--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is precisely the despair of our times…" description: "\"It is precisely the despair of our times that convinces me that a renaissance is right around the corner.\" — Matthew Fox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/matthew-fox-4448_around-the-corner_it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times_1194876.png" --- # It is precisely the despair of our times that convinces me… ![“It is precisely the despair of our times that convinces me that a renaissance is right around the corner.” quote by Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/matthew-fox-4448_around-the-corner_it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times_1194876.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/matthew-fox-4448_around-the-corner_it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times_1194876.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/matthew-fox-4448_around-the-corner_it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times_1194876.png) > “It is precisely the despair of our times that convinces me that a renaissance is right around the corner.” [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despair about current conditions fuels hope that a cultural rebirth is imminent. **In simple terms:** Despair can spark hope for renewal. Key Takeaway Embrace hope despite hardship. Themes hope rebirth despair culture Mood optimistic inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal crises - community activism - artistic movements - policy reform Key Concepts spiritual renewal social transformation collective optimism Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate a true renaissance? - How can individuals contribute to cultural renewal? A Different Perspective Hope may be unrealistic without concrete plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Renaissance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renaissance/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It's precisely in despair that you find the most intense pleasure, especially if you are already powerfully conscious of the hopelessness of your predicament.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-s-precisely-in-despair-that-you-find-the-most-intense-pleasure/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [It is part of what makes America great. 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If you aren't a programmer, you're like one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/programming-is-how-we-talk-to-the-machines-that-are-increasingly/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [“Defining the Renaissance Man “A man can do all that he will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-griffiths-and-eric-elfman/defining-the-renaissance-man-a-man-can-do-all-that-he-will/) Scott Griffiths and Eric Elfman > [I was determined to make Renaissance Man Food Services and Herschel's Famous 34 major players in a very tough industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herschel-walker/i-was-determined-to-make-renaissance-man-food-services-and-herschel-s/) [Herschel Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herschel-walker/) > [“We've never heard About a marvel quite so great, For all the heroes who have lived In history can't measure up In bravery against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/we-ve-never-heard-about-a-marvel-quite-so-great-for-all-the-heroes/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. 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I really just like to sit in my air-conditioned Rome painting studio surrounded by Medieval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/i-ve-gradually-fooled-myself-into-becoming-a-real-painter-i-really/) [Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/) > [If we believe in the rebirth of our civilization... then clearly this renaissance must begin in the chambers of our own hearts... We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-feuerstein/if-we-believe-in-the-rebirth-of-our-civilization-then-clearly-this/) [Georg Feuerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-feuerstein/) > [Marxism is like a classical building that followed the Renaissance; beautiful in its way, but incapable of growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/marxism-is-like-a-classical-building-that-followed-the-renaissance/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) ## More by Matthew Fox > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [We honor life when we work. The type of work is not important: the fact of work is. All work feeds the soul if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/we-honor-life-when-we-work-the-type-of-work-is-not-important-the-fact/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Evil is the shadow of angel. Just as there are angels of light, support, guidance, healing and defense, so we have experiences of shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/evil-is-the-shadow-of-angel-just-as-there-are-angels-of-light-support/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I'm not really a tropical paradise kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-m-not-really-a-tropical-paradise-kind-of-person/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [We must work on our souls, enlarging and expanding them. We do so by experiencing all of life-the beauty and the joy as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/we-must-work-on-our-souls-enlarging-and-expanding-them-we-do-so-by/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I don't think that fundamentalism has anything to do with Jesus Christ. They call themselves Christians, but if that's Christian, count me out. Fundamentalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-don-t-think-that-fundamentalism-has-anything-to-do-with-jesus/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [“where does creativity come from? Creativity comes from the Universe itself. “There is music and poetry in the Universe itself — surely we hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/where-does-creativity-come-from-creativity-comes-from-the-universe/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I didn't learn to swim until I was 21 or something because I grew up in the mountains in Wyoming and all the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-didn-t-learn-to-swim-until-i-was-21-or-something-because-i-grew-up/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I think you've got to take your time and make sure you're making choices that are smart for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-think-you-ve-got-to-take-your-time-and-make-sure-you-re-making/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Animals teach us about the animals in ourselves. We need their spirits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/animals-teach-us-about-the-animals-in-ourselves-we-need-their-spirits/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [The universe is in the habit of making beauty. There are flowers and songs, snowflakes and smiles, acts of great courage, laughter between friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/the-universe-is-in-the-habit-of-making-beauty-there-are-flowers-and/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [“If you don't work on yourself, then much of your politics is merely projections. We have to walk our talk and do the inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/if-you-don-t-work-on-yourself-then-much-of-your-politics-is-merely/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Any time I need to be really physical, and a role requires that, you're kind of viscerally activated by being that physical in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/any-time-i-need-to-be-really-physical-and-a-role-requires-that-you-re/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I directed an episode of 'Party of Five' toward the very end of that show. It was a great experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-directed-an-episode-of-party-of-five-toward-the-very-end-of-that/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [“Who is this woman who took on the Emporer Barbarosa, comparing him to an infant and a madman, and threatened that God’s sword would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/who-is-this-woman-who-took-on-the-emporer-barbarosa-comparing-him-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) [Explore all 111 Matthew Fox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) ## More Around the corner quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [You'll never see me coming around the corner not smiling... I mean, I enjoy every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-ll-never-see-me-coming-around-the-corner-not-smiling-i-mean-i/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [With the great people that you work with, it's that they're never giving up and they're never thinking something's finished until they've really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-price/with-the-great-people-that-you-work-with-it-s-that-they-re-never/) [Steven Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-price/) > [At some point during almost every romantic comedy, the female lead suddenly trips and falls, stumbling helplessly over something ridiculous like a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/at-some-point-during-almost-every-romantic-comedy-the-female-lead/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [“A courteous war mage. The world really was coming to an end. And then Pritkin ran back around the corner followed by half a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/a-courteous-war-mage-the-world-really-was-coming-to-an-end-and-then/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [You don't know what's coming for you in life, and you don't know what's around the corner. When you're in a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-h-wyman/you-don-t-know-what-s-coming-for-you-in-life-and-you-don-t-know-what/) [J.H. Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-h-wyman/) > [Brooklyn, where I grew up, is a competitive burg - there's always a pretty boy around the corner there, and you gotta look better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/brooklyn-where-i-grew-up-is-a-competitive-burg-there-s-always-a/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [One thing that's certain: around the corner from every ugly thing, there's something really beautiful. If we stop at every bitter interaction; we'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/one-thing-that-s-certain-around-the-corner-from-every-ugly-thing/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [And as I reinvent myself and I'm constantly curious about everything, I can't wait to see what's around the corner in newfound art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/and-as-i-reinvent-myself-and-i-m-constantly-curious-about-everything/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [I know what is around the corner - I just don't know where the corner is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keegan/i-know-what-is-around-the-corner-i-just-don-t-know-where-the-corner-is/) [Kevin Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keegan/) > [I love being the age I am, because if there's enough pain or grief, I have enough experience now to realize that there's joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gilbert/i-love-being-the-age-i-am-because-if-there-s-enough-pain-or-grief-i/) [Sara Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gilbert/) Browse all 569 Around the corner quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is precisely the despair of our times that convinces me that a renaissance is right around the corner.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Fox" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times-that-convinces-me-that-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Around the corner" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times-that-convinces-me-that-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/matthew-fox-4448_around-the-corner_it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times_1194876.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/matthew-fox-4448_around-the-corner_it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times_1194876.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/matthew-fox-4448_around-the-corner_it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times_1194876.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is precisely the despair of our times that convinces me that a renaissance is right around the corner.” — Matthew Fox", "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": "Matthew Fox", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is precisely the despair of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times-that-convinces-me-that-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/it-is-precisely-the-despair-of-our-times-that-convinces-me-that-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 } } ] } ```