My theory is that hope is a form of madness. A benevolent one, sure, but madness all the same. Like an irrational superstition--broken mirrors and so forth--hope's not based on any kind of logic, it's just unfettered optimism, grounded in nothing but faith in things beyond our control.

Benjamin Wood
About This Quote

In this quote, Winnie Mandela expresses a belief that hope is a form of madness. While hope has a definite place in our lives, it can also be a hindrance to our progress and well being. The reason for this is that much of what we hope for might never come to fruition. In the case of her husband, Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela was hoping that his release from prison would be imminent.

While he was released from prison, there was never any guarantee that he could have been free if he had not been released. In her mind, she felt as though she needed to stay as hopeful as possible as it would benefit her husband to have the confidence that he would eventually be free.

Source: The Bellwether Revivals

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