--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What seems terrible at first may turn out…" description: "\"“What seems terrible at first may turn out to be a great thing. You can't predict.”\" — A.J. Jacobs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/a-j-jacobs-11588_great-thing_what-seems-terrible-at-first-may-turn-ou_544359.png" --- # What seems terrible at first may turn out to be a great… ![“What seems terrible at first may turn out to be a great thing. You can't predict.” quote by A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/a-j-jacobs-11588_great-thing_what-seems-terrible-at-first-may-turn-ou_544359.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/a-j-jacobs-11588_great-thing_what-seems-terrible-at-first-may-turn-ou_544359.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/a-j-jacobs-11588_great-thing_what-seems-terrible-at-first-may-turn-ou_544359.png) > ““What seems terrible at first may turn out to be a great thing. You can't predict.”” [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected outcomes can arise from initially negative experiences, showing that early judgments may be wrong. **In simple terms:** Bad first impressions can hide future benefits. Key Takeaway Stay open to change. Themes adaptability optimism uncertainty Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - career decisions - relationships - health choices Key Concepts cognitive bias resilience Questions to Reflect On - What recent setback might later prove beneficial? - How can you reframe initial disappointment? A Different Perspective Not all terrible events become great; some remain harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thing/) [Predict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predict/) [Terrible Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-turn-4544791/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Predict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-predict-3771712/) ## Related quotes > [“The only thing I cannot predict is the future”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-trivedi/the-only-thing-i-cannot-predict-is-the-future/) [Amit Trivedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-trivedi/) > [You can't predict a show, that is the damndest thing, you can't predict if a show is going to work or not until it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-spelling/you-can-t-predict-a-show-that-is-the-damndest-thing-you-can-t-predict/) [Aaron Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-spelling/) > [You can't take a person who's never danced in their lives, and are completely terrible, and turn them into the mirrorball trophy holder. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artem-chigvintsev/you-can-t-take-a-person-who-s-never-danced-in-their-lives-and-are/) [Artem Chigvintsev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artem-chigvintsev/) > [I think it's a great thing to support fashion and support designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delphine-arnault/i-think-it-s-a-great-thing-to-support-fashion-and-support-designers/) [Delphine Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delphine-arnault/) > [For me, it's a great thing to tell people anything is possible. When I was 15, people told me 'You're not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/for-me-it-s-a-great-thing-to-tell-people-anything-is-possible-when-i/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [There's no such thing as too much. If there's too much, then that's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/there-s-no-such-thing-as-too-much-if-there-s-too-much-then-that-s-a/) [Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [The great thing about letting people be true to themselves is they often do very good things indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hopkins/the-great-thing-about-letting-people-be-true-to-themselves-is-they/) [Katie Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hopkins/) > [Democracy can tie your hands in a rock 'n' roll band, you know? It can be a great thing, but if you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/democracy-can-tie-your-hands-in-a-rock-n-roll-band-you-know-it-can-be/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The great thing about the Internet is that it allows people to find and consume music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-taylor/the-great-thing-about-the-internet-is-that-it-allows-people-to-find/) [Andy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-taylor/) > [Driverless cars are a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-etzioni/driverless-cars-are-a-great-thing/) [Oren Etzioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-etzioni/) > [While working as a team, you push yourself forward and move outside the boundaries. It's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-margiela/while-working-as-a-team-you-push-yourself-forward-and-move-outside/) [Martin Margiela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-margiela/) > [The great thing about country songs is the storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/the-great-thing-about-country-songs-is-the-storytelling/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [“The great thing about growing up with science fiction is that you have an interest in everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-great-thing-about-growing-up-with-science-fiction-is-that-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The great thing about the Wilburys was that none of us had to take the heat by ourselves. I was just a member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/the-great-thing-about-the-wilburys-was-that-none-of-us-had-to-take/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) ## More by A.J. Jacobs > [“To properly engage in magical thinking, I find you have to think of every possible ghastly scenario. That's the only way you outsmart fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/to-properly-engage-in-magical-thinking-i-find-you-have-to-think-of/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“There is no better time in history to be an idiot than right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/there-is-no-better-time-in-history-to-be-an-idiot-than-right-now/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“I was smart enough to know that I shouldn't tell anyone the reason I needed that icy air. No need to spill the secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/i-was-smart-enough-to-know-that-i-shouldn-t-tell-anyone-the-reason-i/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“I'm hungry enough that I started to salivate at the sight of lettuce. I repeat: lettuce.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/i-m-hungry-enough-that-i-started-to-salivate-at-the-sight-of-lettuce/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“When I get it home and start to read it, the first thing I notice is that Warren has copyrighted the phrase “Purpose-driven.” It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/when-i-get-it-home-and-start-to-read-it-the-first-thing-i-notice-is/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“How do you gag the voice in your head that says, 'You don't have to go to the gym today. There's always tomorrow. C'mon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/how-do-you-gag-the-voice-in-your-head-that-says-you-don-t-have-to-go/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“Back to the books. The world’s largest bell was built in 1733 in Moscow, and weighed in at more than four hundred thousand pounds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/back-to-the-books-the-world-s-largest-bell-was-built-in-1733-in/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“If the Britannica has taught me anything, it's to be more careful. I don't want to turn into an unseemly noun or verb or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/if-the-britannica-has-taught-me-anything-it-s-to-be-more-careful-i/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“That's what I've noticed in my experiments: almost everything in life is a self-fulfilling prophecy .Probably even believing in self-fulfilling prophecies is a self-fulfilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/that-s-what-i-ve-noticed-in-my-experiments-almost-everything-in-life/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“Mr. Berkowitz clicks open his black American Tourister rolling suitcase. Inside, his tools: a microscope, an old canister with the faded label “vegetable flakes,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/mr-berkowitz-clicks-open-his-black-american-tourister-rolling/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“Maybe taming my tongue will be good for me in the end. But it's pretty hard when you've got a world filled with idiots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/maybe-taming-my-tongue-will-be-good-for-me-in-the-end-but-it-s-pretty/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“I don't think I'm in the position to bestow legitimacy on anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/i-don-t-think-i-m-in-the-position-to-bestow-legitimacy-on-anyone/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“The literal Greek translation is “school for naked exercise.” Which made toweling off the stationary bike even more important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/the-literal-greek-translation-is-school-for-naked-exercise-which-made/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“The Bible is right: A deluge of images does encourage idolatry. Look at the cults of personality in America today. Look at Hollywood. Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/the-bible-is-right-a-deluge-of-images-does-encourage-idolatry-look-at/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [“The dehydrator blows warm air on your food for hours, sometimes days. It reminds me of the temperature and intensity of dog's breath. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/the-dehydrator-blows-warm-air-on-your-food-for-hours-sometimes-days/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) [Explore all 58 A.J. Jacobs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) ## More Great thing quotes > [I think it's a great thing to support fashion and support designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delphine-arnault/i-think-it-s-a-great-thing-to-support-fashion-and-support-designers/) [Delphine Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delphine-arnault/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [The great thing about letting people be true to themselves is they often do very good things indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hopkins/the-great-thing-about-letting-people-be-true-to-themselves-is-they/) [Katie Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hopkins/) > [The great thing about country songs is the storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/the-great-thing-about-country-songs-is-the-storytelling/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [There's no such thing as too much. If there's too much, then that's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/there-s-no-such-thing-as-too-much-if-there-s-too-much-then-that-s-a/) [Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/) > [For me, it's a great thing to tell people anything is possible. When I was 15, people told me 'You're not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/for-me-it-s-a-great-thing-to-tell-people-anything-is-possible-when-i/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [“The great thing about growing up with science fiction is that you have an interest in everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-great-thing-about-growing-up-with-science-fiction-is-that-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The great thing about the Wilburys was that none of us had to take the heat by ourselves. I was just a member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/the-great-thing-about-the-wilburys-was-that-none-of-us-had-to-take/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [While working as a team, you push yourself forward and move outside the boundaries. It's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-margiela/while-working-as-a-team-you-push-yourself-forward-and-move-outside/) [Martin Margiela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-margiela/) > [Driverless cars are a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-etzioni/driverless-cars-are-a-great-thing/) [Oren Etzioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-etzioni/) > [The great thing about the Internet is that it allows people to find and consume music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-taylor/the-great-thing-about-the-internet-is-that-it-allows-people-to-find/) [Andy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-taylor/) > [Democracy can tie your hands in a rock 'n' roll band, you know? It can be a great thing, but if you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/democracy-can-tie-your-hands-in-a-rock-n-roll-band-you-know-it-can-be/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [That's one of the great thing about writing is that you get to be in someone's head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-conrad/that-s-one-of-the-great-thing-about-writing-is-that-you-get-to-be-in/) [Lauren Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-conrad/) > [The great thing about a sitcom is that you're in front of a live audience, so you really get in touch with what audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topher-grace/the-great-thing-about-a-sitcom-is-that-you-re-in-front-of-a-live/) [Topher Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topher-grace/) > [I LOVE WINNERS WHEN THEY CRY AND I LOVE LOOSERS WHEN THEY TRY…WHAT A GREAT THING](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudhakar/i-love-winners-when-they-cry-and-i-love-loosers-when-they-try-what-a/) [SUDHAKAR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudhakar/) [Browse all 245 Great thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What seems terrible at first may turn out to be a great thing. 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