--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever men expect, they soon come to…" description: "\"Whatever men expect, they soon come to think they have a right to; the sense of disappointment can, with very little skill on our part, be turned into ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/c-s-lewis-2-132_devil_whatever-men-expect-they-soon-come-to-th_1806853.png" --- # Whatever men expect, they soon come to think they have a… ![“Whatever men expect, they soon come to think they have a right to; the sense of disappointment can, with very little skill on our part, be turned into a sense of injury. (senior devil speaking)” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/c-s-lewis-2-132_devil_whatever-men-expect-they-soon-come-to-th_1806853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/c-s-lewis-2-132_devil_whatever-men-expect-they-soon-come-to-th_1806853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/c-s-lewis-2-132_devil_whatever-men-expect-they-soon-come-to-th_1806853.png) > “Whatever men expect, they soon come to think they have a right to; the sense of disappointment can, with very little skill on our part, be turned into a sense of injury. (senior devil speaking)” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## 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 assume entitlement, turning minor letdowns into feelings of being wronged, especially when they lack emotional skill. **In simple terms:** Entitlement magnifies disappointment into injury. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and emotional intelligence. Themes entitlement disappointment emotional intelligence humility Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace conflicts - parenting - customer service Key Concepts psychology ethics self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between a legitimate grievance and an inflated sense of entitlement? - What practices help you respond calmly to disappointment? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine grievances when focusing on perceived rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Screwtape letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screwtape-letters/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/there-are-two-equal-and-opposite-errors-into-which-our-race-can-fall-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [There is wishful thinking in Hell as well as on Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/there-is-wishful-thinking-in-hell-as-well-as-on-earth/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Prosperity knits a man to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/prosperity-knits-a-man-to-the-world/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [As long as he doesn't convert it into action, it does not matter how much a man thinks about his repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/as-long-as-he-doesn-t-convert-it-into-action-it-does-not-matter-how/) [C. S. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A sensible human once said, "If people knew how much ill-feeling unselfishness occasions, it would not be so often recommended from the pulpit"; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-sensible-human-once-said-if-people-knew-how-much-ill-feeling/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If people knew how much ill-feeling unselfishness occasions, it would not be so often recommended from the pulpit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-people-knew-how-much-ill-feeling-unselfishness-occasions-it-would/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A spoiled saint, a Pharisee, an inquisitor, or a magician, makes better sport to Hell than a mere common tyrant or debauchee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-spoiled-saint-a-pharisee-an-inquisitor-or-a-magician-makes-better/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [And since we cannot deceive the whole human race all the time, it is most important thus to cut every generation off from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/and-since-we-cannot-deceive-the-whole-human-race-all-the-time-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Thus we have now for many centuries triumphed over nature to the extent of making certain secondary characteristics of the male (such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/thus-we-have-now-for-many-centuries-triumphed-over-nature-to-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [ You will say these are very small sins... \[But\] it does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/you-will-say-these-are-very-small-sins-but-it-does-not-matter-how/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Put from you the belief that 'I have been wronged', and with it will go the feeling. Reject your sense of injury, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/put-from-you-the-belief-that-i-have-been-wronged-and-with-it-will-go/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Devil quotes > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“The devil?” Jason heaved the tick over his shoulder like a collier with his sack. “Satan. The adversary. 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