Hope Is a Good Thing
“Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
- Andy Dufresne (Stephen King), Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
Hope sustains us through darkness and drives action when all seems lost. Unlike naive optimism, hope acknowledges reality but believes in possibility. Unlike despair, hope is active and open to change.
Key Distinctions
- Hope vs Optimism: Hope believes possibility exists even when unlikely; optimism expects positive outcomes
- Hope vs Despair: Despair is passive and final; hope is active and open
- Hope vs Denial: Hope sees darkness but looks for light; denial ignores reality
Related Concepts
- [[Making a Difference (The Star Thrower)]]
- [[Flexibility Over Rigidity]]
- [[Source: Hope Is a Good Thing]]
Source: [[Hope Is a Good Thing - Shawshank Redemption]]
Linked References
- [[Making a Difference (The Star Thrower)]]
Making a difference to one is making a difference, regardless of scale.
- [[Mortality Awareness]]
Using awareness of death to clarify priorities and make meaningful choices.
- [[Resilience]]
The ability to recover from setbacks and adapt to adversity.
- [[Hope Is a Good Thing - Shawshank Redemption]]
Quote about hope being the best of things that never dies.
- [[Some Birds Aren't Meant to Be Caged - Stephen King]]
Quote about birds too bright to be caged and missing friends who fly away.
- [[The Star Thrower (Starfish Story)]]
Story about making a difference one starfish at a time, despite overwhelming odds.