Hope is a desire for something to happen, while expecting or being confident that it will come true. Hope also implies a certain amount of perseverence , 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" is hoping for something that is extremely unlikely or unrealisic. See also dictionary.com.

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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There are also some places named Hope:

• Hope, England (in Derbyshire)

• Hope, Wales (in Flintshire)

• Hope, British Columbia

• Hope, New Zealand

• Hope, Arkansas (the birthplace of Bill Clinton)
• Hope, Maine
• Hope, Michigan
• Hope, New York
• Hope, North Dakota
• Hope, Rhode Island

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Hope is also in use as an English surname. Celebrities with the name include Bob Hope.

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The Hope Diamond is a famous blue diamond, supposed to be cursed. The "curse" is generally considered pseudoscience -- an urban legend.

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Hope College is a college in Holland, Michigan.

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Hope is a small functional programming language that utilizes polymorphic typing, algebraic types, pattern matching and higher-order functions.

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Hope is a Progressive Rock album by the Canadian band Klaatu.

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Hope is the title of the 13th live praise and worship album by Hillsong Music Australia, released in 2003.

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The HOPE shuttle program, H-II Orbiting Plane, commonly called HOPE-X