---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (H)ope, be it never so faint, bringeth a…"
description: "\"(H)ope, be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little rushlight that costeth but a groat.\" — Howard Pyle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/howard-pyle-15114_darkness_h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gl_2518690.png"
---

#  (H)ope, be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into…

![“(H)ope, be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little rushlight that costeth but a groat.” quote by Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/howard-pyle-15114_darkness_h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gl_2518690.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/howard-pyle-15114_darkness_h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gl_2518690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/howard-pyle-15114_darkness_h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gl_2518690.png)

> “(H)ope, be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little rushlight that costeth but a groat.”

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Even a faint hope shines like a tiny lantern, brightening darkness despite its small cost.

**In simple terms:** Small hope can illuminate great darkness.

Key Takeaway

Nurture even tiny hopes.

Themes

hope light darkness resilience faith

Mood

hopeful inspirational poetic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal crises
- mental health
- creative projects
- social activism

Key Concepts

poetry metaphor optimism

Questions to Reflect On

- What small hope can you hold onto?
- How does a tiny light influence your outlook?

A Different Perspective

Hope may be too weak to effect change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/)

## Related quotes

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I don't like darkness in everything. I like my superheroes in primary colors, and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/i-don-t-like-darkness-in-everything-i-like-my-superheroes-in-primary/)

[Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/)

> [“All the metaphors in this world wouldn’t scratch the surface of what stepping into darkness is like for me. And that’s just darkness. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/all-the-metaphors-in-this-world-wouldn-t-scratch-the-surface-of-what/)

[Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/)

> [Dark, dark! The horror of darkness, like a shroud, wraps me and bears me on through mist and cloud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/dark-dark-the-horror-of-darkness-like-a-shroud-wraps-me-and-bears-me/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [I like their darkness but I also like the pop-side of the Velvet Underground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-like-their-darkness-but-i-also-like-the-pop-side-of-the-velvet/)

[Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/)

> [“The main thing I sense is...darkness." As soon as the words were out I realized how awful they sounded, so I rushed to clarify,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-day/the-main-thing-i-sense-is-darkness-as-soon-as-the-words-were-out-i/)

[Kristen Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-day/)

> [Most of us, myself included, have forgotten what real darkness is like. We live in a world where light is inescapable. It comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-halpern/most-of-us-myself-included-have-forgotten-what-real-darkness-is-like/)

[Jake Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-halpern/)

> [“Remember what I said when I led to Omar and the queen?" I bobbed my head, unable to look away from his jewel-like eyed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-falls/remember-what-i-said-when-i-led-to-omar-and-the-queen-i-bobbed-my/)

[Kat Falls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-falls/)

> [Dramatically, I like darkness, I like conflict - but I don't see the world as defined by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/dramatically-i-like-darkness-i-like-conflict-but-i-don-t-see-the/)

[Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/)

> [“The darkness like a demon or a dark elf chooses self-confident, creative and just snappy people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-johannisson/the-darkness-like-a-demon-or-a-dark-elf-chooses-self-confident/)

[Karin Johannisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-johannisson/)

> [“But this time of the year she was in her vaults, underground, and here she resided alone, spending most of her life in darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-robinson/but-this-time-of-the-year-she-was-in-her-vaults-underground-and-here/)

[Bruce Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-robinson/)

> [“All night, far above him the light stood guard, slicing the darkness like a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/all-night-far-above-him-the-light-stood-guard-slicing-the-darkness/)

[M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/)

> [“There is no darkness like that of a confined space. It's darker than the inside of eyelids, and darker than the night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/there-is-no-darkness-like-that-of-a-confined-space-it-s-darker-than/)

[Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/)

> [“Phoebe lay rigid, staring into the darkness. It was often like this; she would go to sleep and then after an hour or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-black/phoebe-lay-rigid-staring-into-the-darkness-it-was-often-like-this-she/)

[Benjamin Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-black/)

## More by Howard Pyle

> [All the students have shown more advance in two months of summer study than they have in a year of ordinary instruction, largely due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/all-the-students-have-shown-more-advance-in-two-months-of-summer/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [A good deal of large and rather interesting work is drifting my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/a-good-deal-of-large-and-rather-interesting-work-is-drifting-my-way/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [I put on my dream-cap one day and stepped into Wonderland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/i-put-on-my-dream-cap-one-day-and-stepped-into-wonderland/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [Will you come with me, sweet Reader? I thank you. Give me your hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/will-you-come-with-me-sweet-reader-i-thank-you-give-me-your-hand/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [The right to suffer is one of the joys of a free economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/the-right-to-suffer-is-one-of-the-joys-of-a-free-economy/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [You who so plod amid serious things that you feel it shame to give yourself up even for a few short moments to mirth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/you-who-so-plod-amid-serious-things-that-you-feel-it-shame-to-give/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [“Let us e'er be merry while we may, for man is but dust, and he hath but a span to live here till the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/let-us-e-er-be-merry-while-we-may-for-man-is-but-dust-and-he-hath-but/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [It doth make a man better,' quoth Robin Hood, 'to bear of those noble men so long ago. When one doth list to such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/it-doth-make-a-man-better-quoth-robin-hood-to-bear-of-those-noble-men/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [Young people, don't get the idea that you have an artistic temperament which must be humored. Don't believe you cannot do good work unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/young-people-don-t-get-the-idea-that-you-have-an-artistic-temperament/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [I think it likely that some of my pupils will reach unusual distinction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/i-think-it-likely-that-some-of-my-pupils-will-reach-unusual/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [I should like to make myself free to all who care to attend my lectures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/i-should-like-to-make-myself-free-to-all-who-care-to-attend-my/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [Project your mind into your subject until you actually live in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/project-your-mind-into-your-subject-until-you-actually-live-in-it/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [“Then all was quiet save only for the low voices of those that talked together, ... , and saving, also, for the mellow snoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/then-all-was-quiet-save-only-for-the-low-voices-of-those-that-talked/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [Your subjects have had a history - try to reveal it in your picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/your-subjects-have-had-a-history-try-to-reveal-it-in-your-picture/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

> [Paint your picture by means of the lights. Lights define texture and color - shadows define form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/paint-your-picture-by-means-of-the-lights-lights-define-texture-and/)

[Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

[Explore all 43 Howard Pyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/)

## More Darkness quotes

> [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/)

[Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/)

> [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/)

[Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/)

> [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/)

[anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [“Even in darkness your lips taste of sunshine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/even-in-darkness-your-lips-taste-of-sunshine/)

[Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/)

> [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/)

[Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/)

> [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/)

[Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/)

> [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/)

Nicole Gentile

[Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "(H)ope, be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little rushlight that costeth but a groat.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Howard Pyle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gleam-into-darkness-like-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Darkness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gleam-into-darkness-like-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/howard-pyle-15114_darkness_h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gl_2518690.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/howard-pyle-15114_darkness_h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gl_2518690.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/howard-pyle-15114_darkness_h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gl_2518690.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“(H)ope, be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little rushlight that costeth but a…” — Howard Pyle",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Howard Pyle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "(H)ope, be it never so faint,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gleam-into-darkness-like-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/h-ope-be-it-never-so-faint-bringeth-a-gleam-into-darkness-like-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
