--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To hope is to risk frustration. Make up…" description: "\"To hope is to risk frustration. Make up your mind to risk frustration.\" — Thomas Merton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/thomas-merton-231_frustration_to-hope-is-to-risk-frustration-make-up-y_531108.jpg" --- # To hope is to risk frustration. Make up your mind to risk… ![“To hope is to risk frustration. Make up your mind to risk frustration.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/thomas-merton-231_frustration_to-hope-is-to-risk-frustration-make-up-y_531108.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/thomas-merton-231_frustration_to-hope-is-to-risk-frustration-make-up-y_531108.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/thomas-merton-231_frustration_to-hope-is-to-risk-frustration-make-up-y_531108.jpg) > “To hope is to risk frustration. Make up your mind to risk frustration.” [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 involves embracing the possibility of disappointment; it requires intentional risk‑taking. **In simple terms:** Hope means risking frustration. Key Takeaway Choose to risk disappointment for hope. Themes hope risk frustration Mood hopeful cautious Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal goals - creative endeavors - relationships - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology of optimism Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to face frustration for hope? - What strategies help you cope with disappointment? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to repeated setbacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [If a writer is so cautious that he never writes anything that cannot be criticized, he will never be able to write anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-a-writer-is-so-cautious-that-he-never-writes-anything-that-cannot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Hope is a risk that must be run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/hope-is-a-risk-that-must-be-run/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [To love is to risk rejection, to live is to risk dying and to hope is to risk failure. But risk must be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-love-is-to-risk-rejection-to-live-is-to-risk-dying-and-to-hope-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Remember this: we all swim in the river of hope and risk, unless someone breaks the dam, and chaos reigns.” Excerpt From: Joison, Peter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-joison/remember-this-we-all-swim-in-the-river-of-hope-and-risk-unless/) Peter Joison > [“There is no hope without risk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-barnhill/there-is-no-hope-without-risk/) [Kelly Barnhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-barnhill/) > [To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return-to-hope-is-to-risk-pain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return-to-hope-is-to-risk-pain-2/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk. To try is to risk failure. but risk must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massie-moxley/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return-to-hope-is-to-risk-to/) [Massie Moxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massie-moxley/) > [We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/we-must-give-up-the-silly-idea-of-folding-our-hands-and-waiting-on/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [First you don't want me to get the pony, then you want me to take it back. 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Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/make-up-your-mind-that-nothing-is-more-important-than-how-i-feel-now/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [To live is a constant process of relating, so come on out of that shell of isolation and conclusion, and relate DIRECTLY to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-live-is-a-constant-process-of-relating-so-come-on-out-of-that/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I learned that if you want to get somewhere, you just make up your mind and work like hell til you get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-learned-that-if-you-want-to-get-somewhere-you-just-make-up-your/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Frustration quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [At the outset, my notion of being a writer was that you would have moments of inspiration and moments of frustration, when you'd crumple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rachman/at-the-outset-my-notion-of-being-a-writer-was-that-you-would-have/) [Tom Rachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rachman/) > [If you try to control everything, and then worry about the things you can't control, you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/if-you-try-to-control-everything-and-then-worry-about-the-things-you/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [I turned to music originally because of my past and needing a release or an outlet to get out anger or frustration or hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-turned-to-music-originally-because-of-my-past-and-needing-a-release/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [“I swear , this stupid town. Why does every hideous supernatural thing that happens happen here ? I'm gone for a few months and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-swear-this-stupid-town-why-does-every-hideous-supernatural-thing/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [We don't always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-don-t-always-know-the-details-of-our-future-we-do-not-know-what/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Having people around you that are honest with you, and having a team around you that can actually track and communicate where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muneshine/having-people-around-you-that-are-honest-with-you-and-having-a-team/) [Muneshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muneshine/) > [frustration, complication and misery are available in abundance, but so is God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/frustration-complication-and-misery-are-available-in-abundance-but-so/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [When the darkness is seen as a necessary prelude to the creative light, one is less likely to ascribe frustration to personal inadequacy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/when-the-darkness-is-seen-as-a-necessary-prelude-to-the-creative/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [But the grind has begun. 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