Hope Quote by Ronald Knox
““Hope is something that is demanded of us; it is not, then, a mere reasoned calculation of our chances. Nor is it merely the bubbling up of a sanguine temperament; if it is demanded of us, it lies not in the temperament but in the will... Hoping for what? For delivereance from persecution, for immunity from plague, pestilence, and famine...? No, for the grace of persevering in his Christian profession, and for the consequent achievement of a happy immortality. Strictly speaking, then, the highest exercise of hope, supernaturally speaking, is to hope for perseverance and for Heaven when it looks, when it feels, as if you were going to lose both one and the other.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Common Prayer, 1945 (attributed)??
Hope is portrayed as a willful, spiritual commitment beyond rational calculation, seeking perseverance and divine reward despite suffering.
In simple terms: Hope is a determined, faith‑driven expectation of divine help.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate steadfast hope rooted in will, not just optimism.
Themes
faith
perseverance
spirituality
hope
theology
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal trials
- religious practice
- ethical decision‑making
- caring for others
Key Concepts
theology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to hope actively?
- How can hope motivate concrete perseverance?
A Different Perspective
Hope can become passive if not paired with action; over‑reliance on divine intervention may hinder practical effort.
