That came up in a radio drama I was listening to.

Those two are a devastating combination.

What could cause despair but the death or otherwise lack of somethng precious and glorious?

And to persist in working towards or believing in that precious glorious thing, in spite of it’s unattainability…That is hero’s work.

I will never forget the part of The Fellowships of the Rings after Gandalf dies. Frodo says “We cannot go on without Gandalf! There is no hope.”
Aragorn replies, “Then we shall have to do without hope.”

..the movie forgot that line, and they shouldn’t have.

Persisting past hope in doing the right thing.

Maybe if I persist long enough hope will catch up with me.