"Hope, like faith, is nothing if it is not courageous; it is nothing if it is not ridiculous"

In this quote, Thornton Wilder highlights the value of nerve and absurdity in the concepts of hope and faith. He recommends that hope and faith are useless if they are not accompanied by bravery and a desire to believe in something seemingly difficult. Wilder's use of the word "absurd" suggests that hope and faith need a specific level of foolishness or irrationality, as they typically include believing in something that may seem not likely or illogical. For that reason, Wilder's quote can be analyzed as a suggestion that true hope and faith need both nerve and a desire to embrace the ridiculous.