hope springs eternal

hope springs eternal

proverb People can always find a reason to hope, even in the bleakest situations. The phrase is a shortening of the line "Hope springs eternal in every human breast," from Alexander Pope's poem Essay on Man. We don't know how this business venture will work out, but hope springs eternal, right?
See also: eternal, hope, spring
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Hope springs eternal (in the human breast).

Prov. People will continue to hope even though they have evidence that things cannot possibly turn out the way they want. (From Alexander Pope's poem, "Essay on Man." Sometimes used to remark that you believe someone's situation is hopeless, as in the first example.) Jill: The boss may have turned me down the first twelve times I asked for a raise, but this time I really think she'll give it to me. Jane: Hope springs eternal in the human breast. Alan: You're not still trying to teach the dog to shake hands! Jane: Hope springs eternal.
See also: eternal, hope, spring
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hope springs eternal

People will keep on hoping, no matter what the odds. For example, I keep buying lottery tickets-hope springs eternal. This expression was coined by Alexander Pope ( An Essay on Man, 1732) and quickly became proverbial.
See also: eternal, hope, spring
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

hope springs eternal

it is human nature always to find fresh cause for optimism.
This is a shortened version of Alexander Pope's line in An Essay on Man ( 1733 ): ‘Hope springs eternal in the human breast’.
1992 Angela Lambert A Rather English Marriage Hope springs eternal—she smiled wryly—even in Tunbridge Wells .
See also: eternal, hope, spring
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌhope springs eˈternal

(saying) human beings never stop hoping: She’s sure that he’ll come back to her one day. I’m not so sure, but hope springs eternal.This comes from An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope: ‘Hope springs eternal in the human breast’.
See also: eternal, hope, spring
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hope springs eternal

It is human nature to keep on hoping against all odds. This particular expression was coined by the poet Alexander Pope in An Essay on Man (1732), “Hope springs eternal in the human breast,” and very quickly became proverbial. It was quoted by Robert Burns and Charles Dickens, among many others, usually without benefit of quotation marks.
See also: eternal, hope, spring
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • if it were not for hope, the heart would break
  • hope against hope, to
  • not a hope
  • live in hope
  • live in hope of
  • live in hope of (something)
  • live in hope(s)
  • third time lucky
  • third time's a charm
  • hope to see you again
References in periodicals archive
"Hope springs eternal that something will happen," says Spira, the animal rights organizer.
Test tube toxicology: new tests may reduce the need for animals in product safety testing
But hope springs eternal. We are led to believe that historical cause and effect are reversible, that the future can reinvent the past.
The terminator
Hope springs eternal in the aching heart of Lyceum coach Topex Robinson.
NCAA: Lyceum waving Pirates' flag, not white flag of surrender
'It's a difficult task, but hope springs eternal,' said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.
Palace to new BOC chief: Learn from 'mistakes' of predecessors
It maybe wishful thinking, it is a very emotive subject, but the steel structures must be saved and in the passage of time circumstances may change - hope springs eternal.
Maybe all is not lost
So hope springs eternal that the national representative will go on to glory in"the big one".
REVIEW; Welsh Singers Competition St David's Hall, Cardiff
Then some sensible answers from them (hope springs eternal) No-one wants to be in the middle of an earthquake...
Trouble on the train; You Say Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk
Hope springs eternal for hopeful romantics, even if their pals get a bit fed up buying wedding presents.
Oh Basil.. but old romantics are anything but hopeless
St Nicholas Abbey, a former Racing Post Trophy winner who also went into the Guineas unbeaten, was a big flop in the race for the trainer two years ago, so hope springs eternal for Camelot's rivals.
Put your Guineas on this top Lot; O'BRIEN JR CAN CAM OF AGE
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL this time of year in the HAPPI office.
Will it work ... or won't it?
David Williams, of Ladbrokes, said: "The reports about Born To Sea are exciting and hope springs eternal for punters who remember Sea The Stars with such affection."
Classic odds for Stars relative
Hope springs eternal, but the possibility that 2,000 missing PAYE documents are still within the confines of the Birmingham tax office five weeks after they went missing seems remote.
THE BIRMINGHAM POST: Taxing times
Hope springs eternal! But, having read your article I was left feeling more than a little disappointed.
Letter: Mailbag - 'Cheap fudge' of a bypass
Still, hope springs eternal, and McLeish was in relaxed mood during the countdown to the draw.
I HAD AN ECK OF A DREAM; McLeish in World Cup hunt again.. 25 years after debut
As I have explored the genre in preparation, I am reminded that "hope springs eternal," and nowhere is that hope expressed with greater enthusiasm and commitment than in the works of writers who link the spirituality, healing, and relationship realms.
Food for the Soul