We should expect the best and the worst of mankind, as from the weather.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.
—Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957) Greek Novelist, Poet, Dramatist
I am open to the guidance of synchronicity, and do not let expectations hinder my path.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
We usually get what we anticipate.
—Claude M. Bristol (1891–1951) American Journalist, Self-Help Author
By expectation every day beguiled; dupe of tomorrow even from a child.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
It is generally known, that he who expects much will be often disappointed; yet disappointment seldom cures us of expectation, or has any effect other than that of producing a moral sentence or peevish exclamation.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
How much of human life is lost in waiting.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A cathedral, a wave of storm, a dancer’s leap, never turn out to be as high as we had hoped.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing, through the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly of the chase.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. You gradually struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
A man’s delight in looking forward to and hoping for some particular satisfaction is a part of the pleasure flowing out of it, enjoyed in advance. But this is afterward deducted, for the more we look forward to anything the less we enjoy it when it comes.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Life is so constructed that an event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation.
—Charlotte Bronte (1816–1855) English Novelist, Poet
Satisfaction with an experience depends significantly on our expectations going into it.
—Ben Casnocha (b.1988) American Entrepreneur
We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyze your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.
—Michael Jordan (b.1963) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.
—Bruce Lee (1940–73) American Martial Artist, Actor, Philosopher
Life’s under no obligation to give us what we expect.
—Margaret Mitchell (1900–49) American Novelist, Journalist
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
In order to win, you must expect to win.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
I know not anything more pleasant, or more instructive, than to compare experience with expectation, or to register from time to time the difference between idea and reality. It is by this kind of observation that we grow daily less liable to be disappointed.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
When you expect things to happen—strangely enough—they do happen.
—J. P. Morgan (1837–1913) American Financier, Philanthropist, Art Collector
What is destructive is impatience, haste, expecting too much too fast.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
Now it is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
We advance on our journey only when we face our goal, when we are confident and believe we are going to win out.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
The boy who expects every morning to open into a new world finds that today is like yesterday, but he believes tomorrow will be different.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations.
—Edward de Bono (b.1933) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
Your expectations opens or closes the doors of your supply, If you expect grand things, and work honestly for them, they will come to you, your supply will correspond with your expectation.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
One of the things that my parents have taught me is never listen to other people’s expectations. You should live your own life and live up to your own expectations, and those are the only things I really care about it.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
If pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of troubles.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Even if it is to be, what end do you serve by running to distress?
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself.
—Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) Italian-born American Novelist, Writer
The best part of our lives we pass in counting on what is to come.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
We tend to live up to our expectations.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Good is not good, when better is expected.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.
—Ralph Marston
You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
High expectations are the key to everything.
—Sam Walton (1918–92) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
All earthly delights are sweeter in expectation than enjoyment; but all spiritual pleasures more in fruition than expectation.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
If you paint in your mind a picture of bright & happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
I saw that all beings are fated to happiness: action is not life, but a way of wasting some force, an enervation. Morality is the weakness of the brain.
—Arthur Rimbaud (1854–91) French Poet, Adventurer
A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations.
—Patricia Neal (1926–2010) American Stage, Movie Actress
We will always tend to fulfill our own expectation of ourselves.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Letters are expectation packaged in an envelope.
—Shana Alexander (1925–2005) American Journalist, Editor, Author