--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For perfect hope is achieved on the brink…" description: "\"For perfect hope is achieved on the brink of despair, when instead of falling over the edge, we find ourselves walking on air.\" — Thomas Merton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/thomas-merton-231_air_for-perfect-hope-is-achieved-on-the-brin_2708871.jpg" --- # For perfect hope is achieved on the brink of despair, when… ![“For perfect hope is achieved on the brink of despair, when instead of falling over the edge, we find ourselves walking on air.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/thomas-merton-231_air_for-perfect-hope-is-achieved-on-the-brin_2708871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/thomas-merton-231_air_for-perfect-hope-is-achieved-on-the-brin_2708871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/thomas-merton-231_air_for-perfect-hope-is-achieved-on-the-brin_2708871.jpg) > “For perfect hope is achieved on the brink of despair, when instead of falling over the edge, we find ourselves walking on air.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hope peaks when despair is deepest, turning crisis into a feeling of lightness and possibility. **In simple terms:** Hope rises at despair’s edge. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as a catalyst for hope. Themes hope despair resilience Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - creative work - mental health - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform a low point into a hopeful moment? - What does “walking on air” mean to you? A Different Perspective Hope can be fragile if not grounded in action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Brink Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brink-despair-1869730/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edges/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling/) [Falling Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-edge-1018766/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Instead Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-falling-2792778/) [Over the edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-the-edge/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking/) [Walking Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-air-2792777/) ## Related quotes > [If every day of your life you are told by authority figures that the Earth is flat, you will be scared of falling off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rippetoe/if-every-day-of-your-life-you-are-told-by-authority-figures-that-the/) [Mark Rippetoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rippetoe/) > [“Dear Daughter, Do not seek help from anyone who cannot wait to see you on the brink of despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-daughter-do-not-seek-help-from-anyone-who-cannot-wait-to-see-you/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Feel it...Breath it...Believe it...and you'll be walking on air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/feel-it-breath-it-believe-it-and-you-ll-be-walking-on-air/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) > [Feel it, breathe it, believe it and you'll be walking on air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/feel-it-breathe-it-believe-it-and-you-ll-be-walking-on-air/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-miracle-is-not-walking-on-water-or-walking-in-air-but-simply/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Id rather be seen the way I am now instead of falling over myself walking out of a club,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-duff/id-rather-be-seen-the-way-i-am-now-instead-of-falling-over-myself/) [Hilary Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-duff/) > [“Instead of falling, I am dancing with the wind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-nadel/instead-of-falling-i-am-dancing-with-the-wind/) [Laurie Nadel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-nadel/) > [It's like your whole life you 've been falling toward the earth, until the moment someone catches you. 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