In Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place," the primary conflict between retaining hope and the passage of time is played out as an old man sits in a cafe and two waiters discuss his repeated presence. In the short story, the question is asked whether or not hope is futile when we realize that time waits for no one, as evidenced by the famous "nada" passage. The waiters' conversation about confidence and youth symbolizes two ways to consider the futility of hope.

The waiters in the story comment on why the old man continues to come to the cafe, despite the sadness that has entered into his life in old age. The young waiter remarks that he is “all confidence,” and it is this confidence that allows him to live an exciting and youthful life where he "[has] everything." The young waiter is quick to push the old man out, or to move on and enjoy life and live it to the fullest. The older waiter, the one who is of those who "like to stay late at the cafe," is a symbol of patience; he represents those who cling to hope that there is something awaiting them after life is over. For these two juxtaposing ideas to be in conversation, readers must think about whether they feel that hope if futile or not, because a youthful and confident life, though it may be as nice and beautiful as a “clean, well-lighted” cafe, may very well be meaningless when all is said and done.