Knowledge gives hope, and hope, survival. Vitruvius recounts the wash up from a shipwreck.

Bene speremus! Hominum enim vestigia video.
Let us hope for the best! For I see the traces of men.

Bene: well or favorably.

Speremus: Let us hope. A hortatory subjunctive in the first person plural present 

Hominum: genitive of homo (man, human), modifying vestigia.

Enim: for or indeed.

Vestigia: traces or signs. Neuter plural accusative. 

Video: I see. First person singular present indicative.