--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hope is something that is demanded of us…" description: "\"“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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ronald-knox-23264_hope_hope-is-something-that-is-demanded-of-us_857187.jpg" --- # Hope is something that is demanded of us; it is not, then… ![“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…” quote by Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ronald-knox-23264_hope_hope-is-something-that-is-demanded-of-us_857187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ronald-knox-23264_hope_hope-is-something-that-is-demanded-of-us_857187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ronald-knox-23264_hope_hope-is-something-that-is-demanded-of-us_857187.jpg) > ““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.”” [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope Demanded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-demanded-813605/) [Hope Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-perseverance-813607/) [Hope Supernaturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-supernaturally-813606/) [Hoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoping/) [Speaking Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-hope-813608/) ## Related quotes > [My songs have always had hope and perseverance in them - I never write songs that have no escape hatch, no positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-dylan/my-songs-have-always-had-hope-and-perseverance-in-them-i-never-write/) [Jakob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-dylan/) > [I decided to host my show 'Kiss and Cry' hoping that people actually want to participate and feel more familiar with figure skating. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna-kim/i-decided-to-host-my-show-kiss-and-cry-hoping-that-people-actually/) [Yuna Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna-kim/) > [I don't know what tomorrow might bring, but I'm still hoping no matter what it is, it's gonna be better than today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/i-don-t-know-what-tomorrow-might-bring-but-i-m-still-hoping-no-matter/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Give me a 15-ft. crocodile any day over a bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/give-me-a-15-ft-crocodile-any-day-over-a-bee/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [“This is the first year for me as a teacher and, by the looks of this class, I’m hoping it won’t be my last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/this-is-the-first-year-for-me-as-a-teacher-and-by-the-looks-of-this/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [I've learned that you can never predict what will happen to a film. You can never predict if people will love it, if they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-never-predict-what-will-happen-to-a-film/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I would say I was jock. I went to Sierra College. I was a big baseball player. Getting into the MLB was my dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-guzman/i-would-say-i-was-jock-i-went-to-sierra-college-i-was-a-big-baseball/) [Ryan Guzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-guzman/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I wanted to be champ of the world, but I kept hoping something would happen to Frazier. I didn't want to fight him. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-wanted-to-be-champ-of-the-world-but-i-kept-hoping-something-would/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/keep-hoping-to-see-the-light-in-her-eyes-even-knowing-it-ll-mean-she/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [I feel like I have been portrayed as if I was standing outside Cipriani hoping someone picks me as their plus-one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-blasberg/i-feel-like-i-have-been-portrayed-as-if-i-was-standing-outside/) [Derek Blasberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-blasberg/) > [I'm obsessed with crocodiles and getting eaten by one. When I hear that someone's been eaten by a crocodile or shark, I just get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-m-obsessed-with-crocodiles-and-getting-eaten-by-one-when-i-hear/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) ## More by Ronald Knox > [A baby is a loud noise at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/a-baby-is-a-loud-noise-at-one-end-and-no-sense-of-responsibility-at/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [The prevailing attitude of the speakers was one of heavy disagreement with a number of things which the reader had not said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/the-prevailing-attitude-of-the-speakers-was-one-of-heavy-disagreement/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [When suave politeness, tempering bigot zeal, corrected 'I believe' to 'one does feel'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/when-suave-politeness-tempering-bigot-zeal-corrected-i-believe-to-one/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [Only those of us, I think, who were born under Queen Victoria know what it feels like to assume, without questioning, that England is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/only-those-of-us-i-think-who-were-born-under-queen-victoria-know-what/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [The great argument used now against any theological proposition is not, that it is untrue, or unthinkable, or unedifying, or unscriptural, or unorthodox, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/the-great-argument-used-now-against-any-theological-proposition-is/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [If you have a sloppy religion you get a sloppy atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/if-you-have-a-sloppy-religion-you-get-a-sloppy-atheism/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [Knox was engaged in a theological discussion with scientist John Scott Haldane. 'In a universe containing millions of planets,' reasoned Haldane, 'is it not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/knox-was-engaged-in-a-theological-discussion-with-scientist-john/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [It is so stupid of modern civilization to have given up believing in the devil when he is the only explanation of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/it-is-so-stupid-of-modern-civilization-to-have-given-up-believing-in/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [The difference between the Old and the New Testament is the difference between a man who said "There is nothing new under the sun"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/the-difference-between-the-old-and-the-new-testament-is-the/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [He who travels in the Barque of Peter had better not look too closely into the engine room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/he-who-travels-in-the-barque-of-peter-had-better-not-look-too-closely/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [“It is possible to argue that the true business of faith is not to produce emotional conviction in us, but to teach us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-true-business-of-faith-is-not-to/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [Comparative religion is an admirable recipe for making people comparatively religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/comparative-religion-is-an-admirable-recipe-for-making-people/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [Only man had dignity; only man, therefore, can be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/only-man-had-dignity-only-man-therefore-can-be-funny/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [A good sermon should be like a woman's skirt: short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/a-good-sermon-should-be-like-a-woman-s-skirt-short-enough-to-arouse/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [O God, for as much as without Thee We are not enabled to doubt Thee, Help us all by Thy grace To convince the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/o-god-for-as-much-as-without-thee-we-are-not-enabled-to-doubt-thee/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) [Explore all 26 Ronald Knox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) ## More Hope quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop trying to give me hope ... I have no room left for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-f/stop-trying-to-give-me-hope-i-have-no-room-left-for-it/) [Jenn F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-f/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I am at a point in my life where everything I have worked for starts to look like a burden, a weight on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-abou-samra/i-am-at-a-point-in-my-life-where-everything-i-have-worked-for-starts/) [Simone Abou Samra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-abou-samra/) > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) [Im Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-nothing/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 24,868 Hope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Hope is something that is demanded of us; it is not, then, a mere reasoned calculation of our chances. 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