--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whoever has nothing to hope, let him…" description: "\"Whoever has nothing to hope, let him despair of nothing.\" — Seneca the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/seneca-the-younger-219_despair_whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-desp_559889.jpg" --- # Whoever has nothing to hope, let him despair of nothing. ![“Whoever has nothing to hope, let him despair of nothing.” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/seneca-the-younger-219_despair_whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-desp_559889.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/seneca-the-younger-219_despair_whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-desp_559889.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/seneca-the-younger-219_despair_whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-desp_559889.jpg) > “Whoever has nothing to hope, let him despair of nothing.” [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without hope, despair loses its sting because there is nothing left to lose. **In simple terms:** Hope gives despair meaning; without hope, despair is empty. Key Takeaway Find purpose beyond hope. Themes philosophy stoicism hope Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - grief - decision making Key Concepts Existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning without hope? - Can despair be constructive? A Different Perspective Hope can be a false security; sometimes realism is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Stoicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoicism/) ## Related quotes > [I don't keep from despairing. I let myself despair. I just don't linger there for too long. There's too much to laugh about, two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-raboteau/i-don-t-keep-from-despairing-i-let-myself-despair-i-just-don-t-linger/) [Emily Raboteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-raboteau/) > [Don't let despair mutate your flesh Look at my twisted stumps of thought See the fingers, listen to the voice I am slowly becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/don-t-let-despair-mutate-your-flesh-look-at-my-twisted-stumps-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“To All Children In Our World (Young & Old) Don't let your despair hold you down. Rise above it & grab the rainbows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/to-all-children-in-our-world-young-old-don-t-let-your-despair-hold/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“I will not seek it," the other replied. "It has been opened once and it is enough. And you -- are you sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-williams/i-will-not-seek-it-the-other-replied-it-has-been-opened-once-and-it/) [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) > [Let no one despair, even though in the darkest night the last star of hope may disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/let-no-one-despair-even-though-in-the-darkest-night-the-last-star-of/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Let there be no more war or bloodshed between Arabs and Israelis. Let there be no more suffering or denial of rights. Let there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/let-there-be-no-more-war-or-bloodshed-between-arabs-and-israelis-let/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [“Always love, always encourage, and never let despair get in the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/super-star/always-love-always-encourage-and-never-let-despair-get-in-the-way/) Super Star > [“We can always hope, but we must not live on hope. Let us step beyond expectations, and remain resilient. Let us breathe consciously without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/we-can-always-hope-but-we-must-not-live-on-hope-let-us-step-beyond/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“Success is no magic; grab a handful of hope and never let it go till you get there!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/success-is-no-magic-grab-a-handful-of-hope-and-never-let-it-go-till/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“There is enough said. Trouble no quiet, kind heart; leave sunny imaginations hope. Let it be theirs to conceive the delight of joy born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/there-is-enough-said-trouble-no-quiet-kind-heart-leave-sunny/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Of all people that I know, to only you did I let my true feeling show. You know my hopes, my dreams, my fears;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-greene/of-all-people-that-i-know-to-only-you-did-i-let-my-true-feeling-show/) Rainbow Greene > [Of all the people that I know, to only you did I let my true feeling show. You know my hopes, my dreams my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-linse/of-all-the-people-that-i-know-to-only-you-did-i-let-my-true-feeling/) Nicole Linse > [“Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope. Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping, so that the God of all the universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-then-my-brethren-endure-in-hope-let-us-devote-ourselves-side/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I hope you do not let anyone else's expectations direct the course of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/i-hope-you-do-not-let-anyone-else-s-expectations-direct-the-course-of/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [To all of you, I repeat: Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! And not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-of-you-i-repeat-do-not-let-yourselves-be-robbed-of-hope-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Seneca the Younger > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The road by precepts is tedious, by example, short and efficacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-road-by-precepts-is-tedious-by-example-short-and-efficacious/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He who does not want to die should not want to live. For life is tendered to us with the proviso of death. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-does-not-want-to-die-should-not-want-to-live-for-life-is/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Let us not seek our disease out of ourselves; 'tis in us, and planted in our bowels; and the mere fact that we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-us-not-seek-our-disease-out-of-ourselves-tis-in-us-and-planted-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Hesitation is the best cure for anger. The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## 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": "Whoever has nothing to hope, let him despair of nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seneca the Younger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-despair-of-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-despair-of-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/seneca-the-younger-219_despair_whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-desp_559889.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/seneca-the-younger-219_despair_whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-desp_559889.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/seneca-the-younger-219_despair_whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-desp_559889.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whoever has nothing to hope, let him despair of nothing.” — Seneca the Younger", "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": "Seneca the Younger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whoever has nothing to hope, let...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-despair-of-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/whoever-has-nothing-to-hope-let-him-despair-of-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```