--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more that you expect, the less happy…" description: "\"The more that you expect, the less happy you will be-- because if the expectations are realized you won't be grateful\" — Dennis Prager" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/949/dennis-prager-631_be-grateful_the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy_2828563.jpg" --- # The more that you expect, the less happy you will be… ![“The more that you expect, the less happy you will be-- because if the expectations are realized you won't be grateful” quote by Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/949/dennis-prager-631_be-grateful_the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy_2828563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/949/dennis-prager-631_be-grateful_the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy_2828563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/949/dennis-prager-631_be-grateful_the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy_2828563.jpg) > “The more that you expect, the less happy you will be-- because if the expectations are realized you won't be grateful” [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Higher expectations lower happiness; gratitude diminishes when expectations are met. **In simple terms:** High expectations reduce gratitude. Key Takeaway Set realistic expectations. Themes psychology expectations gratitude happiness Mood thoughtful practical Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - career planning - relationship counseling Key Concepts cognitive bias mindset well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How to balance ambition and contentment? - What practices foster gratitude? A Different Perspective Expectations can motivate growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-grateful/) [Expect Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-happy-391862/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Expectations Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations-realized-3640944/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Happy Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-expectations-1122787/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [I've reached a happy stage in my life - you can call it "happy" - but I have no expectations anymore. I'm glad I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-ve-reached-a-happy-stage-in-my-life-you-can-call-it-happy-but-i/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/if-you-paint-in-your-mind-a-picture-of-bright-and-happy-expectations/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [If you can't be happy being single how do you expect to be happy being in a relationship?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-can-t-be-happy-being-single-how-do-you-expect-to-be-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Each of us may think we know exactly what we need to make us happy, what will be good for us, what will ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/each-of-us-may-think-we-know-exactly-what-we-need-to-make-us-happy/) [Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/) > [A person must be able to be alone and find happiness within themselves, before they can ever expect to be happy with someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-person-must-be-able-to-be-alone-and-find-happiness-within/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I don't expect you to be happy always, but I'll always try to make you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-don-t-expect-you-to-be-happy-always-but-i-ll-always-try-to-make-you/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [The safest way of not being very miserable is not to expect to be very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-safest-way-of-not-being-very-miserable-is-not-to-expect-to-be/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“You bite the bullet and get on with it. One can't expect to be happy all the time ... You expect to be happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santa-montefiore/you-bite-the-bullet-and-get-on-with-it-one-can-t-expect-to-be-happy/) [Santa Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santa-montefiore/) > [she had long accepted the fact that happiness is like swallows in Spring. It may come and nest under your eaves or it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/she-had-long-accepted-the-fact-that-happiness-is-like-swallows-in/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [If you cant be happy being single how do you expect to be happy being in a relationship?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbly/if-you-cant-be-happy-being-single-how-do-you-expect-to-be-happy-being/) [Bubbly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbly/) > [Don't wish me happiness - I don't expect to be happy it's gotten beyond that, somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/don-t-wish-me-happiness-i-don-t-expect-to-be-happy-it-s-gotten-beyond/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [If you expect to be successful, you will eventually be successful. If you expect to be happy and popular, you will be happy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-expect-to-be-successful-you-will-eventually-be-successful-if/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The less important you are in an office, the more they expect the happy smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-less-important-you-are-in-an-office-the-more-they-expect-the/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“A person who is not happy with their self, dont expect them to be happy with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beta-metani-marashi-3/a-person-who-is-not-happy-with-their-self-dont-expect-them-to-be/) [Beta Metani'Marashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beta-metani-marashi-3/) > [You can't go around being what everyone wants you to be, living your life through other people's rules, and expect to be happy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/you-can-t-go-around-being-what-everyone-wants-you-to-be-living-your/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) ## More by Dennis Prager > [It is extremely difficult to do anything constructive, let alone deep, on daily commercial television, especially on a talk show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-do-anything-constructive-let-alone-deep/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Nothing more guarantees the erosion of character than getting something for nothing. In the liberal welfare state, one develops an entitlement mentality. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/nothing-more-guarantees-the-erosion-of-character-than-getting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The biggest battle in life is with yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-biggest-battle-in-life-is-with-yourself/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The Left will destroy what is good to try to make what is perfect. That is the motto of the Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-left-will-destroy-what-is-good-to-try-to-make-what-is-perfect/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“The poor who commit murder, rape and robbery are not only not starving, they have far more material things than the word ‘poverty’ suggests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-poor-who-commit-murder-rape-and-robbery-are-not-only-not-starving/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“When it comes to fighting evil, the left is almost pacifist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/when-it-comes-to-fighting-evil-the-left-is-almost-pacifist/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [When you are guaranteed you will win, you can take very inflammatory, very extreme positions. If you have to run in a district where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/when-you-are-guaranteed-you-will-win-you-can-take-very-inflammatory/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-not-keith-ellison-decides-what-book-a-congressman-takes-his/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [ If they \[liberals\] didn't believe we were mean spirited they couldn't stay liberal. They have to believe they mean better than us, but we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-they-liberals-didn-t-believe-we-were-mean-spirited-they-couldn-t/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“From Marx until today, victim groups have played an indispensable role in Leftist success. Without victim groups, the Left cannot succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/from-marx-until-today-victim-groups-have-played-an-indispensable-role/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Good and happy people who believe in God are the greatest living arguments for God's existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/good-and-happy-people-who-believe-in-god-are-the-greatest-living/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Leftism and narcissism are almost synonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/leftism-and-narcissism-are-almost-synonymous/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Humility is a fantastic trait and is one of the most important things we can have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/humility-is-a-fantastic-trait-and-is-one-of-the-most-important-things/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [There is no limit to suffering human beings have been willing to inflict on others, no matter how innocent, no matter how young, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-beings-have-been-willing-to/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) [Explore all 437 Dennis Prager quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## More Be grateful quotes > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. He'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/my-first-encounter-with-yoga-was-in-1969-with-my-older-brother-doug-i/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/be-calm-be-strong-be-grateful-and-become-a-lamp-full-of-light-that/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another for there will always be others whose lives on the face of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/enjoy-your-own-life-without-comparing-it-with-that-of-another-for/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [Speak what I have to be grateful for when I get up and when I lie down to sleep. Meditation and prayer. I pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-taylor/speak-what-i-have-to-be-grateful-for-when-i-get-up-and-when-i-lie/) [Regina Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-taylor/) > [Be grateful for the love you have to share-share it, and it will return to you ten times over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/be-grateful-for-the-love-you-have-to-share-share-it-and-it-will/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [Kids aint supposed to be grateful! They're supposed to eat your food, break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/kids-aint-supposed-to-be-grateful-they-re-supposed-to-eat-your-food/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) [Browse all 602 Be grateful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-grateful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more that you expect, the less happy you will be-- because if the expectations are realized you won't be grateful", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dennis Prager" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy-you-will-be-because-if-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be grateful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy-you-will-be-because-if-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/949/dennis-prager-631_be-grateful_the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy_2828563.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/949/dennis-prager-631_be-grateful_the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy_2828563.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/949/dennis-prager-631_be-grateful_the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy_2828563.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The more that you expect, the less happy you will be-- because if the expectations are realized you won't be…” — Dennis Prager", "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": "Dennis Prager", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The more that you expect, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy-you-will-be-because-if-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-more-that-you-expect-the-less-happy-you-will-be-because-if-the/#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 } } ] } ```