In the Greek myth of Pandora’s box, hope remained inside after Pandora released the other contents.
Hesiod’s Works and Days says that Pandora opened a container holding destructive troubles that then spread among humanity. She closed it before one final thing could escape: elpis, commonly translated into English as “hope.”
The meaning of this ending has been debated for centuries. Some readers view hope as a comfort preserved for humans, while others note that Hesiod’s wording and the role of hope in ancient Greek thought allow a more complicated interpretation. The myth itself does not give a simple modern explanation.
Another common error is assuming that “hope” is one of the evils that escaped. In the traditional English telling, it is the remaining item. The original Greek story also describes a jar or storage vessel, not a modern hinged box; the box wording became standard through later translation and retelling.