--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we…" description: "\"What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-disraeli-390_anticipate_what-we-anticipate-seldom-occurs-what-we_2187763.png" --- # What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected… ![“What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-disraeli-390_anticipate_what-we-anticipate-seldom-occurs-what-we_2187763.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-disraeli-390_anticipate_what-we-anticipate-seldom-occurs-what-we_2187763.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-disraeli-390_anticipate_what-we-anticipate-seldom-occurs-what-we_2187763.png) > “What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often experience unexpected outcomes, while anticipated events may not materialize. **In simple terms:** Unexpected events happen more than expected ones. Key Takeaway Expect the unexpected. Themes uncertainty expectations reality Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal planning - business strategy - risk assessment - policy making Key Concepts probability cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How do you prepare for unlikely scenarios? - What biases affect your expectations? A Different Perspective Rare events can dominate perception, skewing decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anticipate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipate/) [Anticipate Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipate-seldom-824220/) [Anticipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation/) [Event](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/event/) [Expected Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected-generally-4753556/) [Generally Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally-happens-824222/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Seldom Occurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seldom-occurs-824221/) ## Related quotes > [What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expect generally happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/what-we-anticipate-seldom-occurs-what-we-least-expect-generally/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [What we anticipate seldom occurs: but what we least expect generally happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/what-we-anticipate-seldom-occurs-but-what-we-least-expect-generally/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [One event makes another. What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens; and time can only prove which is most for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/one-event-makes-another-what-we-anticipate-seldom-occurs-what-we/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“To be sure, this is what generally happens when one eats cake; but Alice had got so much into the way of expecting nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/to-be-sure-this-is-what-generally-happens-when-one-eats-cake-but/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/i-had-the-story-bit-by-bit-from-various-people-and-as-generally/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Life is generally something that happens elsewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/life-is-generally-something-that-happens-elsewhere/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [It generally happens that assurance keeps an even pace with ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-generally-happens-that-assurance-keeps-an-even-pace-with-ability/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Generally, that's what happens-a fundamental rotting of the idea. They woke up with the wrong idea. It's just like music: If you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-eggleston/generally-that-s-what-happens-a-fundamental-rotting-of-the-idea-they/) [William Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-eggleston/) > [And so, as generally happens, those who have most give least, and those with less somehow make shrift to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/and-so-as-generally-happens-those-who-have-most-give-least-and-those/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [He who anticipates his century is generally persecuted when living, and always pilfered when dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/he-who-anticipates-his-century-is-generally-persecuted-when-living/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“An “event” is something that happens that does not quite fit into our established system of knowledge, and so it will appear to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-conard/an-event-is-something-that-happens-that-does-not-quite-fit-into-our/) [Mark T. Conard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-conard/) > [“Growth is never an event, it's a process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/growth-is-never-an-event-it-s-a-process/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Sporting events like the Olympics have developed and maintained a clear message of promoting gender equality as an essential criterion in the success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-attias/sporting-events-like-the-olympics-have-developed-and-maintained-a/) [Richard Attias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-attias/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Anticipate quotes > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I like to do everything you can possibly do before you go into rehearsal, because once we are in rehearsal or on the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-like-to-do-everything-you-can-possibly-do-before-you-go-into/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [I am curious to know what would happen if art were suddenly seen for what it is, namely, exact information of how to rearrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-am-curious-to-know-what-would-happen-if-art-were-suddenly-seen-for/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-very-best-financial-presentation-is-one-that-s-well-thought-out/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [What's interesting about art in public spaces is that the public really sort of takes over and uses it in ways that you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresita-fernandez/what-s-interesting-about-art-in-public-spaces-is-that-the-public/) [Teresita Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresita-fernandez/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [If you don't sow your field what harvest other than thorns and weeds can you anticipate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-don-t-sow-your-field-what-harvest-other-than-thorns-and-weeds/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Leaders' careers will usually be determined by their handling of one or two critical events that no one could possibly anticipate or plan for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-careers-will-usually-be-determined-by-their-handling-of-one/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I wish I could anticipate some of the stories and lies that will be told. It's going to be great to get everyone together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-conley/i-wish-i-could-anticipate-some-of-the-stories-and-lies-that-will-be/) [Larry Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-conley/) > [The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/the-two-revolutions-i-mean-the-annual-revolutions-of-the-declination/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [In two or three hundred years life on earth will be unimaginably beautiful, astounding. 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