The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is unchangeable or certain.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
There is nothing that fear and hope does not permit men to do.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. No merchant or tradesman would set himself to work if he did not hope to reap benefit thereby.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Hope is the chief blessing of man; and that hope only is rational of which we are sensible that it cannot deceive us.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Hope is a very unruly emotion.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
While there’s life, there’s hope.
—Common Proverb
Hopes are but the dreams of those that wake.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
Hope is an adventure, a going forward—a confident search for a rewarding life.
—Karl Menninger (1893–1990) American Psychiatrist
In old age the consolation of hope is reserved for the tenderness of parents, who commence a new life in their children, the faith of enthusiasts, who sing hallelujahs above the clouds; and the vanity of authors, who presume the immortality of their name and writings.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune’s spite; revive from ashes and rise.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
With each passing day, I didn’t lose hope. I fought to have more.
—Amy Tan (b.1952) Chinese-American Novelist
Where there is no hope, there can be no endeavor.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Beware how you take away hope from any human being.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Hope: desire and expectation rolled into one.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Hope is the most beneficial of all the affections, and doth much to the prolongation of life, if it be not too often frustrated; but entertaineth the fancy with an expectation of good.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word, but in the night of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
The miserable have no other medicine, but only hope.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
It was a Spring that never came, but we have lived enough to know what we have never had remains. It is the things we have that go.
—Sara Teasdale (1884–1933) American Poet
The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.
—Bert Williams (1876–1922) American Entertainer, Actor
We promise according to our hopes, but perform according to our selfishness and our fears.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired.
—Erik Erikson (1902–94) German-born American Developmental Psychologist
From the withered tree, a flower blooms.
—Unknown
True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings; kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Oh, what a valiant faculty is hope.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
The men whom I have seen succeed best in life always have been cheerful and hopeful men; who went about their business with a smile on their faces; and took the changes and chances of this mortal life like men; facing rough and smooth alike as it came.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
It’s a lot better to hope than not to.
—Ben Stein (b.1944) American Lawyer, Writer, Economist, Humorist
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.
—Anne Lamott (b.1954) American Novelist
No matter how difficult life can be the most important thing is to live it with hope.
—Anonymous
Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
The worldly hope men set their hearts upon turns ashes—or it prospers; and anon, like snow upon the desert’s dusty face, lighting a little hour or two—is gone.
—Omar Khayyam (1048–1123) Persian Mathematician