Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
After a major setback at 21, the speaker views all future progress as unexpected positive gain.
In plain terms
When you expect nothing, everything you get feels like a win.
What can you take from it?
Lowering expectations can make life feel more rewarding.

Where it applies

  • recovery
  • career change
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • reset expectations
  • acknowledge progress

Questions to consider

  • How do expectations shape happiness?
  • When did you lose hope?

Another view

Constantly low expectations might hinder ambition.

More from Stephen Hawking

  1. I am discounting reports of UFOs. Why would they appear only to cranks and weirdos?

    Permalink to quote #15
  2. Evolution has ensured that our brains just aren't equipped to visualise 11 dimensions directly. However, from a purely mathematical point of view it's just as …

    Permalink to quote #17
  3. Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.

    Permalink to quote #14

Related quotes

  1. I'm gonna keep rockin'. Crazier things have happened in my life, and I'm just really blessed to have gotten this far.

    Constantine MaroulisConstantine Maroulis quote #8
  2. O lovely chance, what can I do To give my gratefulness to you? You rise between myself and me With a wise persistency; I would have broken body and soul, But b…

    Sara TeasdaleSara Teasdale quote #31
  3. I have had many troubles, but the worst of them never came.

    James A. GarfieldJames A. Garfield quote #44