--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Try to improve. Don't expect too much…" description: "\"Try to improve. Don't expect too much, but don't feel discouraged either; keep up your enthusiasm; you will make progress.\" — Dalai Lama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/dalai-lama-89_discouraged_try-to-improve-don-t-expect-too-much-but_1085987.jpg" --- # Try to improve. Don't expect too much, but don't feel… ![“Try to improve. Don't expect too much, but don't feel discouraged either; keep up your enthusiasm; you will make progress.” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/dalai-lama-89_discouraged_try-to-improve-don-t-expect-too-much-but_1085987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/dalai-lama-89_discouraged_try-to-improve-don-t-expect-too-much-but_1085987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/dalai-lama-89_discouraged_try-to-improve-don-t-expect-too-much-but_1085987.jpg) > “Try to improve. Don't expect too much, but don't feel discouraged either; keep up your enthusiasm; you will make progress.” [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages steady self‑improvement, warning against unrealistic expectations while maintaining optimism. **In simple terms:** Improve slowly, stay hopeful. Key Takeaway Keep learning, stay positive. Themes growth patience motivation Mood inspirational calm Type encouraging philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - learning new skills - overcoming setbacks Key Concepts self‑development mindset resilience Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you stay motivated during plateaus? A Different Perspective Progress can be slow and uneven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) ## Related quotes > [You know, there is always times where you feel discouraged and things coming against you, but I don't know if I ever wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-know-there-is-always-times-where-you-feel-discouraged-and-things/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We all have the tendency to believe self-doubt and self-criticism, but listening to this voice never gets us closer to our goals. Instead, try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/we-all-have-the-tendency-to-believe-self-doubt-and-self-criticism-but/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too, have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/there-will-always-be-times-when-you-feel-discouraged-i-too-have-felt/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [There is always times where you feel discouraged and things coming against you, but I don't know if I ever wanted to throw in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/there-is-always-times-where-you-feel-discouraged-and-things-coming/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Don't give up when you feel discouraged, just pick yourself up and renew your determination each time and be the winner defeating stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/don-t-give-up-when-you-feel-discouraged-just-pick-yourself-up-and/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I feel very discouraged with the state of gay and lesbian publishing because I don't feel like we're really welcome in the mainstream and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-liebegott/i-feel-very-discouraged-with-the-state-of-gay-and-lesbian-publishing/) [Ali Liebegott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-liebegott/) > [Every time I feel discouraged I close my eyes and visualize the future I want. Then I really open my eyes and start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-i-feel-discouraged-i-close-my-eyes-and-visualize-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You will feel discouraged; you will lose confidence in your abilities; you will be bored with the characters–and the only way to overcome these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/you-will-feel-discouraged-you-will-lose-confidence-in-your-abilities/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [I can always get better at what I'm doing because I'm not nearly as good as I think I can be. I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-can-always-get-better-at-what-i-m-doing-because-i-m-not-nearly-as/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [Valid criticism is something that we are open for, and we take it in the spirit in which it is given and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urjit-patel/valid-criticism-is-something-that-we-are-open-for-and-we-take-it-in/) [Urjit Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urjit-patel/) > [We are never satisfied. We always try to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-alderweireld/we-are-never-satisfied-we-always-try-to-improve/) [Toby Alderweireld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-alderweireld/) > [I just try to keep level-headed and try to improve every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/i-just-try-to-keep-level-headed-and-try-to-improve-every-day/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [I just try to improve every series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvneshwar-kumar/i-just-try-to-improve-every-series/) [Bhuvneshwar Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvneshwar-kumar/) > [You go out and do the best you can and hope it works. You just try to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/you-go-out-and-do-the-best-you-can-and-hope-it-works-you-just-try-to/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I try to improve myself every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-cancelo/i-try-to-improve-myself-every-year/) [Joao Cancelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-cancelo/) ## More by Dalai Lama > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [We can change society, change humanity by changing ourselves as individuals. 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So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) [Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More Discouraged quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [I think it's very easy to get discouraged early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/i-think-it-s-very-easy-to-get-discouraged-early-on/) [Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/) Dave Stevens > [I've taken my bumps and bruises, but you've got to be willing to get knocked down and pick yourself up. You can't get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-o-neal/i-ve-taken-my-bumps-and-bruises-but-you-ve-got-to-be-willing-to-get/) [Jermaine O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-o-neal/) > [I am a little discouraged and irritated at the welfare recipient families growing in size all the time. Those of us who work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilmar-moore/i-am-a-little-discouraged-and-irritated-at-the-welfare-recipient/) Hilmar Moore > [“The way you pass through the land of Learning is that you try a bunch of things. Fear would love for you to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/the-way-you-pass-through-the-land-of-learning-is-that-you-try-a-bunch/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [I do what I believe the Lord did, and that is walk in love with all mankind, which I don't see a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-smith/i-do-what-i-believe-the-lord-did-and-that-is-walk-in-love-with-all/) [Tasha Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-smith/) > [You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/you-need-never-be-discouraged-or-afraid-the-way-through-difficulties/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Lift up your eyes, discouraged one. 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I think often people feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-sometimes-am-discouraged-by-what-seems-to-be-a-sort-of-conventional/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) Browse all 540 Discouraged quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Try to improve. 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