Famous Hope Quotes in English with Images

Here’s a collection of famous quotes about hope, each with meanings and examples. These quotes remind us of the power of hope in facing challenges, lifting our spirits, and inspiring perseverance.


1. "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." — Desmond Tutu

  • Meaning: Tutu emphasizes that hope allows us to see a positive future, even in difficult times. It’s a reminder that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always the possibility of light.

  • Example: In times of illness, a patient’s hope for recovery can help them endure treatment and look forward to better health.

2. "Once you choose hope, anything’s possible." — Christopher Reeve

  • Meaning: Reeve, who faced immense challenges himself, highlights the transformative power of hope, which opens up possibilities and keeps us moving forward.

  • Example: Someone who loses their job might hold on to the hope of finding a new opportunity, allowing them to keep searching and eventually land a new position.

3. "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." — Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Meaning: King acknowledges that setbacks are inevitable, but hope should remain constant. It is an unending source of motivation, even in difficult times.

  • Example: After failing a crucial exam, a student may feel disappointed, but keeping hope alive motivates them to try again and eventually succeed.

4. "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul — and sings the tunes without the words — and never stops at all." — Emily Dickinson

  • Meaning: Dickinson beautifully personifies hope as a bird within the soul, constantly providing comfort, even in times of silence or uncertainty.

  • Example: In the aftermath of a personal loss, a person might feel comforted by a quiet sense of hope that things will eventually improve.

5. "Where there is no vision, there is no hope." — George Washington Carver

  • Meaning: Carver stresses that without a vision for a better future, hope cannot exist. Hope depends on the ability to envision something greater.

  • Example: An entrepreneur with a vision for a business will carry hope for its success, motivating them to take risks and work hard to achieve their dream.

6. "The darkest hour has only sixty minutes." — Morris Mandel

  • Meaning: Mandel suggests that difficult times are temporary. Even when things seem bleak, remembering that they won’t last forever can give us hope.

  • Example: During a challenging period, someone might remind themselves of this quote to keep going, knowing that relief or change will eventually come.

7. "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

  • Meaning: Bodett implies that hope is an essential part of happiness. It provides purpose and direction, helping us find meaning in our lives.

  • Example: A retiree may find joy by hoping to travel or start a new hobby, keeping their life filled with excitement and purpose.

8. "Hope is the only thing stronger than fear." — The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

  • Meaning: This quote from The Hunger Games suggests that hope can overcome fear, providing the courage needed to face challenges and take risks.

  • Example: An athlete might feel nervous before a competition, but their hope to win and achieve their goals can outweigh their fear of failure.

9. "However long the night, the dawn will break." — African Proverb

  • Meaning: This proverb teaches that no matter how long or hard a struggle may feel, it will eventually pass, and a new day will bring renewed opportunities.

  • Example: Someone grieving a loss might hold on to the belief that, with time, they will experience healing and find happiness again.

10. "Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality." — Jonas Salk

  • Meaning: Salk believes that hope drives people to dream and to work toward making those dreams a reality, turning imagination into concrete achievements.

  • Example: A scientist hoping to cure a disease may start with just an idea, but their hope inspires them to dedicate years of research toward achieving it.

11. "You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once, but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own." — Michelle Obama

  • Meaning: Obama encourages people to remember that their actions matter, and even a small spark of hope can create a powerful ripple effect.

  • Example: An activist working on social issues might draw hope from this quote, believing their efforts will inspire others to join and help make a larger impact.

12. "There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for." — The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)

  • Meaning: This quote reflects the belief that even when things seem dark, the presence of goodness in the world makes hope worthwhile and worth defending.

  • Example: During a time of conflict or crisis, people might draw strength from this quote, feeling inspired to protect and stand up for what is right.

13. "While there’s life, there’s hope." — Marcus Tullius Cicero

  • Meaning: Cicero suggests that as long as a person is alive, there is always a chance for things to improve, no matter how difficult circumstances may be.

  • Example: A person recovering from a serious illness may cling to this idea, finding the motivation to keep fighting each day.

14. "Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever." — Roy T. Bennett

  • Meaning: Bennett reminds us that life’s challenges are temporary and often lead to personal growth, so holding onto hope is essential.

  • Example: A family struggling through a financial crisis might draw strength from this quote, believing their situation will eventually improve.

15. "Hope is a waking dream." — Aristotle

  • Meaning: Aristotle compares hope to a dream that we carry with us while awake. It provides inspiration and purpose, allowing us to envision and work toward better days.

  • Example: An artist who envisions a successful career may keep working toward that dream, motivated by the hope that one day it will come true.


These quotes illustrate how hope serves as a guiding light, providing strength, courage, and optimism. Whether facing personal struggles or larger societal challenges, holding onto hope allows us to continue moving forward and striving for a brighter future.

I can endure my own despair,
But not another's hope.

- William Walsh Quotes

Until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words, - 'Wait and hope'.

- Hope Quotes by Alexandre Dumas

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.

- Hope Quotes by Anne Lamott

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

-Epicurus Quotes

It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.

- Robert H. Goddard Quotes

Hope is awaking dream.

- Hope Quotes by Aristotle

Hope is awaking dream.

- Hope Quotes by Aristotle Download or Share

Hope doesn't come from calculating whether the good news is winning out over the bad. It's simply a choice to take action.

- Hope Quotes by Anna Lappe

Hope doesn't come from calculating whether the good news is winning out over the bad.  It's simply a choice to take action.

- Hope Quotes by Anna Lappe Download or Share

I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope.

- Hope Quotes by Aeschylus

I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope.

- Hope Quotes by Aeschylus Download or Share

He who despairs over an event is a coward, but he who holds hope for the human condition is a fool.

- Hope Quotes by Albert Camus Download or Share

He that lives upon hope will die fasting.

- Hope Quote by Cicero Download or Share

Hope is the thing with features
That perches in the soul.
And sings the tune
Without the words,
and never stops at all.

- Emily Dickinson Quotes

He who has never hoped can never despair.

- George Bernard Shaw Quotes

History is moving, and it will tend toward hope, or tend toward tragedy.

- George W. Bush Quotes

Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.

- H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes

Hope is only the love of life.

- Henri - Frederic Amiel Quotes

Young people have an almost biological destiny to be hopeful.

- Marshall Ganz, Quotes

Hope, like the gleaming taper's light,
Adorns and cheers our way;
And still, as darker grows the night,
Emits a brighter ray.

- Oliver Goldsmith Quotes

Take hope from the heart of man, and you make him a beast of prey.

- Quida Quotes

To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.

- Robert H. Goddard Quotes

To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.

- Robert Louis Stevenson Quotes

Hope is necessary in every condition.

- Samuel Johnson Quotes

The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope.  Love of the past implies faith in the future.

- Stephen Ambrose Quotes

Cease, every joy, to glimmer on my mind,
But leave - oh! leave the light of Hope behind.

-Thomas Campbell Quotes

Appetite, with an opinion of attaining, is called hope; the same, without such opinion, despair.

- Thomas Hobbes Quotes

Never lose hope.

- Unknown

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings;
Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.

- William Shakespeare Quotes