--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps. But the firstborn of hope is…" description: "\"Perhaps. But the firstborn of hope is tragedy.\" — Anne Fortier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/anne-fortier-7042_firstborn_perhaps-but-the-firstborn-of-hope-is-tra_971831.png" --- # Perhaps. But the firstborn of hope is tragedy. ![“Perhaps. But the firstborn of hope is tragedy.” quote by Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/anne-fortier-7042_firstborn_perhaps-but-the-firstborn-of-hope-is-tra_971831.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/anne-fortier-7042_firstborn_perhaps-but-the-firstborn-of-hope-is-tra_971831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/anne-fortier-7042_firstborn_perhaps-but-the-firstborn-of-hope-is-tra_971831.png) > “Perhaps. But the firstborn of hope is tragedy.” [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hope often emerges after tragedy, as loss can spark new aspirations and resilience. **In simple terms:** Tragedy can birth hope. Key Takeaway Find hope after loss. Themes resilience hope growth Mood reflective optimistic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - personal setbacks - creative writing Key Concepts post‑traumatic growth meaning‑making Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture hope after a setback? - What role does grief play in personal growth? A Different Perspective Hope may feel forced if not authentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Firstborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firstborn/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [“I was ready to sign over Frankie and my firstborn to get out of this particular hole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-was-ready-to-sign-over-frankie-and-my-firstborn-to-get-out-of-this/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [ Speaking of birthdays, our firstborn \[recently turned 2\]. As parents sometimes fondly do, we reminisced a bit about his early days on earth-the excitement,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/speaking-of-birthdays-our-firstborn-recently-turned-2-as-parents/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“But, slow learner, I'm beginning to trust that the gods are not going to snatch my firstborn if I happen to enjoy my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mayes/but-slow-learner-i-m-beginning-to-trust-that-the-gods-are-not-going/) [Frances Mayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mayes/) > [He was the firstborn Bridgerton of a firstborn Bridgerton of a firstborn Bridgerton eight times over. He had a dynastic responsibility to be fruitful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/he-was-the-firstborn-bridgerton-of-a-firstborn-bridgerton-of-a/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-master-never-seemed-to-have-his-fill-of-gazing-at-his-firstborn/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“I’m going to name my firstborn son 0123456789, because I want him to learn to count before he learns the alphabet. And my second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-going-to-name-my-firstborn-son-0123456789-because-i-want-him-to/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [My parents wished peace upon their firstborn child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalom-harlow/my-parents-wished-peace-upon-their-firstborn-child/) [Shalom Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalom-harlow/) > [“Verse 12 \[of Ex. 12) tells us that the judgment of Yahweh is not only on the Egyptians but also on their deities. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/verse-12-of-ex-12-tells-us-that-the-judgment-of-yahweh-is-not-only-on/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [“And I will make him the firstborn,         the highest of the kings of the earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crossway/and-i-will-make-him-the-firstborn-the-highest-of-the-kings-of-the/) Crossway > [I'm second, and so my brother is first. Being second, sometimes you get left out and all of that. The anecdotal stories about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-m-second-and-so-my-brother-is-first-being-second-sometimes-you-get/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [“ He pre-designed and engineered us from the start to be jointly fashioned in the same mold and image of his son according to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-du-toit/he-pre-designed-and-engineered-us-from-the-start-to-be-jointly/) [François Du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-du-toit/) > [“I’ll name my firstborn child Squiblob, after his mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-ll-name-my-firstborn-child-squiblob-after-his-mother/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“THE MOTTO, “IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN,’” INSULTS A FIRSTBORN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-byk/the-motto-if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-insults-a/) [Lynn Byk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-byk/) > [“My firstborn and my baby both tried to shed me like a husk from the start, and the twins came with a fine interior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/my-firstborn-and-my-baby-both-tried-to-shed-me-like-a-husk-from-the/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Not even if you fed me your firstborn, still wet and screaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/not-even-if-you-fed-me-your-firstborn-still-wet-and-screaming/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) ## More by Anne Fortier > [“Shush!” said Ambrogio to the dog, “I advise you to hide, in case it is the horned one trying to get in. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/shush-said-ambrogio-to-the-dog-i-advise-you-to-hide-in-case-it-is-the/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [Think about it. He drinks poison. What kind of man drinks poison? She is the one who stabs herself with his dagger. The manly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/think-about-it-he-drinks-poison-what-kind-of-man-drinks-poison-she-is/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [I’ll be back tomorrow,” he said, “at nine o’clock. Don’t open your door to anyone else.” “Not even my balcony door?” “Especially not your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/i-ll-be-back-tomorrow-he-said-at-nine-o-clock-don-t-open-your-door-to/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [...it is fifty percent what they see, and fifty percent what they think they see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/it-is-fifty-percent-what-they-see-and-fifty-percent-what-they-think/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [In many ways, a degree in the history of ideas is the ideal training for an aspiring writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/in-many-ways-a-degree-in-the-history-of-ideas-is-the-ideal-training/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [Verona is a very beautiful city, but Siena just never ceases to fascinate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/verona-is-a-very-beautiful-city-but-siena-just-never-ceases-to/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [I think Shakespeare is everybody's treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/i-think-shakespeare-is-everybody-s-treasure/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [“Juliet by Ann Fortier. The Maestro (Chapter5) ... the slight nausea he was feeling must be somewhat near what God was feeling every minute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/juliet-by-ann-fortier-the-maestro-chapter5-the-slight-nausea-he-was/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [Janice used to say that instinct was reason in a hurry; I was not so sure about the reason part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/janice-used-to-say-that-instinct-was-reason-in-a-hurry-i-was-not-so/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [Only weak men want women to be weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/only-weak-men-want-women-to-be-weak/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [“There are some things," he said softly, "that a princess has to do alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/there-are-some-things-he-said-softly-that-a-princess-has-to-do-alone/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [“Happiness is the worst threat to my business. Dreams are what it's all about. Frustrations. Fantasies that never come true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/happiness-is-the-worst-threat-to-my-business-dreams-are-what-it-s-all/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [We are all cups, and our destiny is poured according to measures we cannot understand, cannot influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/we-are-all-cups-and-our-destiny-is-poured-according-to-measures-we/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [“The Salimbeni genes,” I observed, rolling my eyes, “are yet again rearing their ugly head. Let me guess, if we were married, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/the-salimbeni-genes-i-observed-rolling-my-eyes-are-yet-again-rearing/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [While at Oxford in 1999, I met Jonathan Fortier, who is a Montreal-born Canadian. Despite the challenges of a transatlantic relationship, we remained keen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/while-at-oxford-in-1999-i-met-jonathan-fortier-who-is-a-montreal-born/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) [Explore all 92 Anne Fortier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) ## More Firstborn quotes > [“I was ready to sign over Frankie and my firstborn to get out of this particular hole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-was-ready-to-sign-over-frankie-and-my-firstborn-to-get-out-of-this/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“My firstborn and my baby both tried to shed me like a husk from the start, and the twins came with a fine interior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/my-firstborn-and-my-baby-both-tried-to-shed-me-like-a-husk-from-the/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“THE MOTTO, “IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN,’” INSULTS A FIRSTBORN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-byk/the-motto-if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-insults-a/) [Lynn Byk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-byk/) > [“I’ll name my firstborn child Squiblob, after his mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-ll-name-my-firstborn-child-squiblob-after-his-mother/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“ He pre-designed and engineered us from the start to be jointly fashioned in the same mold and image of his son according to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-du-toit/he-pre-designed-and-engineered-us-from-the-start-to-be-jointly/) [François Du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-du-toit/) > [I'm second, and so my brother is first. Being second, sometimes you get left out and all of that. The anecdotal stories about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-m-second-and-so-my-brother-is-first-being-second-sometimes-you-get/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [“And I will make him the firstborn,         the highest of the kings of the earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crossway/and-i-will-make-him-the-firstborn-the-highest-of-the-kings-of-the/) Crossway > [“Verse 12 \[of Ex. 12) tells us that the judgment of Yahweh is not only on the Egyptians but also on their deities. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/verse-12-of-ex-12-tells-us-that-the-judgment-of-yahweh-is-not-only-on/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [My parents wished peace upon their firstborn child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalom-harlow/my-parents-wished-peace-upon-their-firstborn-child/) [Shalom Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalom-harlow/) > [“I’m going to name my firstborn son 0123456789, because I want him to learn to count before he learns the alphabet. And my second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-going-to-name-my-firstborn-son-0123456789-because-i-want-him-to/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-master-never-seemed-to-have-his-fill-of-gazing-at-his-firstborn/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [He was the firstborn Bridgerton of a firstborn Bridgerton of a firstborn Bridgerton eight times over. He had a dynastic responsibility to be fruitful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/he-was-the-firstborn-bridgerton-of-a-firstborn-bridgerton-of-a/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“But, slow learner, I'm beginning to trust that the gods are not going to snatch my firstborn if I happen to enjoy my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mayes/but-slow-learner-i-m-beginning-to-trust-that-the-gods-are-not-going/) [Frances Mayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mayes/) > [ Speaking of birthdays, our firstborn \[recently turned 2\]. As parents sometimes fondly do, we reminisced a bit about his early days on earth-the excitement,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/speaking-of-birthdays-our-firstborn-recently-turned-2-as-parents/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Not even if you fed me your firstborn, still wet and screaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/not-even-if-you-fed-me-your-firstborn-still-wet-and-screaming/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) [Browse all 25 Firstborn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firstborn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Perhaps. 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