--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The secret to happiness is to lower your…" description: "\"The secret to happiness is to lower your expectations. ...that is what you compare your experience with. If your expectations and standards are very hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/charlie-munger-458_cherish_the-secret-to-happiness-is-to-lower-your_301651.jpg" --- # The secret to happiness is to lower your expectations… ![“The secret to happiness is to lower your expectations. ...that is what you compare your experience with. If your expectations and standards are very high and only allow yourself to be happy when things are exquisite, you'll never be happy and grateful. There will always be some flaw. But compare…” quote by Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/charlie-munger-458_cherish_the-secret-to-happiness-is-to-lower-your_301651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/charlie-munger-458_cherish_the-secret-to-happiness-is-to-lower-your_301651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/charlie-munger-458_cherish_the-secret-to-happiness-is-to-lower-your_301651.jpg) > “The secret to happiness is to lower your expectations. ...that is what you compare your experience with. If your expectations and standards are very high and only allow yourself to be happy when things are exquisite, you'll never be happy and grateful. There will always be some flaw. But compare your experience with lower expectations, especially something not as good, and you'll find much in your experience of the world to love, cherish and enjoy, every single moment.” [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness depends on aligning expectations with reality; lower expectations reveal more positives in everyday life. **In simple terms:** Set realistic expectations to appreciate more. Key Takeaway Adjust expectations, increase gratitude. Themes happiness expectations gratitude Mood reflective optimistic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily routines - relationships - workplace - personal goals Key Concepts psychology contentment cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance ambition with realistic expectations? - What areas of life could benefit from adjusted expectations? A Different Perspective If expectations are too low, you may settle for mediocrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cherish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherish/) [Compare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compare/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Expectations Compare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations-compare-2880094/) [Experience Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-expectations-2880093/) [Exquisite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exquisite/) [Flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Lower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-lower-2572600/) [Happy and grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-and-grateful/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lower Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lower-expectations-922954/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secret Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-happiness/) [Secret to happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-to-happiness/) [Single mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-mom/) [Single moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-moment/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The easiest way to maintain happiness is to lower your expectations of other people and raise them of yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/the-easiest-way-to-maintain-happiness-is-to-lower-your-expectations/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [The key to happiness is to lower your expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-key-to-happiness-is-to-lower-your-expectations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Writers often torture themselves trying to get the words right. Sometimes you must lower your expectations and just finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/writers-often-torture-themselves-trying-to-get-the-words-right/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [And they know I didn't hold expectations for them like I do for myself. But I also tell them I'm not going to lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-osterman/and-they-know-i-didn-t-hold-expectations-for-them-like-i-do-for/) [Cat Osterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-osterman/) > [There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/there-were-two-ways-to-be-happy-improve-your-reality-or-lower-your/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Lower expectations and increase appreciation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-dawson/lower-expectations-and-increase-appreciation/) [Elle Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-dawson/) > [“I want everyone to stop telling me to lower my expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-guzeman/i-want-everyone-to-stop-telling-me-to-lower-my-expectations/) [Tracy Guzeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-guzeman/) > [There are two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-ways-to-be-happy-improve-your-reality-or-lower-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lower your expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lower-your-expectations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...no way could I fall in love. I just couldn't go there yet. Settle for less. I didn't want to process through anything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/no-way-could-i-fall-in-love-i-just-couldn-t-go-there-yet-settle-for/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I just couldn't go there yet. Settle for less. I didn't want to process through anything. I didn't want to pick up any pieces.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-just-couldn-t-go-there-yet-settle-for-less-i-didn-t-want-to-process/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I find my life is a lot easier the lower I keep my expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/i-find-my-life-is-a-lot-easier-the-lower-i-keep-my-expectations/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [Remember theres a PURPOSE to every FAILED relationship. The purpose isn't to encourage you to lower your expectations, but to raise your standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-theres-a-purpose-to-every-failed-relationship-the-purpose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So the secret to good self-esteem is to lower your expectations to the point where they're already met?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/so-the-secret-to-good-self-esteem-is-to-lower-your-expectations-to/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [Thought for the day: There are two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/thought-for-the-day-there-are-two-ways-to-be-happy-improve-your/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Charlie Munger > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I think time and time again, in reality, psychological notions and economic notions interplay, and the man who doesn't understand both is a damned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-think-time-and-time-again-in-reality-psychological-notions-and/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-have-what-i-call-an-iron-prescription-that-helps-me-keep-sane-when/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [The tax code gives you an enormous advantage if you can find some things you can just sit with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-tax-code-gives-you-an-enormous-advantage-if-you-can-find-some/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [The great lesson in microeconomics is to discriminate between when technology is going to help you and when it's going to kill you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-great-lesson-in-microeconomics-is-to-discriminate-between-when/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Some years ago one oil company bought a fertilizer company, and every other major oil company practically ran out and bought a fertilizer company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/some-years-ago-one-oil-company-bought-a-fertilizer-company-and-every/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [ They \[Mc Donalds\] take people and give them a first job, which enables them to get a second job. They do a very good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/they-mc-donalds-take-people-and-give-them-a-first-job-which-enables/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [What good is envy? It’s the one sin you can’t have any fun at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/what-good-is-envy-it-s-the-one-sin-you-can-t-have-any-fun-at/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [We believe that almost all really good investment records will involve relatively little diversification. The basic idea that it was hard to find good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-believe-that-almost-all-really-good-investment-records-will/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [It is way less certain to be a wonderful business in the future. The threat is alternative mediums of information. Every newspaper is scrambling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/it-is-way-less-certain-to-be-a-wonderful-business-in-the-future-the/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [In the corporate world, if you have analysts, due diligence, and no horse sense, you've just described hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/in-the-corporate-world-if-you-have-analysts-due-diligence-and-no/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [We have to have a special insight, or we'll put it in the 'too tough' basket. All of you have to look for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-have-to-have-a-special-insight-or-we-ll-put-it-in-the-too-tough/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I've heard that one-half of the students at elite schools want to go into private equity or hedge funds. They want to keep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-ve-heard-that-one-half-of-the-students-at-elite-schools-want-to-go/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Explore all 544 Charlie Munger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) ## More Cherish quotes > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [They say that the commons of England would first destroy the king's friends and afterward himself, and then bring the Duke of York to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cade/they-say-that-the-commons-of-england-would-first-destroy-the-king-s/) [Jack Cade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cade/) > [I am simply looking for a companion with whom to spend my days, a companion who will cherish as much as I the stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-am-simply-looking-for-a-companion-with-whom-to-spend-my-days-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [The longer you are in acting business, the more you cherish the times when you're working with people that do great work, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/the-longer-you-are-in-acting-business-the-more-you-cherish-the-times/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/) [Bob Alberti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-alberti/) > [I cherish my clothes and I remember what seasons they're from. But someone said to me as I was having trouble with styling a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/i-cherish-my-clothes-and-i-remember-what-seasons-they-re-from-but/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [You never know what's going to happen so just enjoy the moments that you have with the people you love and cherish them. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-so-just-enjoy-the-moments-that/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) > [Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cherish-your-solitude-take-trains-by-yourself-to-places-you-have/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [I keep a lot to myself, and I cherish the things that are for me and the people closest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-keep-a-lot-to-myself-and-i-cherish-the-things-that-are-for-me-and/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [ For some unknown reason, this \[antiabortion\] branch of Christianity cherishes the unborn and hates the living person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/for-some-unknown-reason-this-antiabortion-branch-of-christianity/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [“What makes you cherish is what often makes others perish”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/what-makes-you-cherish-is-what-often-makes-others-perish/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [The lesson learned: Never take your loved ones for granted. And if you’re ever lucky enough to find that one person in life who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-lesson-learned-never-take-your-loved-ones-for-granted-and-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,279 Cherish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The secret to happiness is to lower your expectations. ...that is what you compare your experience with. If your expectations and standards are very high and only allow yourself to be happy when things are exquisite, you'll never be happy and grateful. There will always be some flaw. 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