where does "hope is not a course of action" come from

The core of the “hope is not a strategy” mindset (or, sometimes, “hope is not a plan” or “hope is not a course of action”) carries some validity. It’s meant to express the uncontroversial notion that action is more important than words, careful planning is more valuable than lofty ideas.

Full Answer

Where did the phrase hope is not a strategy originate?

Akande, an economist, scholar, and Dean of the Business School at Webster University in St. Louis utilized the phrase "Hope Is Not a Strategy" as the title of his letter. His goal was to advise President Obama on how to bring life back into the economy of the United States. The lines from which this famous phrase comes are as follows:

What is hope?

In fact, hope is a thing that has already taken us to that good with the tune that it sings. In hope – or perhaps by hope – “we were saved,” writes Apostle Paul. In hope, a future good which isn’t yet, somehow already is.

What is hope in the midst of affliction?

In the midst of affliction, the God of hope opens us up for the possibility of joy and comprehensive well-being. Our salvation lies in hope, but not in hope that insists on the future good it has imagined, but in hope ready to rejoice in the kind of good that actually comes our way.

What is hope according to Dickinson?

Hope is a strange thing – as Emily Dickinson declares in her famous poem, it’s a “thing with feathers” perched in our soul, ready to take us on its wings to some future good. In fact, hope is a thing that has already taken us to that good with the tune that it sings.

Origin of "Hope Is Not a Strategy"

On September 3, 2008, at the Republican National convention, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani used the phrase in his convention speech, saying:

What Does It Mean?

Hope will only get you so far. You cannot just wish away your (or the country's) problems. There needs to be a concentrated effort to reduce problems and to increase positive opportunities. Just sitting around thinking about how the current situation could be better is not going to change anything, you also have to act.

A muscular kind of hope

Why “pragmatist”? Stitzlein uses this term to define a kind of hope that is concerned with what works. Pragmatist hopers don’t just cross their fingers and expect things to get better; they move toward a brighter future by acting, evaluating the success of their actions, and adjusting accordingly.

A guide for practicing grit

This kind of hope can also serve as a guide for how—and when—to get gritty. For Stitzlein, an emphasis on grit alone is incomplete. By advocating for individual perseverance at all costs, a focus on grit can blind us to entrenched social problems.

Historical, collaborative, and collective

Pragmatist hope is historical, encouraging us to find a path forward by looking back. Those who hope pragmatically look to movements throughout history that have generated positive change, and evaluate their success.

What does it mean when Paul says "hope does not disappoint"?

Answer. In Romans 5 Paul explains some of the marvelous benefits of being justified (dec lared righteous) in God’s sight, but what does it mean when He says that “hope does not disappoint” ( Romans 5:5 )? The full verse is “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given ...

Why is hope certain in Romans?

That kind of hope is certain because it relies upon God’s power, His promises, and His sacrifice ( Romans 5:6–11) and not our own merits. That kind of hope is certain because of what He has accomplished, not because of any work on our part. Because Christ died for us ( Romans 5:8 ), we have been justified, and we will be delivered from ...

What does Paul say about peace?

In the context, Paul explains that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ( Romans 5:1 ); because of that, we stand in His grace and we rejoice, looking forward to the unveiling of His glory ( Romans 5:2 ). As we look forward in hope and anticipation, we can even rejoice in our tribulations ( Romans 5:3a ).

Did Paul say we were saved based on our own righteousness?

We were not saved based on our own righteousness; rather, we were reconciled (given peace with God) even while we were enemies of God, and so we will be saved by His life ( Romans 5:10 ). While each of us will encounter difficulties—even tribulations or trials—Paul helps us recognize that those circumstances are part of God’s recipe for our growth. ...

Who founded Hope Action?

Hope-Action Group was founded by Drs. Spencer Niles, Norman Amundson, and Hyung Joon Yoon in 2010 and has been collaborating with researchers and practitioners across the globe. Research shows that strengthening hope-action competencies is useful in planning and managing your career and life effectively. Hope-Action Theory consists of the ...

What is Hope Action Group?

The Hope-Action Group is a team of international researchers who promote the importance of hope in people's career development and provide tools and interventions for career professionals and individuals.

What are the seven competencies of Hope Action Theory?

Hope-Action Theory consists of the following seven competencies: Hopefulness: The degree of hope you have about your future. Self-reflection: Examining your thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and circumstances. Self-clarity: Having a clear understanding about yourself in terms of interests, values, skills, motivation, goals, etc.

Why is hope important?

Hope helps us identify signs of hope as signs of hope rather than just anomalies in an otherwise irreparable situation, as indicators of a new dawn rather than the last flickers of a dying light. Hope also helps us to press on with determination and courage.

What is the difference between hope and expectation?

That’s the distinction between hope and expectation. The God who creates out of nothing, the God who makes the dead alive, justifies hope that is otherwise unjustifiable.

What does Romans 5:3-5 mean?

The hope of future glory makes present suffering bearable. But, in Romans 5:3-5, he inverts the relation between hope and endurance. There he writes, “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”. Now endurance helps generate hope.

What does the Apostle Paul say about hope?

The Apostle Paul has penned some of the most famous lines about hope ever written: “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:24-25). Hope is a strange thing – as Emily Dickinson declares in her famous poem, it’s a “thing with feathers” perched in our soul, ready to take us on its wings to some future good. In fact, hope is a thing that has already taken us to that good with the tune that it sings. In hope – or perhaps by hope – “we were saved ,” writes Apostle Paul. In hope, a future good which isn’t yet, somehow already is. A future good we cannot see, which waits in darkness, still qualifies our entire existence. We might be suffering or experiencing “hardship … distress … persecution … famine … nakedness … peril … sword … we are being killed all day long” (Romans 8:18, 35-36), and yet we have been saved and we are saved.

What is the future good that is the object of hope?

The future good that is the object of hope is a new thing, novum, that comes in part from outside the situation. Correspondingly, hope is, in Emily Dickinson’s felicitous phrase, like a bird that flies in from outside and “perches in the soul.”.

What is fear more than hope?

Fear, more than hope, is characteristic of our time. In the late 1960s, we were optimistic about the century’s hopes for the triumph of justice and something like universal peace, but that has given way to increasing pessimism. “No future” scenarios have become plausible to us.

Who made the distinction between hope and optimism?

In his justly famous book Theology of Hope (1964), Jürgen Moltmann , one of the greatest theologians of the second part of the 20th century, made another important distinction, that between hope and optimism. [2] . The source of the distinction relates to the specific way some ancient biblical writers understand hope.