By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Author, lecturer, and disability rights advocate Helen Keller wrote these words in a letter to a friend in 1890. But the person to whom she’s really directing this insight is her younger self. In the letter, she reflects on becoming deaf and blind at 19 months old. She recalls feelings of deprivation and isolation, believing that “everybody [else] was always happy.” With perspective, however, she grew to appreciate the benefits that came with surviving hardships. In this quote, she highlights bravery and patience — two undeniably remarkable virtues — but leaves out the underlying reason for her bravery and patience in the first place: hope, her ability to find light where there was none; to see in the dark.
16 Instantly Recognizable Song Lyrics
Reassuring Quotes To Beat the Winter Blues
13 Reminders To Have Faith in Yourself
Life-Affirming Quotes About Human Connection
What Did Descartes Mean by ‘I Think, Therefore I Am’?
Read These Quotes in the Morning To Kick-Start Your Best Day Yet
13 Motivating Quotes for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
These Books by Black Authors May Just Change Your Life
13 Quotes About the Magic of Winter
13 Funny Quotes About New Year’s Resolutions
Leonardo da Vinci’s Advice for a Fulfilling Life