Hope

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Emotions
Acceptance Anger Anticipation Boredom Disgust Envy Fear Guilt Hate Hope Joy Jealousy Love Remorse Sorrow Surprise

For other uses, see Hope (disambiguation).

Hope is a belief that things are obtainable regardless of the remoteness of the probabilities. That means "I can [get well, rich, happy etc] no matter how [sick, poor, miserable etc] I am." It does not mean "I will get well, rich, happy etc." - which is "positive thinking" not always based in facts. According to the above definition, hope recognizes probabilities, but is not attached to the outcome. Hope also implies a certain amount of perseverance, believing that something is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary. Hope may be directed toward something minor or towards something extremely significant. "False hope" does not exist - according to the definition there is always space for hope. "False hope" may be an example of positive thinking.

Examples include:

hoping to catch a train
hoping to get some object or a job, or to get rich
being in love and hoping that this is reciprocal
hoping for somebody to be cured of a disease
hoping for happiness
hoping for a blessing from God
hoping for the ability to fly (a false hope)

The absence of hope is despair. In some religions, despair is considered to be a sin.

Hope was personified in Greek mythology. When Pandora opened Pandora's Box, she let out all the evils except one-- Hope. Apparently the Greeks considered Hope to be as dangerous as all the world's evils. But without hope to accompany all their troubles, humanity was filled with despair. It was a great relief when Pandora revisited her box and let out hope as well.

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Quotes

"Faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love" (Saint Paul, 1st Corinthians 13:13)
"Hope is the thing with feathers — That perches in the soul" (Emily Dickinson)
"Abandon hope, all ye who enter here" (An inscription on the Gate of Hell, as described by Dante in The Divine Comedy.
"Hope. It is the quintessential human delusion simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and your greatest weakness" - the Architect from The Matrix Reloaded
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1, the Holy Bible)