The sudden disappointment of a hope leaves a scar which the ultimate fulfilment of that hope never entirely removes.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
A youthful mind is seldom totally free from ambition; to curb that, is the first step to contentment, since to diminish expectation is to increase enjoyment.
—Frances Burney (1752–1840) English Satirical Novelist, Diarist, Playwright
What is destructive is impatience, haste, expecting too much too fast.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
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
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
For, he that expects nothing shall not be disappointed, but he that expects much—if he lives and uses that in hand day by day—shall be full to running over.
—Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) American Faith Healer
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
High expectations are the key to everything.
—Sam Walton (1918–92) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
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
Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it.
—Common Proverb
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
All earthly delights are sweeter in expectation than enjoyment; but all spiritual pleasures more in fruition than expectation.
—Owen Feltham (1602–68) English Essayist
How much of human life is lost in waiting.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Life is largely a matter of expectation.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
We could hardly believe that after so many ordeals, after all the trials of modern skepticism, there was still so much left in our souls to destroy.
—Alexander Herzen (1812–70) Russian Revolutionary, Writer
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
We expect everything and are prepared for nothing.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Satisfaction with an experience depends significantly on our expectations going into it.
—Ben Casnocha (b.1988) American Entrepreneur
Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that; so it goes on flying anyway.
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
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
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
Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness it is to be expecting evil before it comes.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Rarely do the followers exceed the expectations of the leaders.
—Indian Proverb
Man’s real life is happy, chiefly because he is ever expecting that it soon will be so.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
If you do not the expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
We will always tend to fulfill our own expectation of ourselves.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Employees tend to live up to their managers expectations of them. If a managers expectations are high, productivity is likely to be excellent.
—Unknown
Our circumstances answer to our expectations and the demand of our natures.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
You begin by always expecting good things to happen.
—Tom Hopkins (b.1944) American Sales Coach
Life’s under no obligation to give us what we expect.
—Margaret Mitchell (1900–49) American Novelist, Journalist
Leave a Reply