“It’s Only Terrible to Have Nothing to Wait For” – Erich Maria Remarque’s Reflection on Hope and Human Survival

Quote Analysis

There are few lines in literature that capture the quiet tragedy of existence as powerfully as Erich Maria Remarque’s words:

“It’s only terrible to have nothing to wait for.”

Written in his novel Three Comrades, this thought speaks to the core of human experience — the need for purpose and anticipation. Remarque reminds us that people can endure loss, pain, and even despair, but not emptiness. When life stops offering something to look forward to, existence turns mechanical, stripped of meaning. What did Remarque truly want to say about hope, time, and the human soul? Let’s explore.

Remarque – A Chronicler of Lost Generations

To understand this quote, we must first understand the man behind it. Erich Maria Remarque was not only a novelist but a witness to a broken century. After surviving the First World War, he watched how entire generations of young men returned home spiritually hollow — unable to reconnect with the world that once made sense. In his novels, especially All Quiet on the Western Front and Three Comrades, Remarque explored not the battlefield itself, but what happens after the guns fall silent — the emptiness, confusion, and slow search for meaning.

Remarque’s work stands as a mirror of what philosophers call “existential dislocation” — when the external world changes faster than the human spirit can adapt. His characters are not heroes in the traditional sense; they are survivors searching for fragments of hope among ruins. Through them, he teaches a quiet moral lesson: that strength lies not in denial of pain, but in the courage to live despite it.

When Remarque writes, “It’s only terrible to have nothing to wait for,” he’s speaking from experience. The post-war man could live with hunger and loss, but not with aimlessness. Modern readers can relate too — even today, people often feel lost when stripped of goals, love, or purpose. Remarque’s brilliance lies in showing that waiting — for a person, for peace, for a reason to continue — becomes an act of defiance against despair.

The Meaning of “Having Something to Wait For”

In Remarque’s worldview, “waiting” is far more than the act of passing time. It represents the thread that connects the present to the future — a symbol of inner movement and vitality. To wait means to hope, and to hope means to live. This idea is deeply human: when people have something to anticipate, no matter how small — a reunion, a sunrise, a letter — their minds remain active and their spirits alive.

The absence of waiting, on the other hand, signifies psychological stillness — a life without direction or expectation. Remarque captures this state as truly “terrible,” because it reflects spiritual death even in a breathing body. His insight anticipates what psychology later confirmed: that human motivation depends on the ability to imagine a better tomorrow. Without that mental image, people lose drive, joy, and meaning.

To make this idea tangible, think of someone who has retired without a sense of purpose, or a person who no longer believes anything good can happen. They may continue existing, but their days feel empty — they have, in Remarque’s words, “nothing to wait for.” In contrast, those who set even modest goals — learning a new skill, meeting a friend, helping others — sustain an invisible inner flame.

Remarque teaches that the essence of life is not in achieving but in expecting. The act of waiting becomes a bridge over the uncertainty of existence. It’s not merely optimism; it’s the structure of consciousness itself — the way the human spirit resists meaninglessness by projecting itself into the future.

The Existential Dimension – Connection to Philosophy

From a philosophical perspective, Remarque’s quote fits naturally within the framework of existentialism — a school of thought that explores how individuals create meaning in a world that offers none by default. Thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Viktor Frankl all dealt with the same fundamental question: How does one continue to live when life itself seems empty? Remarque’s answer aligns with theirs — we live by waiting, by believing that something still lies ahead, even when reason gives us no guarantee.

When Remarque writes, “It’s only terrible to have nothing to wait for,” he touches the heart of existential despair. For Sartre, such a state would mean “bad faith,” a condition where a person stops taking responsibility for shaping their own existence. For Camus, it would resemble the absurd, where human longing for meaning collides with a silent universe. Yet, like Camus’ “absurd hero,” Remarque’s characters do not surrender. They act, love, and dream despite futility — and that defiance itself becomes their meaning.

To illustrate this, consider the difference between existing and living. A person who merely exists drifts through time; a person who lives is one who continues to expect, to imagine. This expectation — even when irrational — is what philosophy calls authentic existence. Remarque thus brings existential theory down from the abstract into the human heart: to live authentically is to keep waiting, even when hope feels foolish.

The Psychology of Hope – Why Waiting Keeps Us Human

From a psychological standpoint, Remarque’s observation is not poetic exaggeration but scientific truth. Human beings are wired to anticipate. The brain releases dopamine — the neurotransmitter linked to motivation and reward — not when we receive something, but when we expect it. This means that hope itself produces emotional energy. When there is nothing to wait for, the brain’s motivational systems go silent, leading to apathy, depression, and emotional exhaustion.

Modern psychology confirms what Remarque intuitively understood: people survive hardship not because pain disappears, but because they believe in a future beyond it. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, described this as the “will to meaning.” Those who lost all expectation of the future in concentration camps often perished faster than those who held on to even the smallest hope — a reunion, a letter, or the next sunrise.

To make it more relatable, think of how people endure long-term struggles — illness, grief, or uncertainty. They often say, “I just need something to look forward to.” This small phrase is profoundly human. It captures the essence of mental resilience: the ability to endure today because tomorrow still matters.

Remarque’s insight, therefore, bridges literature and psychology. Waiting is not mere passivity; it is an active mental process that keeps the self intact. Hope organizes our emotions, gives structure to time, and protects us from despair. To stop waiting is to stop being fully human — because it means we have ceased to imagine, to desire, and to move forward.

Ethical Message – The Responsibility to Hope

Remarque’s quote carries not just emotional or philosophical depth, but also a strong ethical message. It suggests that hope is not merely a feeling — it is a moral duty toward oneself and others. When a person abandons hope, they not only surrender to despair but also neglect the quiet responsibility of preserving their own humanity. In this sense, Remarque views hope as a form of integrity — the decision to stay engaged with life, even when the world feels cold or meaningless.

In Three Comrades, this moral stance is visible through his characters, who, despite loss and poverty, continue to care, love, and dream. Their actions show that waiting is not weakness; it is a conscious moral act of persistence. To wait means to believe that one’s existence still matters — that one has a role to play, however small.

In a broader ethical context, this principle extends to modern life. When society loses faith in the future — whether through cynicism, consumerism, or fear — it begins to decay from within. Remarque’s message, then, is timeless: to sustain hope is to protect the moral fabric of both the individual and the community. It is not naïve to hope; it is courageous. By choosing to wait, even without guarantees, a person demonstrates the highest form of responsibility — loyalty to life itself.

The Courage to Anticipate

In the end, “It’s only terrible to have nothing to wait for” is not a statement of despair, but a quiet declaration of courage. Through this simple sentence, Remarque transforms waiting from a passive state into an act of resistance against meaninglessness. He reminds us that existence becomes unbearable not because of pain or failure, but because of emptiness — the absence of something ahead. Hope, even fragile and uncertain, fills that void and allows life to move forward.

Philosophically, this ties back to the essence of existential humanism: the belief that meaning is not given but created through our choices and perseverance. Psychologically, it highlights how forward-thinking — even about the smallest joys — keeps the human spirit alive. Historically, it reflects the interwar generation’s struggle to rebuild faith after devastation.

In modern times, Remarque’s insight feels equally relevant. Many people today experience a similar form of inner exhaustion — the feeling of running without direction. His words encourage us to pause and rediscover a sense of purpose, however small. To wait is not to be idle; it is to believe that life is still unfolding.
Remarque’s wisdom ultimately teaches this: the greatest tragedy is not suffering itself, but losing the will to imagine a future.