“Hope costs nothing. ”
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette died on August 3, 1954, at the age of 81, in her Paris apartment at the Palais Royal. A legend within her lifetime, thousands of mourners attended her state funeral. Her writings have stood the test of time. Even today, Colette’s thoughts continue to shape the way in which we view aging, authenticity of relationships, and the acceptance of our role in the world of nature. She recognized that joy and grief were interwoven within the human experience when she wrote, “look for a long time at what pleases you, and longer still at what pains you.” Perhaps her greatest gift was her belief that we could be happy.
“Be happy. It’s one way of being wise.”
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
Lady Budd 
indeed hope costs nothing, and the value of hope is everything
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I agree! Priceless….
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hope and the capacity to love are perhaps the defining human attributes.
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Amen! May we remember those words in our daily interactions…
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I might have to work at the pain bit, but I don’t mind being happy. Hopefully, that will make me wise but I enjoy the fool in me too 🙂
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Oh, my friend!!! You are wise and foolish and wonderful…
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Pearl of wisdom. Happy…Happy!
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Thank you!! She left us with good words… I too am happy…
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Happiness and wisdom are definitely interwoven. As I’ve aged, I’ve become happier for sure.
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Well said! There are many advantages to getting older, the greatest being that happiness is more tangible and flexible.
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When I write a letter or email or comment or when I receive the same, I notice how many times the word hope is used.
“I hope you this and I hope you that.”
I often think……….can’t we find another word. It seems so over used.
But there is no substitute. 🙂
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I looked up synonyms for hope! You are absolutely correct (as you always are, my dear friend) – there is no substitute. What I did find were three words that give breath, depth and complexity to hope: trust, promise and expectation. Nothing simple about hope!!!
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When all looks bleak, hope is golden. I was told once that happiness is a choice we make Perhaps.
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I believe that it is a choice. Perhaps it is, as Colette put it so well, that we learn to “Live in the moment!”
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Love how you are able to really learn so much about Colette and her life in the pursuit of love and happiness. Such a joy to explore and learn from her life.
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I agree! If she had not written the stories, if she had not explored the relationships within her life, if she had chosen not to risk, what then? That is why I consider blogging so important. We are adding stories upon stories, and sharing experiences and knowledge at an exponential rate. And the adventures are only beginning..
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it is an incentive for those in fog!
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So true…
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