“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

—  Anne Frank

Variant: Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.

Last update Nov. 25, 2023. History

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Anne Frank 110
victim of the Holocaust and author of a diary 1929–1945

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“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death.”

Anne Frank (1929–1945) victim of the Holocaust and author of a diary

Source: The Diary of a Young Girl

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“It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

Anne Frank (1929–1945) victim of the Holocaust and author of a diary

15 July 1944; Variant translations:
It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.
I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.
I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery, and death...and yet...I think...this cruelty will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.
Source: The Diary of a Young Girl (1942 - 1944)
Context: It's difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. It's utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more. In the meantime, I must hold on to my ideals. Perhaps the day will come when I'll be able to realize them!

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“The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good — in spite of all the people who say he is very good.”

Robert Graves (1895–1985) English poet and novelist

Quoted in The Observer [London] (6 December 1964).
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“I know of people who secretly think about themselves: God must be really happy that I still believe in Him at all.”

Wilhelm Busch (pastor) (1897–1966) German pastor and writer

Good heavens! That's not enough!
What's the use of walking with God? Walking with God is no illusion p. 209
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