Does hope really stop you from achieving the best or is it the fuel that ignites your ambitions? According to Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun, you can only be successful if you give up all hope of success. In his article “Start Where You Are,” Chodron shares his perspective on Buddhism and how giving up hope is the solution to all problems. On the other hand, Thomas Jefferson supports hope by convincing his nephew in a letter to always strive to improve. These two authors provide readers with two very different perspectives on how one might live an extraordinary life. In the article "Start where you are", Pema Chodron states that you can only achieve something or some goal by giving up hope and that you can only improve by staying and accepting who you are. It provides examples of everyday life problems and how they can be solved by giving up hope. “Sometimes this happens on a very mundane level: you want to be thinner, have less acne, or more hair. But somehow there is almost always a subtle or not-so-subtle sense of disappointment, a sense that things aren't quite up to scratch.” Again and again, Chodron demonstrates, through carefully chosen words, how Buddhism is a logical and very fulfilling religion. The way Chodron convinces readers creates an effective argument through the use of rhetoric. He uses allusion when he compares Buddha to Christ by stating that Buddha is not someone born more than two thousand years ago; instead, it is the intrinsic part of oneself. By using allusion, Chodron is able to prove his point that in Buddhism it is not necessary to worship anyone. Pema Chodron goes further in persuading readers using expert testimony. In his article he quotes Bodhidharma, a famous Zen master, on his opinion in... middle of paper... without adequate evidence to support his claim. This is not the only inaccurate statement he mentions in his letter, Jefferson informs Peter that "There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so despicable..." which is also fallacious reasoning because there are known crimes in human history then simply tell lies. Although Thomas Jefferson's argument is a bit weak, it presents the most ethical way to live your life. “When hope is taken away from people, moral degeneration quickly follows.” This quote by Pearl S. Buck supports and serves as evidence to show that Thomas Jefferson's ethical lifestyle can be applied to anyone. Pema Chodron tries to convince readers that giving up hope is the path to a more successful life, but her argument is ineffective. By following Thomas Jefferson's advice you can change your life and habits for the better.