In Hesiod’s account of Pandora, hope remained inside the jar after its harmful contents escaped.
When Pandora opened the vessel, evils flew out into the world. She closed it before the final contents could escape, leaving hope inside. This is the source of the familiar image of hope surviving among humanity’s troubles.
The Greek word used in the passage is elpis, often translated as “hope.” Scholars have debated whether Hesiod presents hope as a benefit, a withheld resource, or something whose presence in the jar is deliberately ambiguous. The poem does not provide a simple modern explanation.
Later versions usually turn the scene into an optimistic ending: although suffering has been released, hope remains available to people. The detail is also why the story is more complex than a straightforward tale about curiosity causing disaster.