--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you surprise yourself with what…" description: "\"Sometimes you surprise yourself with what you can handle, and if you come out the other end with some wisdom, then it's not such a bad thing.\" — Boy Ge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/boy-george-1385_bad_sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-wha_1636428.png" --- # Sometimes you surprise yourself with what you can handle… ![“Sometimes you surprise yourself with what you can handle, and if you come out the other end with some wisdom, then it's not such a bad thing.” quote by Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/boy-george-1385_bad_sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-wha_1636428.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/boy-george-1385_bad_sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-wha_1636428.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/boy-george-1385_bad_sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-wha_1636428.png) > “Sometimes you surprise yourself with what you can handle, and if you come out the other end with some wisdom, then it's not such a bad thing.” [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected challenges reveal inner strength, and the lessons learned make the experience worthwhile. **In simple terms:** You discover you can handle more than you think. Key Takeaway Recognize growth through adversity. Themes resilience self‑discovery wisdom growth challenge Mood reflective optimistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal crises - new responsibilities Key Concepts personal development adaptive capacity humility Questions to Reflect On - What recent challenge taught you something valuable? - How can you apply that wisdom forward? A Different Perspective Not all challenges lead to positive outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Disease, then, is one of those bad experiences that turns information into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom. The bad experiences that make you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sheehan/disease-then-is-one-of-those-bad-experiences-that-turns-information/) [George Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sheehan/) > [Where there are so many, all speech becomes a debate without end. But two together may perhaps find wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/where-there-are-so-many-all-speech-becomes-a-debate-without-end-but/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [The end of wisdom is to dream high enough to lose the dream in the seeking of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-end-of-wisdom-is-to-dream-high-enough-to-lose-the-dream-in-the/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I have always felt that doubt was the beginning of wisdom, and the fear of God was the end of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-have-always-felt-that-doubt-was-the-beginning-of-wisdom-and-the/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [At the end of knowledge, wisdom begins, and at the end of wisdom, there is not grief...but hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/at-the-end-of-knowledge-wisdom-begins-and-at-the-end-of-wisdom-there/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [ “I know I am wise. \[But\] I’m not the beginning and end of wisdom.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-noerine-kaleeba/i-know-i-am-wise-but-i-m-not-the-beginning-and-end-of-wisdom/) Dr. Noerine Kaleeba > [Doubt is the beginning, not the end, of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-iles/doubt-is-the-beginning-not-the-end-of-wisdom/) [George Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-iles/) > [“THE END OF WISDOM IS SILENCE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-santi/the-end-of-wisdom-is-silence/) [DAVE SANTI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-santi/) > [The end of all wisdom is love, love, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-end-of-all-wisdom-is-love-love-love/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The end of wisdom is consultation and deliberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/the-end-of-wisdom-is-consultation-and-deliberation/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [The end of knowledge is wisdom The end of culture is perfection The end of wisdom is freedom The end of education is character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-baba/the-end-of-knowledge-is-wisdom-the-end-of-culture-is-perfection-the/) [Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-baba/) > [“He learned that the lives of men are short and filled with pain, yet each one a priceless treasure, whether it be that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/he-learned-that-the-lives-of-men-are-short-and-filled-with-pain-yet/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“If good things are coming, they will be a pleasant surprise. If bad things are, and you know in advance, you will suffer greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/if-good-things-are-coming-they-will-be-a-pleasant-surprise-if-bad/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Over the years, I have developed a visceral reaction to families and victims expressing surprise at tragedy. Why are we surprised? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-perry/over-the-years-i-have-developed-a-visceral-reaction-to-families-and/) [Michael Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-perry/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## More by Boy George > [You find out so many interesting things when you're not on drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/you-find-out-so-many-interesting-things-when-you-re-not-on-drugs/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [There are lots of things about me that have changed. Some things are a process; some things take time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/there-are-lots-of-things-about-me-that-have-changed-some-things-are-a/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I've got so much to be happy about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-ve-got-so-much-to-be-happy-about/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [For artists of my caliber, we're not played on the radio, so we don't really get a chance to get involved in that debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/for-artists-of-my-caliber-we-re-not-played-on-the-radio-so-we-don-t/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I remember going onstage on Broadway in this Leigh Bowery thing for a track like "Ich Bin Kunst." I've got breasts, this latex dripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-remember-going-onstage-on-broadway-in-this-leigh-bowery-thing-for-a/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [You have to watch what you eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/you-have-to-watch-what-you-eat/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I have the best job in the world. There's not really a lot to moan or whine about. I've got the privilege of going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-have-the-best-job-in-the-world-there-s-not-really-a-lot-to-moan-or/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [My coming of age was in the '70s. 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The only real contact you have with people is when they're annoyed if you've had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-think-people-could-be-a-bit-friendlier-the-only-real-contact-you/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I've had to write in a different way because I'm not in a bad place and I'm not heartbroken, so there's no one I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-ve-had-to-write-in-a-different-way-because-i-m-not-in-a-bad-place/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I'm much more interested in working and getting on with my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-m-much-more-interested-in-working-and-getting-on-with-my-music/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) [Explore all 247 Boy George quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. 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When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes you surprise yourself with what you can handle, and if you come out the other end with some wisdom, then it's not such a bad thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Boy George" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-what-you-can-handle-and-if-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-what-you-can-handle-and-if-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/boy-george-1385_bad_sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-wha_1636428.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/boy-george-1385_bad_sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-wha_1636428.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/boy-george-1385_bad_sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-wha_1636428.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes you surprise yourself with what you can handle, and if you come out the other end with some…” — Boy George", "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": "Boy George", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes you surprise yourself with what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-what-you-can-handle-and-if-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/sometimes-you-surprise-yourself-with-what-you-can-handle-and-if-you/#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 } } ] } ```