--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's so much easier to have no…" description: "\"It's so much easier to have no expectations than to have big ones.\" — Ann Brashares" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/ann-brashares-572_big-ones_it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectati_3173921.png" --- # It's so much easier to have no expectations than to have… ![“It's so much easier to have no expectations than to have big ones.” quote by Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/ann-brashares-572_big-ones_it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectati_3173921.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/ann-brashares-572_big-ones_it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectati_3173921.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/ann-brashares-572_big-ones_it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectati_3173921.png) > “It's so much easier to have no expectations than to have big ones.” [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having low expectations reduces disappointment, while high expectations increase pressure and potential failure. **In simple terms:** Low expectations are easier; high expectations are harder. Key Takeaway Set realistic goals to avoid unnecessary stress. Themes expectations mental health goal setting stress balance Mood reflective balanced Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - career planning - relationships Key Concepts cognitive psychology goal theory self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What expectations are holding you back? - When can high expectations be beneficial? A Different Perspective High expectations can motivate growth if managed well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-ones/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ## Related quotes > [Building outrageous expectations about the next big thing - be it a personal video chatting service or venue-based photo sharing app - can create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/building-outrageous-expectations-about-the-next-big-thing-be-it-a/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [There is such a hype and a big build up to me, and it's very hard to meet those expectations. That's been a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/there-is-such-a-hype-and-a-big-build-up-to-me-and-it-s-very-hard-to/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [The Premier League is the best league in the world; it's so strong. The smaller teams love to try their chances against the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mesut-ozil/the-premier-league-is-the-best-league-in-the-world-it-s-so-strong-the/) [Mesut Ozil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mesut-ozil/) > [I love so many songs from the '80s, but I'm obliged to the big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/i-love-so-many-songs-from-the-80s-but-i-m-obliged-to-the-big-ones/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [These were big ones. Those companies would then go in and build an electrical system or ports or highways, and these would basically serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/these-were-big-ones-those-companies-would-then-go-in-and-build-an/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [You have to let the big ones make up for your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lynch/you-have-to-let-the-big-ones-make-up-for-your-mistakes/) [Peter Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lynch/) > [Of course we all know Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as a kid these are the big ones. In Germany, it was Mesut Ozil, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-havertz/of-course-we-all-know-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo-as-a-kid-these-are/) [Kai Havertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-havertz/) > [Theres only two women: Big ol good ones and good ol big ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-micah-rosales/theres-only-two-women-big-ol-good-ones-and-good-ol-big-ones/) [Maria Micah Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-micah-rosales/) > [If you appreciate the small things, you're likely to get the big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-eriksson/if-you-appreciate-the-small-things-you-re-likely-to-get-the-big-ones/) [Jonas Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-eriksson/) > [Growing up, the only acts that came to us in Alaska were the big ones. The Mariah Careys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/growing-up-the-only-acts-that-came-to-us-in-alaska-were-the-big-ones/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [If you kept the small rules, you could break the big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-you-kept-the-small-rules-you-could-break-the-big-ones/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The story I always recite - and have had to recite so many times over the years to different lawyers and different people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-shadow/the-story-i-always-recite-and-have-had-to-recite-so-many-times-over/) [DJ Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-shadow/) > ['The Wire's definitely one of them. 'The Sopranos' is one of my all-time favorites. Those are two big ones for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bass/the-wire-s-definitely-one-of-them-the-sopranos-is-one-of-my-all-time/) [Ben Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bass/) > [Throw back the little ones, and pan-fry the big ones. Use tact, poise, and reason, and gently squeeze them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steely-dan/throw-back-the-little-ones-and-pan-fry-the-big-ones-use-tact-poise/) [Steely Dan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steely-dan/) > ['Mustanging' was like trout fishing. It is always the big ones that get away. When you did get a bunch of them into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-c-barnes/mustanging-was-like-trout-fishing-it-is-always-the-big-ones-that-get/) Will C. Barnes ## More by Ann Brashares > [“Because the truth wouldn't be comforting and wouldn't bring them closer again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/because-the-truth-wouldn-t-be-comforting-and-wouldn-t-bring-them/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“It’s by living that you live more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-by-living-that-you-live-more/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“¿Iban a sumirla en la tristeza antes de hacerla feliz? No, por favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/iban-a-sumirla-en-la-tristeza-antes-de-hacerla-feliz-no-por-favor/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“When she made her way to the big picture window that framed the dining room table she froze. She stopped breathing. The anger was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-she-made-her-way-to-the-big-picture-window-that-framed-the/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“Lena remembered herself in all the old familiar things they said. She existed in her friends; there she was. All the parts of herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/lena-remembered-herself-in-all-the-old-familiar-things-they-said-she/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Everyone is fragile. Everything beautiful is fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/everyone-is-fragile-everything-beautiful-is-fragile/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“but it was hard to give the real world much notice when he was this close.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/but-it-was-hard-to-give-the-real-world-much-notice-when-he-was-this/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“You don't have time, Len. That is the most bitter and the most beautiful piece of advice I can offer. If you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-don-t-have-time-len-that-is-the-most-bitter-and-the-most/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“You couldn’t count on Providence for anything ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-couldn-t-count-on-providence-for-anything-ever/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Gestating characters feels something like the mental equivalent of gestating a baby. In both cases, to create them you lose yourself. Or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/gestating-characters-feels-something-like-the-mental-equivalent-of/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“He could take happiness from her, but could he give any?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/he-could-take-happiness-from-her-but-could-he-give-any/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [The weather turned. Her skin seemed to grow a million extra pores, and all of them opened to take in the warmth and tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/the-weather-turned-her-skin-seemed-to-grow-a-million-extra-pores-and/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [She wanted him to notice her so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/she-wanted-him-to-notice-her-so-much/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“No matter how it felt to be near him, she had to keep her swollen heart in check.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/no-matter-how-it-felt-to-be-near-him-she-had-to-keep-her-swollen/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Maybe happiness was just a matter of the little upticks- the traffic signal that said "Walk" the second you go there- and downticks- the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/maybe-happiness-was-just-a-matter-of-the-little-upticks-the-traffic/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) [Explore all 465 Ann Brashares quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) ## More Big ones quotes > [Theres only two women: Big ol good ones and good ol big ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-micah-rosales/theres-only-two-women-big-ol-good-ones-and-good-ol-big-ones/) [Maria Micah Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-micah-rosales/) > [Throw back the little ones, and pan-fry the big ones. Use tact, poise, and reason, and gently squeeze them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steely-dan/throw-back-the-little-ones-and-pan-fry-the-big-ones-use-tact-poise/) [Steely Dan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steely-dan/) > ['The Wire's definitely one of them. 'The Sopranos' is one of my all-time favorites. Those are two big ones for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bass/the-wire-s-definitely-one-of-them-the-sopranos-is-one-of-my-all-time/) [Ben Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bass/) > [The story I always recite - and have had to recite so many times over the years to different lawyers and different people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-shadow/the-story-i-always-recite-and-have-had-to-recite-so-many-times-over/) [DJ Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-shadow/) > [If you kept the small rules, you could break the big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-you-kept-the-small-rules-you-could-break-the-big-ones/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Growing up, the only acts that came to us in Alaska were the big ones. The Mariah Careys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/growing-up-the-only-acts-that-came-to-us-in-alaska-were-the-big-ones/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [If you appreciate the small things, you're likely to get the big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-eriksson/if-you-appreciate-the-small-things-you-re-likely-to-get-the-big-ones/) [Jonas Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-eriksson/) > [Of course we all know Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as a kid these are the big ones. In Germany, it was Mesut Ozil, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-havertz/of-course-we-all-know-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo-as-a-kid-these-are/) [Kai Havertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-havertz/) > [You have to let the big ones make up for your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lynch/you-have-to-let-the-big-ones-make-up-for-your-mistakes/) [Peter Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lynch/) > [These were big ones. Those companies would then go in and build an electrical system or ports or highways, and these would basically serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/these-were-big-ones-those-companies-would-then-go-in-and-build-an/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [I love so many songs from the '80s, but I'm obliged to the big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/i-love-so-many-songs-from-the-80s-but-i-m-obliged-to-the-big-ones/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [The Premier League is the best league in the world; it's so strong. The smaller teams love to try their chances against the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mesut-ozil/the-premier-league-is-the-best-league-in-the-world-it-s-so-strong-the/) [Mesut Ozil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mesut-ozil/) > ['Mustanging' was like trout fishing. It is always the big ones that get away. When you did get a bunch of them into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-c-barnes/mustanging-was-like-trout-fishing-it-is-always-the-big-ones-that-get/) Will C. Barnes > [If you're going to fail, you might as well fail at the big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-kamen/if-you-re-going-to-fail-you-might-as-well-fail-at-the-big-ones/) [Dean Kamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-kamen/) > [If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-do-the-little-jobs-well-the-big-ones-will-tend-to-take-care-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) [Browse all 22 Big ones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-ones/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's so much easier to have no expectations than to have big ones.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ann Brashares" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectations-than-to-have-big-ones/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big ones" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectations-than-to-have-big-ones/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/ann-brashares-572_big-ones_it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectati_3173921.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/ann-brashares-572_big-ones_it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectati_3173921.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/ann-brashares-572_big-ones_it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectati_3173921.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's so much easier to have no expectations than to have big ones.” — Ann Brashares", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ann Brashares", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's so much easier to have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectations-than-to-have-big-ones/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-so-much-easier-to-have-no-expectations-than-to-have-big-ones/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```