Quotes about hope
page 28

Maria Mitchell photo
Tom Stoppard photo

“Since we cannot hope for order let us withdraw with style from the chaos.”

Tom Stoppard (1937) British playwright

Source: Lord Malquist and Mr Moon (1966), Ch. I: Dramatis Personae and Other Coincidences.

Roger Ebert photo
John Updike photo

“We hope the "real" person behind the words will be revealed as ignominiously as a shapeless snail without its shapely shell.”

John Updike (1932–2009) American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic

On “consumeristic appetite for interviews,” New York Times (17 August 1986)

Horace Greeley photo
Walter Savage Landor photo
James Fenimore Cooper photo

“Parson Amen's speculations on this interesting subject, although this may happen to be the first occasion on which he has ever heard the practice of taking scalps justified by Scripture. Viewed in a proper spirit, they ought merely to convey a lesson of humility, by rendering apparent the wisdom, nay the necessity, of men's keeping them-selves within the limits of the sphere of knowledge they were designed to fill, and convey, when rightly considered, as much of a lesson to the Puseyite, with abstractions that are quite as unintelligible to himself as they are to others; to the high-wrought and dogmatical Calvinist, who in the midst of his fiery zeal, forgets that love is the very essence of the relation between God and man; to the Quaker, who seems to think the cut of a coat essential to salvation; to the descendant of the Puritan, who whether he be Socinian, Calvinist, Universalist, or any other "1st," appears to believe that the "rock" on which Christ declared he would found his church was the "Rock of Plymouth"; and to the unbeliever, who, in deriding all creeds, does not know where to turn to find one to substitute in their stead. Humility, in matters of this sort, is the great lesson that all should teach and learn; for it opens the way to charity, and eventually to faith, and through both of these to hope; finally, through all of these, to heaven.”

James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American author

Source: Oak Openings or The bee-hunter (1848), Ch. XI

Ted Kennedy photo
James A. Garfield photo
John Davidson photo

“Farewell the hope that mocked, farewell despair
That went before me still and made the pace.
The earth is full of graves, and mine was there
Before my life began; my resting-place.”

John Davidson (1857–1909) Scottish poet

"The Last Journey", from The Testament of dick peter (London: Grant Richards, 1908) p. 146

George Gordon Byron photo

“The heart bowed down by weight of woe
To weakest hope will cling.”

Alfred Bunn (1796–1860) British businessman, librettist

The Bohemian Girl (1843), set to music by Michael William Balfe.

Herbert Marcuse photo

“They [great works of literature] are invalidated not because of their literary obsolescence. Some of these images pertain to contemporary literature and survive in its most advanced creations. What has been invalidated is their subversive force, their destructive content—their truth. In this transformation, they find their home in everyday living. The alien and alienating oeuvres of intellectual culture become familiar goods and services. Is their massive reproduction and consumption only a change in quantity, namely, growing appreciation and understanding, democratization of culture? The truth of literature and art has always been granted (if it was granted at all) as one of a “higher” order, which should not and indeed did not disturb the order of business. What has changed in the contemporary period is the difference between the two orders and their truths. The absorbent power of society depletes the artistic dimension by assimilating its antagonistic contents. In the realm of culture, the new totalitarianism manifests itself precisely in a harmonizing pluralism, where the most contradictory works and truths peacefully coexist in indifference. Prior to the advent of this cultural reconciliation, literature and art were essentially alienation, sustaining and protecting the contradiction—the unhappy consciousness of the divided world, the defeated possibilities, the hopes unfulfilled, and the promises betrayed. They were a rational, cognitive force, revealing a dimension of man and nature which was repressed and repelled in reality.”

Source: One-Dimensional Man (1964), pp. 60-61

Jane Addams photo
Rudyard Kipling photo
Frances Kellor photo
Winston S. Churchill photo

“It is not given to us to peer into the mysteries of the future. Still, I avow my hope and faith, sure and inviolate, that in the days to come the British and American peoples will for their own safety and for the good of all walk together side by side in majesty, in justice, and in peace.”

Ending of the Speech to a joint session of the United States Congress, Washington, D.C. (26 December 1941); reported in Winston S. Churchill: His Complete Speeches, 1897–1963, ed. Robert Rhodes James (1974), vol. 6, p. 6541. The Congressional Record reports that this speech was followed by "Prolonged applause, the Members of the Senate and their guests rising"; Congressional Record, vol. 87, p. 10119.
The Second World War (1939–1945)

Robert Louis Stevenson photo
Ziad Jarrah photo

“I am guilty that I raised your hopes about wedding, marriage, children and family, and many other things.”

Ziad Jarrah (1975–2001) September 11th hijacker

Letter to Aysel Şengün (2001)

Lucy Mack Smith photo

“Oh! no," said Mr. Smith, "I hope not.”

Lucy Mack Smith (1775–1856) American religious leader

The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother (1853), "Rigdon's Depression"

Shimon Peres photo
Linus Torvalds photo

“But this is definitely another of those "This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Al-biwan Ke-Viro, you're my only hope" issues. Al? Please don't make me wear that golden bikini.”

Linus Torvalds (1969) Finnish-American software engineer and hacker

Re: fasync_remove_entry oops, Torvalds, Linus, 2013-03-07, 2013-05-01 https://lkml.org/lkml/2013/3/7/529,
2010s, 2013

Mark Satin photo
Nile Kinnick photo
Simone de Beauvoir photo
Tommy Lee Jones photo

“I refuse to be pessimistic. I don't believe in it. I hope that we can find a way to keep from destroying the earth.”

Tommy Lee Jones (1946) American actor and film director

Interview interview (1995)

E. L. James photo
Whittaker Chambers photo
Conor Oberst photo
John F. Kennedy photo
John Gray photo
Thomas Guthrie photo
Halldór Laxness photo
John F. Kennedy photo

“It was early in the Seventeenth Century that Francis Bacon remarked on three recent inventions already transforming the world: the compass, gunpowder and the printing press. Now the links between the nations first forged by the compass have made us all citizens of the world, the hopes and threats of one becoming the hopes and threats of us all. In that one world's efforts to live together, the evolution of gunpowder to its ultimate limit has warned mankind of the terrible consequences of failure.
And so it is to the printing press — to the recorder of man's deeds, the keeper of his conscience, the courier of his news — that we look for strength and assistance, confident that with your help man will be what he was born to be: free and independent.”

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America

Kennedy here references Francis Bacon’s Aphorism 129 of Novum Organum: Again, we should notice the force, effect, and consequences of inventions, which are nowhere more conspicuous than in those three which were unknown to the ancients; namely, printing, gunpowder, and the compass. For these three have changed the appearance and state of the whole world; first in literature, then in warfare, and lastly in navigation: and innumerable changes have been thence derived, so that no empire, sect, or star, appears to have exercised a greater power and influence on human affairs than these mechanical discoveries.
1961, Address to ANPA

Hillary Clinton photo
Edward Hopper photo
Margrethe II of Denmark photo

“I hope I will be able to paint as long as I live.”

Margrethe II of Denmark (1940) Queen of Denmark

Unsourced

Arthur C. Clarke photo

“There is hopeful symbolism in the fact that flags do not wave in a vacuum.”

Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British science fiction writer, science writer, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host

As quoted in Values of the Wise : Humanity's Highest Aspirations (2004) by Jason Merchey, p. 31
2000s and attributed from posthumous publications

Edgar Degas photo
Jeremy Corbyn photo

“The Musalmans of Hindustan (and) Musalmans of the whole world were looking to Pakistan with hope and longing eyes for guidance and help. Indian Muslims were also affected by whatever was happening in Pakistan or any other Muslim country. Indian Muslims were greatly pained at the defeat of Pakistan in 1971.”

Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi (1913–1999) Indian islamic scholar

Karachi in July 1978 at the First Islamic Asian Conference. Addressing the delegates of the Conference. Quoted from Lal, K. S. (1999). Theory and practice of Muslim state in India. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan. Chapter 6

Lalu Prasad Yadav photo

“I know some people say I can be funny. But there is always a deeper meaning to what I say. I am a socialist at heart and have the interests of the poor in mind. When people see how I manage to work my way out of tough situations, it gives them hope in their own life”

Lalu Prasad Yadav (1948) Indian politician

In an interview to Siddharth Srivastava ( India's man for all seasons, Asia Times, September 29, 2004, 2006-05-29 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FI29Df02.html,).

Margaret Thatcher photo

“The battle for women's rights has been largely won. The days when they were demanded and discussed in strident tones should be gone for ever. And I hope they are. I hated those strident tones that you still hear from some Women's Libbers.”

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British stateswoman and politician

Speech on Women in a changing World (26 July 1982) http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/105007
First term as Prime Minister

Penn Jillette photo

“Atheism is the only real hope against terrorism.”

Penn Jillette (1955) American magician

"Morality, Religion And Bullsh*T: An Interview With Penn Jillette" by Ryan Shaffer, at the American Humanist Association (December 2012) http://americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-morality-religion-and-bullsht-an-interview-with-penn
2010s

Andrew Sega photo

“One of the issues these days is the sheer amount of music out there to be listened to. There are more bands than one could ever hope to explore.”

Andrew Sega (1975) musician from America

Connexion Bizarre interview, 2007 http://www.connexionbizarre.net/interviews/diffusion-records-an-interview-with-andrew-sega/

Jahangir photo

“On the 24th of the same month I went to see the fort of Kangra, and gave an order that the Qazi, the Chief Justice (Mir'Adl), and other learned men of Islam should accompany me and carry out in the fort whatever was customary, according to the religion of Muhammad. Briefly, having traversed about one koss, I went up to the top of the fort, and by the grace of God, the call to prayer and the reading of the Khutba and the slaughter of a bullock which had not taken place from the commencement of the building of the fort till now, were carried out in my presence. I prostrated myself in thanksgiving for this great gift, which no king had hoped to receive, and ordered a lofty mosque to be built inside the fort' ….'After going round the fort I went to see the temple of Durga, which is known as Bhawan. A world has here wandered in the desert of error. Setting aside the infidels whose custom is the worship of idols, crowds of the people of Islam, traversing long distances, bring their offerings and pray to the black stone (image)' Some maintain that this stone, which is now a place of worship for the vile infidels, is not the stone which was there originally, but that a body of the people of Islam came and carried off the original stone, and threw it into the bottom of the river, with the intent that no one could get at it. For a long time the tumult of the infidels and idol-worshippers had died away in the world, till a lying brahman hid a stone for his own ends, and going to the Raja of the time said: 'I saw Durga in a dream, and she said to me: They have thrown me into a certain place: quickly go and take me up.”

Jahangir (1569–1627) 4th Mughal Emperor

The Raja, in the simplicity of his heart, and greedy for the offerings of gold that would come to him, accepted the tale of the brahman and sent a number of people with him, and brought that stone, and kept it in this place with honour, and started again the shop of error and misleading
Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) , Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, translated into English by Alexander Rogers, first published 1909-1914, New Delhi Reprint, 1978, Vol. II, pp. 223-25.

Joyce Kilmer photo
James II of England photo

“What we hoped was that we could stop the coming end of the world.”

Ken Kesey (1935–2001) novelist

Trip of a Lifetime (1999)

John Gay photo

“Is there no hope? the sick man said;
The silent doctor shook his head.”

John Gay (1685–1732) English poet and playwright

Fable, The Sick Man and the Angel
Fables (1727)

Ai Weiwei photo
Dennis Prager photo
Jack Benny photo

“Bob Hope: [on being on a CBS show] I feel like Zsa Zsa Gabor at a P. T. A. meeting.”

Jack Benny (1894–1974) comedian, vaudeville performer, and radio, television, and film actor

The Jack Benny Program (Radio: 1932-1955), The Jack Benny Program (Television: 1950-1965)

Cyrus David Foss photo
Emma Goldman photo

“There is no hope even that woman, with her right to vote, will ever purify politics.”

Emma Goldman (1868–1940) anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches

p. 219 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2162/2162-h/2162-h.htm#emancipation
The Tragedy of Woman's Emancipation (1906)

George W. Bush photo
Orson Scott Card photo
William Styron photo
Louisa May Alcott photo
Huey P. Newton photo
Adolf Hitler photo

“We do not want any other god than Germany itself. It is essential to have fanatical faith and hope and love in and for Germany.”

Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) Führer and Reich Chancellor of Germany, Leader of the Nazi Party

As quoted in A History of National Socialism, Konrad Heiden, A. A. Knopf (1935) p. 100
Other remarks

Letitia Elizabeth Landon photo
Walter Rauschenbusch photo
Kit Carson photo

“Shortly after the ignominious expulsion of the Texas invaders, General J. H. Carleton was appointed to the command of this Department, and with the greatest promptitude he turned his attention to the freeing of the Territory from these lawless savages. To this great work he brought many years' experience and a perfect knowledge of the means to effect that end. He saw that the thirty (30) millions of dollars expended and the many lives lost in the former attempts at the subjugation, would not have been profitless, had not there been something radically wrong in the policy pursued. He was not long in ascertaining that treaties were as promises written in sand. nor in discovering that they had no recognized 'Head' authority to represent them; that each chief's influence and authority was immediately confined to his own followers or people; that any treaty signed by one or more of these chiefs had no binding effect on the remainder, and that there were a large number of the worst characters who acknowledged no chief at all. Hence it was that on all occasions when treaties were made, one party were continuing their depredations, whilst the other were making peace. And hence it was apparent that treaties were absolutely powerless for good. He adopted a new policy, i. e., placing them on a reservation (the wisdom of which is already manifest); a new era dawned on New Mexico, and the dying hope of the people was again revived; never more I trust, to meet with disappointment. He first organized a force against the Mescalero Apaches, which I had the honor to command. After a short and inexpensive campaign, the Mescaleros were placed on their present reservation.”

Kit Carson (1809–1868) American frontiersman and Union Army general

Letter to General James Henry Carleton (May 17, 1864)

Timothy McVeigh photo
Vincent Gallo photo

“I hope my work is more interesting and more intelligent than I am.”

Vincent Gallo (1961) American film director, writer, model, actor and musician

Another Man Essay

George W. Bush photo
Letitia Elizabeth Landon photo

“The hope that clings to the least glimpse of blue
Amid a sky of murkiness; the fear
That sickens at itself; the fond deceit,
That will not see the truth; the tenderness,
That only asks to trust; and, at the last,
The knowledge we have known in vain so long
Comes like a thunderbolt, and crashes.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–1838) English poet and novelist

(24th July 1824) Poetic Sketches - 5th Series. Sketch the Second. - Infidelity
(31st July 1824) Poetic Sketches - 5th Series. Sketch the Third.—The Knight’s Tale. See The Vow of The Peacock
The London Literary Gazette, 1824

Thomas Henry Huxley photo
Arthur Stanley Eddington photo
Franklin D. Roosevelt photo

“I hope your committee will not permit doubts as to constitutionality, however reasonable, to block the suggested legislation.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) 32nd President of the United States

Letter to Samuel B. Hill, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14894 (6 July 1935)
1930s

Kuruvilla Pandikattu photo

“After realising the depth of tragedy, we can and need to be joyful in hope.”

Kuruvilla Pandikattu (1957) Indian philosopher

Joy: Share it! p. 54.
Joy: Share it! (2017)

Philip Snowden, 1st Viscount Snowden photo
Anton Mauve photo

“Hereby I send you back the 'Winter' [a painting]. I hope you will be better satisfied now. After alternately smashing away and adding on the cart some new figures, finally this one climbed up, which I hope will do better than its predecessors..”

Anton Mauve (1838–1888) Dutch painter (1838–1888)

translation from original Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018
(version in original Dutch / origineel citaat van Anton Mauve, in het Nederlands:) Hierbij zend ik je den winter [een schilderij] terug. Ik hoop dat je nu beter tevreden zult zijn. Na er eenige figuurtjes beurtelings op en van de wagen zijn gesmeten is er eindelijk deze opgeklommen die hoop ik beter zijn werk zal doen dan zijn voorganger..
Quote in a letter to Goupil in The Hague; as cited by R. Tervaert & C. Stolwijk, in ‘’De fabriek: Anton Mauve en zijn handelaren’’, 2009, p. 139
art-seller Goupil in The Hague wanted to buy this painting but demanded some additions first, to make it more marketable, it was too 'empty'
undated quotes

Letitia Elizabeth Landon photo
Elizabeth Cheney photo
Richard Francis Burton photo

“"Fools rush where Angels fear to tread!" Angels and Fools have equal claim
To do what Nature bids them do, sans hope of praise, sans fear of blame!”

Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890) British explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, lin…

The Kasîdah of Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî (1870)

Christopher Hitchens photo
Silvio Berlusconi photo

“I hope that in Egypt there can be a transition toward a more democratic system without a break from President Mubarak, who in the West, above all in the United States, is considered the wisest of men and a precise reference point.”

Silvio Berlusconi (1936) Italian politician

On Hosni Mubarak, in the relation to the 2011 Egyptian protests, as quoted in Berlusconi: Hosni Mubarak Is 'The Wisest Of Men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/04/silvio-berlusconi-hosni-m_n_818651.html, in The Huffington Post (4 February 2011), and Berlusconi: Mubarak is a wise man at al Jazeera (February 2011) http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/201124194950335734.html
2011

Algernon Charles Swinburne photo
Thomas Jefferson photo
Christopher Hitchens photo
Boris Johnson photo