| 1 | In a world where there appears so much cruelty, hatred and misery, the promise of better times – even if unspecified and far into the future – is sometimes enough to get people through each day. |
| 2 | In times of great hardship, when under attack from heartless agents and pirates, the prospect of delaying the inevitable – even if only for a short period – is sufficient motivation to give us courage to defend ourselves. |
| 3 | In moments of excruciating pain, when facing a grim road, the vision of a happier life - even if in the frame of a “life after death” - is enough to give people comfort. |
| 4 | We call this gift, Hope. |
| 5 | Hope may be described as the yearning for some change of events or change in possession or status with the positive expectation of it being achieved some time in the future. |
| 6 | In a sense then, Hope is a form of Belief, as similar to Belief the concept of Hope assumes a high level of trust. |
| 7 | Yet Hope is also unique to Belief in that people may be frequently disappointed by events that seem to contradict a positive expectation of change, yet not give up Hope. |
| 8 | In this sense then, Hope shares some qualities of Faith as the mind “fills in the gaps” and assumes some level of responsibility, when in reality it should be entirely up to the leader or institution that made the promise and not the audience. |
| 9 | When one has Hope, certain allowances might be made for failures along the journey, so long as the vision promised remains steadfast; and |
| 10 | When one has Hope, even the timeline toward the promise might be altered or suspended, yet still believed so long as the vision remains clear. |
| 11 | A clear, comprehensible and steadfast adherence to a vision is essential to engendering and maintaining Hope. |
| 12 | The moment a leader starts to tinker and alter the vision – even by the smallest detail, those that previously followed can quickly lose Hope. |
| 13 | When Hope is lost, the immediate and normal reaction is a brief period of stasis followed by a general rebellion as people with “nothing to lose” seek change en mass. |
| 14 | This is why governments that ignore the importance of Hope and destroy any sense of Hope ultimately doom themselves to extinction. |
| 15 | Thus, the expiration of Hope by a government or institution is one of the most insane and suicidal acts that can be made. |
| 16 | Too much Hope in any society built upon hidden slavery and falsities, encourages more and more people to stand up against tyranny and injustice. |
| 17 | Therefore, the skill of managing Hope as in the managing of expectations is an essential skill of survival for any government or institution. |
| 18 | Similar to Belief and Faith, the concept of Hope is not in itself a negative concept. |
| 19 | Indeed, Hope is an ability of the mind of men and women that gives heart and courage to overcome even the most insurmountable obstacles. |
| 20 | A powerful foe, even with the most formidable of weapons that loses Hope, is doomed. |
| 21 | A small but determined force, with a firm sense of Hope is capable of defeating the most terrifying of enemies. |
| 22 | This is why Hope is seen as such an important element for those seeking change as much as those who wish to remain in power. |
| 23 | It is also why Hope is prone to manipulation and trickery as much as Faith and Belief. |
| 24 | Ambitious and impatient men and women may paint visions and promises that are unsustainable or goals for which they have no intention of fulfilling; and |
| 25 | Malevolent and manipulative men or women may describe future visions which they have no intention of supporting in practice in order to win confidence and steal from those who Believe. |
| 26 | Yet false Hope has a way of finding its own justice against those foolish enough to create such illusions. |
| 27 | For the worst betrayal is the deception of vision and false Hope. |
| 28 | Hope can also be a distraction from the present. It can blind us from what riches we already possess in life. |
| 29 | As an element of ego is to try to project our minds away from the present toward focusing on the past or future, Hope can sometimes play into the hands of such distraction. |
| 30 | Yet when Hope is in balance, there is reason. |
| 31 | Thus happiness in this life may be described simply as to do, to love, and to hope. |
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1 Exordium - Beginning