--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hope and fear come from feeling that we…" description: "\"Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can’t simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fear_hope-and-fear-come-from-feeling-that-we_2817554.png" --- # Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something… ![“Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can’t simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, and hope robs us of the present moment. We feel that someone else knows what is going on, but that there is something missing in us, and therefore…” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fear_hope-and-fear-come-from-feeling-that-we_2817554.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fear_hope-and-fear-come-from-feeling-that-we_2817554.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fear_hope-and-fear-come-from-feeling-that-we_2817554.png) > “Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can’t simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, and hope robs us of the present moment. We feel that someone else knows what is going on, but that there is something missing in us, and therefore something is lacking in our world.” [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cling to hope and fear because we sense inner emptiness, which distracts us from fully experiencing the present. **In simple terms:** Hope and fear arise from feeling incomplete, pulling us away from now. Key Takeaway Recognize and accept present moment without clinging. Themes mindfulness presence inner scarcity acceptance Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - therapy - daily mindfulness practice - stressful work situations Key Concepts existential anxiety attachment self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What does “present moment” mean to you? - How can you balance hope with acceptance? A Different Perspective Hope can motivate change but also trap us in dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hopes and fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopes-and-fears/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Our world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-world/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Because I know that hope and fear are connected, I put my mask of hope on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/because-i-know-that-hope-and-fear-are-connected-i-put-my-mask-of-hope/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Twixt hope and fear, anxiety and anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/twixt-hope-and-fear-anxiety-and-anger/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/hope-and-fear-cannot-occupy-the-same-space-invite-one-to-stay/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [According to the state of a man's conscience, so do hope and fear on account of his deeds arise in his mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/according-to-the-state-of-a-man-s-conscience-so-do-hope-and-fear-on/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Hope, and fear. Twin forces that tugged at us first in one direction and then in another, and which was the stronger no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-markandaya/hope-and-fear-twin-forces-that-tugged-at-us-first-in-one-direction/) [Kamala Markandaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-markandaya/) > [Hope and fear are inseparable. There is no hope without fear, nor any fear without hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/hope-and-fear-are-inseparable-there-is-no-hope-without-fear-nor-any/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Hope and fear are inseparable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/hope-and-fear-are-inseparable/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Where then shall hope and fear their objects find?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashbery/where-then-shall-hope-and-fear-their-objects-find/) [John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashbery/) > [There are situations in which hope and fear run together, in which they mutually destroy one another and lose themselves in dull indifference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-are-situations-in-which-hope-and-fear-run-together-in-which/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Hope and fear cannot alter the seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/hope-and-fear-cannot-alter-the-seasons/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. When we don't see the self as self, what do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hope-and-fear-are-both-phantoms-that-arise-from-thinking-of-the-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Hope strengthens. Fear kills\[...\] That simple adage is master of every situation, every choice. Each morning we wake up, we get to choose between… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/hope-strengthens-fear-kills-that-simple-adage-is-master-of-every/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [As hope and fear alternate chase Our course through life's uncertain race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/as-hope-and-fear-alternate-chase-our-course-through-life-s-uncertain/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [When we have gone beyond the boundaries of hope and fear, we are able to work with whatever comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/when-we-have-gone-beyond-the-boundaries-of-hope-and-fear-we-are-able/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [...instead it seems that business - like weight loss - is a subject wherein hope and fear inspire limitless gullibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/instead-it-seems-that-business-like-weight-loss-is-a-subject-wherein/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## More by Pema Chodron > [“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The essence of generosity is letting go. 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Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) [Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. 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Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [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/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. 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