20 Quotes About Hope to Help You Find the Silver Lining in Any Situation
Updated: Feb. 13, 2024
Four expert tips to help you move from feeling hopeless to hopeful, followed by quotes about hope that you may feel inspired to share.
We live in…interesting times. From a recent pandemic to wars, from feeling pressure at work to reading thoughtless comments on social media: Negative influences in our daily lives can mount and feel overwhelming fast. But despite all the challenges of our modern world, Anita Sanchez, PhD, suggests hope is the one attribute that can mean the difference between surviving and thriving. “Most of us have had feelings of hopelessness at some time or other, and this is a normal part of life,” Dr. Sanchez says.
Our human minds are good at convincing us that current or past experiences will last forever. Believing that can cause us to lose hope in the future. This doesn’t have to be the case, says Dr. Sanchez, who is also author of The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times. “No matter what your circumstance today, no matter how bad things can get, you will find that everything eventually changes,” Dr. Sanchez says. “You can have hope that life’s troubles are not permanent.”
What can you do if you feel yourself slipping into a place of hopelessness? Dr. Sanchez says there is a way. “Hope is a power and a gift that is available to everyone if they look for it,” she says. Not a naturally hopeful person? No worries—it’s a skill she says you can learn.
In the meantime, quotes about hope can help you turn your eyes toward the horizon. Here’s Dr. Sanchez’s best advice for finding the silver lining, even if it takes a little effort at first.
Dr. Sanchez’s 4 tips to move from hopeless to hopeful:
- Take note about what gives you hope. These can be things you see, hear, taste, feel, or do. From a budding flower to a new baby to a job promotion, write down everything that gives you hope.
- Reread your notes when you’re feeling low, or talk to others who can remind you that hope is a constant and dependable source of energy.
- Let go of needing to control everything. Part of hope is learning to let go and trust that things will be OK.
- Learn from others about how they find hope. One powerful way to do this? Read quotes about hope.
Quotes about hope
1. It’s the lack of hope that kills you
“I’ve been hearing this phrase y’all got over here that I ain’t too crazy about: ‘It’s the hope that kills you.’ I disagree. I think it’s the lack of hope that comes and gets you. See, I believe in hope. I believe in belief. Now, where I’m from, we got a saying too—a question, actually: ‘Do you believe in miracles?'” – Ted Lasso
There’s a reason that the TV show Ted Lasso has been such a huge hit. Part of it is due to Ted’s quotes about hope and his relentless optimism—not in spite of bad things happening, but because of them. Take a real-life page from Ted’s fictional playbook and follow these 6 Easy Steps to Develop a Positive Attitude.
2. What does hope look like to you?
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” – Emily Dickinson
Visualizing hope as a bird, like Dickinson in one of the most iconic quotes about hope, or a beloved family member or even a color can help you look for it in your daily life.
For instance, if you find the color yellow hopeful, every time you spot something yellow is a symbol that could give you a little boost. Jot it down when it happens.
3. Hope is a superpower
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.” – Suzanne Collins
People who are always hopeful are often seen as deluded or naive, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Choosing to be hopeful is a strength that can keep you moving forward when everything else seems bleak.
4. Look for the pinpoints of light
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu
Wherever there is darkness there will be pockets of light. Instead of focusing on the dark, redirect your gaze towards the light. If you have a hard time finding light anywhere, and this goes on for a prolonged period, it may be an opportune time to speak with a professional.
5. Hope is a quiet voice, but it’s there if you listen
“When the world says, ‘Give up,’ hope whispers, ‘Try it one more time.'” – Unknown
There are a lot of people who will tell you to give up on your dreams. Find the ones who will encourage you to keep going and give you hope that you’ll achieve them.
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6. Every beat of your heart is a hope
“Hope is the heartbeat of the soul.” – Michelle Horst
Sometimes we get so caught up in the daily grind or in the challenges of life that we forget to take a moment and just be grateful that we’re here, and we’re alive. It can be helpful to pause and consider that every heartbeat, every breath, every step is a blessing.
7. The power of hope to change lives
“A more excellent hope is mightier than a wistful wish. Hope, fortified by faith and charity, forges a force as strong as steel. Hope becomes an anchor to the soul.” – Russell M. Nelson
Not sure how to build hope? Try the 5-5-5 trick: Ask yourself, “Will this matter in five days? Five months? Five years?” Your answers can help give you hope and put your worries into perspective.
8. Hope makes life feel easier
“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
We aren’t suggesting hope will make life easier, but it can make life feel easier by helping you better weather the storms and believe that plenty of tomorrows will be lighter and brighter than today.
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9. You can do miracles
“Hope is the companion of power and the mother of success; for who so hopes has within him the gift of miracles.” – Samuel Smiles
Underestimating your power to improve your life and the lives of others is a common mistake. Take heed of these quotes about hope and stop being hard on yourself and focus on your strengths instead.
10. Dream the impossible dream
“Hope is a waking dream.” – Aristotle
Finding your higher purpose can help you find the determination and purpose to realize your dreams…and this will drive you.
11. Despair is the enemy of hope
“Don’t despair: despair suggests you are in total control and know what is coming. You don’t—surrender to events with hope.” – Alain de Botton
The opposite of hope is despair. If you find yourself falling into the vicious cycle of despair and anxiety, use these tips to improve your mental health.
12. Things will get better
“Hope is a force of nature. It pulls us through tough times and gives us the strength to keep going.” – Unknown
It’s a fundamental law of nature: Nothing ever stays the same. That’s true for rock formations formed over thousands of years, and it’s true for our own rocky days. It starts with your thoughts: Here are 15 Ways Reframing Your Thoughts Can Change Your Life.
13. Believe in yourself
“Hope is the thing that holds you to the belief that things will get better.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
The saying suggests that worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair: You’re moving but you’re not actually going anywhere. Holding onto thoughts of hope can help you quash the ruminating and actually move forward with your life.
14. Hope is happiness
“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” – Tom Bodett
You might recognize Tom Bodett’s name from the old Motel 6 radio commercials. The longtime radio personality had a point: Feeling hope really can boil down to these three ideals.
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15. Sparks of kindness make a bonfire of hope
“Hope is like a road in the country; there wasn’t ever a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” – Lin Yutang
Hope is something humans forge collectively with a shared intention, proving that what once seemed impossible can come into being with perseverance. Whether you’re volunteering in your community or reading to your child at bedtime, every act of goodness has the power to inspire others to do their part to make the world better.
16. Hope doesn’t always promise a happy ending
“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out.” – Vaclav Havel
The Czech president and author Vaclav Havel knew something about hope in the face of adversity. Failures and mistakes all can build strength—giving you what you need, which in the long run is almost always more fulfilling than what you think you wanted in a given moment.
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17. Never stop learning and growing
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein
With hope comes the opportunity for growth. Take a lesson from these quotes about hope and look for opportunities to learn new things and improve yourself.
18. There’s self-assurance in surrender
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller
There are things you can do right now to practice self-love and increase your sense of self-worth. Start with these ideas that are instant self-confidence boosters.
19. The sun will come out tomorrow
“There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.” – Bernard Williams
Is there anything more common than a sunrise? And at the same time, is there anything more powerful than a sunrise? Focusing on the simple pleasures that make life worth living will make you feel more hopeful.
20. Hurt can feel hopeless and helpless
“Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.” – Robert H. Schuller
When you’re hurting, it can be tough to sit in that feeling and know that while it will pass eventually, it hurts a lot right now. This helpless feeling may even make you feel hopeless. Try these mindfulness tips that can help you stay present in the moment while you wait for the hopelessness to pass.
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Originally Published: July 17, 2023
