No one has yet computed how many imaginary triumphs are silently celebrated by people each year to keep up their courage.

Haskins points to a quiet, universal psychological strategy: people often rehearse victories in their minds—small fantasies of success, vindication, or relief—to steady themselves against uncertainty and fear. The “imaginary triumphs” are not presented as delusions to be mocked but as private ceremonies that help maintain morale when real outcomes are unresolved or discouraging. By noting that no one has “computed” them, the quote also hints at how invisible inner life is to statistics and public record: much of human resilience is sustained by unmeasured, internal narratives. The line captures the tension between outward reality and inward coping, suggesting that hope is frequently self-generated before it is externally confirmed.