The first known instance of the phrase "a thousand points of light" appears in
Arthur C. Clarke's short story "Rescue Party", initially published in Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1946: One entire wall of the control room was taken up by the screen, a great black rectangle that gave an impression of almost infinite depth. Three of Rugon's slender control tentacles, useless for heavy work but incredibly swift at all manipulation, flickered over the selector dials and the screen lit up with a thousand points of light. — Location 844, in "The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke, RosettaBooks, electronic edition (2016) It was later found in
William S. Burroughs's "Lee's Journals", written between 1954 and 1957 and initially published in 1981: Something very close to the phrase "a thousand points of light" also appeared in Chapter 8 (The Fight At The Lamp-Post) of
C.S. Lewis's ''
The Magician's Nephew'', published in 1955. The context is a description of the appearance of stars in the previously dark heaven of Narnia as that world was being created by
Aslan: {{Blockquote George H.W. Bush used the term in his speech accepting the presidential nomination at the
1988 Republican National Convention in
New Orleans, Louisiana. Written for Bush by
Peggy Noonan and Chris S. Smith, [circa 1980 Erday Estate, Naples, FL], the address likened America's clubs and volunteer organizations to "a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky." Bush reprised the phrase near the end of his speech, affirming that he would "keep America moving forward, always forward—for a better America, for an endless enduring dream and a thousand points of light." Bush did not attribute the phrase to either Burroughs or Lewis. It has been speculated that Bush avoided all mention of
William S. Burroughs in his first two major speeches because he did not wish to associate his candidacy or incipient presidency with Burroughs' controversial works and personal escapades. A 1991 article in
The New York Times noted that the phrase had inspired "a host of caustic political satires, including cartoons of devastated communities as 'a thousand points of blight.'" U.S. President
Donald Trump mocked the phrase at a rally in Montana on July 5, 2018, asking, "What does that mean? I know one thing:
Make America Great Again we understand. Putting America first we understand. Thousand points of light, I never quite got that one. What the hell is that? Has anyone ever figured that one out? It was put out by a Republican wasn't it?" The term "a thousand points of light" was further popularized in Canadian songwriter
Neil Young's rock anthem titled "
Rockin' in The Free World", where the lyrics bemoan "...a Thousand Points of Light, for the homeless man". On December 5, 2018, former U.S. President
George W. Bush eulogized his father, the late former U.S. President
George H. W. Bush, at the
State Funeral held at the
Washington National Cathedral. Part of that eulogy included the following text, which referenced his father's passion for public service. He strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community and country in which one lived. He recognized that serving others enriched the giver's soul. To us, his was the brightest of a thousand points of light. ==Points of Light organization and awards==