God has supplied man with the intelligence that enables him to overcome the limitations of natural conditions. I furnished myself with a light.
Faria’s “light” is both literal (a lamp in darkness) and symbolic (knowledge in confinement). He models creative problem-solving that Edmond will carry into every disguise. The reference to God and intelligence bridges faith and craft: Providence works through ingenuity. Emotionally, the line fortifies readers who face limits—there’s almost always a way to make a “light.” It also establishes Faria as a maker, not only a thinker. The prison becomes a workshop, and the student will surpass the master.