The origin of the phrase is from Mike O'Dell and it was written as
follows:
"Increase the light and reduce the heat."
Mike O'Dell changed that to:
"Reduce the heat and increase the light."
I have not a clue what that expression means; I have never seen it
before anywhere that I can recall (speaking my one and only language,
English). Is it Quebecois, Canadian, American, IETFian... ? I do not
know and cannot imagine it conveying anything to someone who is new to
the IETF and is not a native English speaker!
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter,
Giving more light than heat, extinct in both,
- Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3
Culturally yours,
John