About this quote

Loss of hope often shuts down a person's alarms about risk and consequence. When you stop expecting change, fear shrinks because nothing feels worth defending. Have you ever watched someone give up and stop worrying about what comes next? Make one small, concrete move today — send a message, apply for a job, or go for a short run — and you'll see whether caring can return or whether the numbness is deeper.

When to use it

• After a round of layoffs at my company, someone said about Mark, 'a man without hope is a man without fear,' when explaining why he stopped going to interviews.
• When a high school student stops showing up after failing finals, a counselor might say, 'a man without hope is a man without fear,' to explain why grades no longer bother them.
• At a hospital visit, a sister might whisper to a relative, 'she's stopped asking for second opinions — a man without hope is a man without fear,' while describing why the patient refuses more treatment.
• After a long losing streak, a coach pointed at a player who quit practice and said, 'a man without hope is a man without fear,' to call out the player's resignation.