--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a modern tragedy that despair has…" description: "\"It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.\" — Oscar Hammerstein II" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_despair_it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has_814689.png" --- # It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen… ![“It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.” quote by Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_despair_it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has_814689.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_despair_it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has_814689.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_despair_it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has_814689.png) > “It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.” [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despair is widely voiced, while hope is rarely spoken, creating a modern tragedy. **In simple terms:** Too much despair, too little hope. Key Takeaway Speak hope more often. Themes despair hope society Mood somber reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - Political debates - social media - community meetings - mental‑health campaigns Key Concepts media influence public discourse psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you amplify hopeful voices? - What causes hope to be silenced? A Different Perspective Hope can be dismissed as naive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [Youth is the season of tragedy and despair. Youth is the time when one's whole life is entangled in a web of identity, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/youth-is-the-season-of-tragedy-and-despair-youth-is-the-time-when-one/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [God the father, and even more often the devil himself, appears at times in the place of fate in the modern tragedy. Why is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-the-father-and-even-more-often-the-devil-himself-appears-at-times/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In tragedy and despair, when an endless night seems to have fallen, hope can be found in the realization taht the companion of night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/in-tragedy-and-despair-when-an-endless-night-seems-to-have-fallen/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Athens is the birthplace of modern tragedy. In the Greek tragic plays, the tableau of the characters would become a statue, like the statue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/athens-is-the-birthplace-of-modern-tragedy-in-the-greek-tragic-plays/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [ The weakness of modern tragedy\[is that\] transgression against the social code is made to bring destruction, as though the social code worked our irrevocable… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-weakness-of-modern-tragedy-is-that-transgression-against-the/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [It is a modern tragedy that one of the Soviet Union's most intelligent and realistic leaders has served and died during the administration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-one-of-the-soviet-union-s-most/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [I wouldn't overall say that "The Diagnosis" is a funny book. I would say that it has comic moments. It's a modern tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/i-wouldn-t-overall-say-that-the-diagnosis-is-a-funny-book-i-would-say/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [Classical tragedy was the war between good and evil. We wanted evil to be defeated and good to be victorious. But the battle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asghar-farhadi/classical-tragedy-was-the-war-between-good-and-evil-we-wanted-evil-to/) [Asghar Farhadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asghar-farhadi/) > [Sorrow, terror, anguish, despair itself are often the chosen expressions of an approximation to the highest good. Our sympathy in tragic fiction depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/sorrow-terror-anguish-despair-itself-are-often-the-chosen-expressions/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The locus of the modern struggle with its enemy of death is clearly the body (not mind, society, or the afterworld). The body is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-m-lock/the-locus-of-the-modern-struggle-with-its-enemy-of-death-is-clearly/) [Margaret M. Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-m-lock/) > [David Brinkley was an icon of modern broadcast journalism, a brilliant writer who could say in a few words what the country needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/david-brinkley-was-an-icon-of-modern-broadcast-journalism-a-brilliant/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## More by Oscar Hammerstein II > [Why you were born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/why-you-were-born-and-why-you-are-living-depend-entirely-on-what-you/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Be brave, young lovers, and follow your star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/be-brave-young-lovers-and-follow-your-star/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Some enchanted evening, you may see a stranger Across a crowded room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/some-enchanted-evening-you-may-see-a-stranger-across-a-crowded-room/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [For when I fool the people I fear, I fool myself as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/for-when-i-fool-the-people-i-fear-i-fool-myself-as-well/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [“The last time I saw Paris. Her heart was warm and gay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-last-time-i-saw-paris-her-heart-was-warm-and-gay/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [A bell's not a bell 'til you ring it, A song's not a song 'til you sing it, Love in your heart wasn't put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/a-bell-s-not-a-bell-til-you-ring-it-a-song-s-not-a-song-til-you-sing/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/walk-on-walk-on-with-hope-in-your-heart/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [These are a few of my favorite things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Oklahoma Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/oklahoma-where-the-wind-comes-sweepin-down-the-plain/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/when-the-dog-bites-when-the-bee-stings-when-i-m-feeling-sad-i-simply/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Hello, Young Lovers, Wherever You Are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/hello-young-lovers-wherever-you-are/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [You've got to be taught to be afraid Of people whose eyes are oddly made, Of people whose skin is a different shade. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/you-ve-got-to-be-taught-to-be-afraid-of-people-whose-eyes-are-oddly/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [I'd let my golden chances pass me by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/i-d-let-my-golden-chances-pass-me-by/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [There is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/there-is-a-very-real-relationship-both-quantitatively-and/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Fish got to swim, birds got to fly I got to love one man till I die Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/fish-got-to-swim-birds-got-to-fly-i-got-to-love-one-man-till-i-die/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) [Explore all 45 Oscar Hammerstein II quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Hammerstein II" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has-so-many-spokesmen-and-hope-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has-so-many-spokesmen-and-hope-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_despair_it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has_814689.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_despair_it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has_814689.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_despair_it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has_814689.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.” — Oscar Hammerstein II", "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": "Oscar Hammerstein II", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a modern tragedy that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has-so-many-spokesmen-and-hope-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has-so-many-spokesmen-and-hope-so/#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 } } ] } ```