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I hated waiting. If I had one particular complaint, it was…

“I hated waiting. If I had one particular complaint, it was that my life seemed composed entirely of expectation. I expected — an arrival, an explanation, an apology. There had never been one, a fact I could have accepted, were it not true that, just when I had got used to the limits and dimensions…” quote by Marilynne Robinson
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“I hated waiting. If I had one particular complaint, it was that my life seemed composed entirely of expectation. I expected — an arrival, an explanation, an apology. There had never been one, a fact I could have accepted, were it not true that, just when I had got used to the limits and dimensions of one moment, I was expelled into the next and made to wonder again if any shapes hid in its shadows.”

Marilynne Robinson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life is a series of expectations that often go unmet, leading to continual adjustment and wonder.

In simple terms: Expectations shape but also frustrate our experience.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty and adapt.

Themes

expectation uncertainty adaptation

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • career planning
  • personal growth

Key Concepts

existential reflection psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What expectations are you holding?
  • How do you cope when expectations fail?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on expectation can cause anxiety.

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