness of fleeting things, for moths and time devour them swiftly. Invest your energy, your labor, your love into what lasts: wisdom, kindness, integrity, learning, and service. These are the positive currents of life, costly perhaps, but enduring as stone. Avoid the negative currents, which glitter for a moment but collapse like dust in the wind.

And yet, do not scorn laughter, for humor itself is a shield against despair. Leacock shows us that the deepest truths can be spoken with a smile. Just as electricity lights the world, so too does humor illuminate wisdom when spoken in riddles and exaggerations. To laugh at folly is not to ignore it, but to see through it, to name it without bitterness, and to invite correction with gentleness.

So let this be the lesson handed down: in every choice, ask whether you are choosing what moths may consume, or what endures through generations. Choose the positive current, though it costs more; guard against the negative current, which fades though it seems cheaper. And above all, learn to laugh as you walk this path, for humor lightens the burden and opens the heart to truth. In this way, Leacock’s playful words become not a mere jest, but a lamp of wisdom for all who come after.