The triumph of hope over experience

Definitions

• describing a situation where optimism prevails despite past failures or negative experiences
  Highlighting the persistence of hope despite evidence to the contrary

• emphasizing the tendency to believe in a positive outcome despite repeated disappointments
  Describing a situation where someone continues to hope for success despite numerous setbacks

Examples of The triumph of hope over experience

• Joan decided to start her own business without any prior experience in that field, relying solely on her optimism and enthusiasm for success.

  This is an example of using the idiom "The triumph of hope over experience" in a sentence. It means that Joan is placing her hope for success in her new business venture over the evidence or lessons learned from past experiences. Essentially, she is choosing to believe that her optimism will lead to success despite any past failures or negative experiences in starting a business. It can also be interpreted as a risk that Joan is taking, as she is going against the advice or cautionary tales of others who have tried and failed in similar situations. The success of her business will ultimately depend on whether her hope prevails over the realities of the experience in the business world.

• Despite the fact that Jessica's previous attempts at losing weight resulted in failure, she persisted in her diet and exercise routine, placing her hope for success over the evidence of past experiences.

  This example shows how the idiom "The triumph of hope over experience" can be used in different contexts. In this case, Jessica is overcoming her past experiences of weight loss failure through her determination and optimism for success. Her hope for success is guiding her actions, despite the evidence of her past unsuccessful attempts. It also highlights the emotions and beliefs associated with hope and experience, as Jessica's negative experiences may have also led to feelings of despair or defeat, which she is now overcoming through the triumph of hope. The use of "overcoming" also implies that Jessica's hope can serve as a catalyst for change, helping her to overcome the past experiences that previously held her back.

• When the team lost three games in a row, their coach continued to remain optimistic about their chances of winning the championship, rallying the players with his hope and belief in their abilities.

  This example demonstrates the use of "The triumph of hope over experience" in a leadership context. The coach's hope is overriding the evidence of their previous losses, as he encourages the team to focus on their potential and abilities rather than their past failures. In this case, the coach's hope can serve as a source of motivation and inspiration, as the team draws on his optimism to overcome their past experiences of defeat. It also highlights the role of leadership in guiding and inspiring others, as the coach's hope is guiding the team's actions and beliefs.

• After facing numerous setbacks and rejections in her career, Sarah continued to persevere, placing her hope for success over the evidence of her past experiences.

  This example demonstrates how "The triumph of hope over experience" can be used to describe the persistence and resilience required to achieve success. In this case, Sarah's hope for success is overriding the evidence of her past failures and setbacks, as she continues to pursue her career aspirations. It also illustrates the importance of hope in cultivating persistence and resilience, as Sarah's hope drives her to continue pursuing her goals despite the challenges and obstacles she has faced. The use of "perseverance" also highlights the emotions and beliefs associated with hope and experience, as Sarah's past failures may have also led to feelings of doubt or despair. However, through the triumph of hope over experience, Sarah is able to overcome these feelings and continue pursuing her goals.

• Despite the numerous setbacks and failures in the past, the entrepreneur decided to invest all their savings in a new start-up. They were determined to make it a success, believing that this time, everything would fall into place. This can be an example of the idiom "the triumph of hope over experience."

  In this example, the entrepreneur is relying solely on hope instead of learning from their previous experiences. They are taking an enormous risk by investing all their savings, which can lead to financial ruin. This idiom highlights the inclination of humans to trust their hopes over what they have learned or experienced in the past. It also signifies the foolishness that can arise from such a belief.

• After years of struggling to get a job in her field, Sarah decided to start her own business. Despite having little experience in entrepreneurship, she remained optimistic that her skills and passion would succeed. This was an example of the triumph of hope over experience.

  The idiom "the triumph of hope over experience" refers to the human tendency to be optimistic and hopeful, even when experience has shown that things may not turn out as expected. In Sarah's case, she had faced numerous setbacks in her job search, but she remained optimistic and hopeful that she could succeed on her own. This optimism allowed her to take a risk and pursue her dream, despite the potential challenges and uncertainties. The phrase "triumph of hope over experience" suggests that hope can overcome the limitations and doubts that experience might have instilled.

Conclusion

The idiom "the triumph of hope over experience" is used to convey the idea that optimism prevails despite past failures or negative experiences. It is often used to highlight the persistence of hope despite evidence to the contrary, or to emphasize the tendency to believe in a positive outcome despite repeated disappointments.

In everyday conversation, this idiom is used to describe a situation where someone continues to hope for success despite numerous setbacks. It is often used to caution against being overly optimistic in the face of repeated failures, or to express skepticism about the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Origin of "The triumph of hope over experience"

The origin of the idiom "the triumph of hope over experience" is often attributed to the English author Samuel Johnson, who used a similar phrase in his work "The Idler" in 1758. Johnson's original phrase was "The triumph of hope over experience" and it has since been adapted into the more commonly used idiom.

The idiom reflects the human tendency to continue hoping for the best, even when past experiences suggest otherwise. It captures the idea that hope can sometimes defy logic and prevail over the lessons learned from previous failures. In essence, the idiom speaks to the enduring power of optimism in the face of adversity.