--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While I doubted, I had hope; but now…" description: "\"“While I doubted, I had hope; but now there is no hope left and all the same I doubt everything.”\" — Leo Tolstoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/leo-tolstoy-55_doubt_while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there_2619818.png" --- # While I doubted, I had hope; but now there is no hope left… ![“While I doubted, I had hope; but now there is no hope left and all the same I doubt everything.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/leo-tolstoy-55_doubt_while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there_2619818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/leo-tolstoy-55_doubt_while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there_2619818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/leo-tolstoy-55_doubt_while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there_2619818.png) > ““While I doubted, I had hope; but now there is no hope left and all the same I doubt everything.”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hope and doubt coexist; hope can vanish, leaving perpetual doubt. **In simple terms:** Hope fades, doubt remains. Key Takeaway Balance hope with critical thinking. Themes hope doubt existential Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - decision making - spiritual search Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does doubt become harmful? - How can you sustain hope? A Different Perspective Hope can be essential for resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) ## Related quotes > [“and left no doubt that Cecilia had done violence to herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/and-left-no-doubt-that-cecilia-had-done-violence-to-herself/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [When you are left to doubt yourself, trust God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/when-you-are-left-to-doubt-yourself-trust-god/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/who-mix-d-reason-with-pleasure-and-wisdom-with-mirth-if-he-had-any/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [The prospect of Hillary Clinton not winning the presidency opens up a vast dark hole, an unknown, beyond which it is impossible to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-major/the-prospect-of-hillary-clinton-not-winning-the-presidency-opens-up-a/) [Clarence Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-major/) > [Once we have a firm practice of compassion our state of mind becomes stronger which leads to inner peace, giving rise to self-confidence, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/once-we-have-a-firm-practice-of-compassion-our-state-of-mind-becomes/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It is sometimes said that one of the casualties of the general suspicion and mistrust that permeated the old Soviet Union was that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-blackburn/it-is-sometimes-said-that-one-of-the-casualties-of-the-general/) [Simon Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-blackburn/) > [We have learned the simple truth, as Emerson said that the only way to have a friend is to be one. We can gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/we-have-learned-the-simple-truth-as-emerson-said-that-the-only-way-to/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [We need to create an enterprise culture, a society where successful entrepreneurs are respected and admired, not treated with suspicion and disdain. And in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-tebbit/we-need-to-create-an-enterprise-culture-a-society-where-successful/) [Norman Tebbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-tebbit/) > [Here at home, we will strengthen our defenses but not succumb to a siege mentality that sacrifices the open society and liberties and values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/here-at-home-we-will-strengthen-our-defenses-but-not-succumb-to-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Sometimes suspicion and mistrust can ruin your relationshipàwith your girl/boyfriend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/sometimes-suspicion-and-mistrust-can-ruin-your-relationship-with-your/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [Everything, no matter how evident or obvious, should be doubted, questioned, viewed with suspicion…There is much to be gained from the discovery that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mermin/everything-no-matter-how-evident-or-obvious-should-be-doubted/) [David Mermin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mermin/) > [All hope is lost of my reception into grace; what worse? For where no hope is left, is left no fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/all-hope-is-lost-of-my-reception-into-grace-what-worse-for-where-no/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Hope was what was left in Pandora’s box. Maybe people’s lives aren’t meant to have hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-methos/hope-was-what-was-left-in-pandora-s-box-maybe-people-s-lives-aren-t/) [Victor Methos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-methos/) > [“With women who do not love us, as with the "dear departed," the knowledge that there is no hope left does not prevent us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/with-women-who-do-not-love-us-as-with-the-dear-departed-the-knowledge/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Don't deprive someone of hope, it might be all they have left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-deprive-someone-of-hope-it-might-be-all-they-have-left/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“While I doubted, I had hope; but now there is no hope left and all the same I doubt everything.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there-is-no-hope-left-and-all-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there-is-no-hope-left-and-all-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/leo-tolstoy-55_doubt_while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there_2619818.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/leo-tolstoy-55_doubt_while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there_2619818.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/leo-tolstoy-55_doubt_while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there_2619818.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While I doubted, I had hope; but now there is no hope left and all the same I doubt everything.” — Leo Tolstoy", "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": "Leo Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“While I doubted, I had hope;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there-is-no-hope-left-and-all-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/while-i-doubted-i-had-hope-but-now-there-is-no-hope-left-and-all-the/#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 } } ] } ```