The Nature of Hope

 After twice being decimated by Montana's heathen deer, the rose bush is budding once again.

The first thing I thought when I saw the tiny bud was, hope springs eternal.

And I moved the rose into a pot in the house so the deer just go bother someone else.

Necessity being the mother of invention. (1894 translation of Plato's Republic.)

(Who knew? I always thought it was my mother.)

Hope humbly then; with trembling pinions soar; 

Wait the great teacher Death; and God adore! 

What future bliss, he gives not thee to know, 

But gives that hope to be thy blessing now. 

Hope springs eternal in the human breast: 

Man never is, but always to be blest: 

Alexander Pope

For those more playful, less literary -- 

"... A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest

Clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast;

They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that—

We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."

Ernest Thayer