Skip to content

Aim Quote by Graham Greene

“Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a sin the corrupt or evil man never practices. He always has hope. He never reaches the freezing-point of knowing absolute failure. Only the man of goodwill carries always in…” quote by Graham Greene
Download Open image
“Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a sin the corrupt or evil man never practices. He always has hope. He never reaches the freezing-point of knowing absolute failure. Only the man of goodwill carries always in his heart this capacity for damnation.”

Graham Greene

About This Quote

Source Novel: The End of the Affair, 1951

Despair follows impossible goals; yet hope persists, preventing total surrender to failure.

In simple terms: Impossible aims cause despair, but hope remains.

Key Takeaway

Balance ambition with realistic hope.

Themes

despair hope ambition

Mood

somber hopeful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • career planning
  • creative projects
  • personal growth

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What impossible goal drives you?
  • How do you sustain hope amid setbacks?
A Different Perspective

Unrealistic goals can be harmful.

2.1 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Graham Greene

Explore all 550 Graham Greene quotes

More Aim quotes

Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes