--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only by knowing how little life has…" description: "\"It is only by knowing how little life has in store for us that we are able to look on the bright side and avoid disappointment.\" — Ellen Glasgow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ellen-glasgow-1897_able_it-is-only-by-knowing-how-little-life-ha_595020.png" --- # It is only by knowing how little life has in store for us… ![“It is only by knowing how little life has in store for us that we are able to look on the bright side and avoid disappointment.” quote by Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ellen-glasgow-1897_able_it-is-only-by-knowing-how-little-life-ha_595020.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ellen-glasgow-1897_able_it-is-only-by-knowing-how-little-life-ha_595020.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ellen-glasgow-1897_able_it-is-only-by-knowing-how-little-life-ha_595020.png) > “It is only by knowing how little life has in store for us that we are able to look on the bright side and avoid disappointment.” [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awareness of life's limits helps maintain optimism and avoid disappointment. **In simple terms:** Knowing life's limits fuels optimism. Key Takeaway Embrace realistic expectations to stay positive. Themes optimism acceptance perspective Mood hopeful pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - health challenges - financial uncertainty Key Concepts existential awareness psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance hope with realism? - What practices keep you grounded? A Different Perspective Over‑optimism can ignore real risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bright side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bright-side/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) ## Related quotes > [Always look on the bright side..it's worth trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-on-the-bright-side-it-s-worth-trying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always look on the bright side even if it hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-on-the-bright-side-even-if-it-hurts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll always look on the bright side of the downside and make the best of the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-the-downside-and-make-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always look on the bright side, because the dark side of things always end up in negative experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-on-the-bright-side-because-the-dark-side-of-things-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I try to look on the bright side, but it really hurts my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-try-to-look-on-the-bright-side-but-it-really-hurts-my-eyes/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [“Look on the bright side and don't let adversity keep you from winning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-dominique-le-maire/look-on-the-bright-side-and-don-t-let-adversity-keep-you-from-winning/) [Nicole Dominique Le Maire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-dominique-le-maire/) > [It's difficult to look on the bright side when you're surrounded by negativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/it-s-difficult-to-look-on-the-bright-side-when-you-re-surrounded-by/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Always look on the bright side - it could lead to longer life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-on-the-bright-side-it-could-lead-to-longer-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just try to look to the bright side of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hart/i-just-try-to-look-to-the-bright-side-of-things/) [Josh Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hart/) > [Always look on the bright side of life, always look on the right side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life-always-look-on-the-right-side/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always look at the bright side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabricio-werdum/i-always-look-at-the-bright-side/) [Fabricio Werdum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabricio-werdum/) > [“Always look on the bright side of the abyss”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-the-abyss/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [You seem like you are perfectly fine without me. Hey just look on the bright side, you can do all the things I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-seem-like-you-are-perfectly-fine-without-me-hey-just-look-on-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always look on the bright side. Unless your bright side has Justin Beiber in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/always-look-on-the-bright-side-unless-your-bright-side-has-justin/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If you have hope, you have everything. Always try to look on the bright side of things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-hope-you-have-everything-always-try-to-look-on-the-bright/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ellen Glasgow > [Too much principle is often more harmful than too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/too-much-principle-is-often-more-harmful-than-too-little/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [I have watchedmany literary fashions shoot up and blossom, and then fade and drop… Yet with the many that I have seen comeand go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-have-watchedmany-literary-fashions-shoot-up-and-blossom-and-then/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [After a day of rain the sun came out suddenly at five o'clock and threw a golden bar into the deep Victorian gloom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/after-a-day-of-rain-the-sun-came-out-suddenly-at-five-o-clock-and/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [What I hated even more than the conflict was the lurid spectacle of a world of unreason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/what-i-hated-even-more-than-the-conflict-was-the-lurid-spectacle-of-a/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Preserve, within a wild sanctuary, an inaccessible valley of reverie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/preserve-within-a-wild-sanctuary-an-inaccessible-valley-of-reverie/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [The attraction of horror is a mental, or even an intellectual, excitement, but the fascination of the repulsive, so noticeable incontemporary writing, can spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/the-attraction-of-horror-is-a-mental-or-even-an-intellectual/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [I was always a feminist, for I liked intellectual revolt as much as I disliked physical violence. On the whole, I think women havelost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-was-always-a-feminist-for-i-liked-intellectual-revolt-as-much-as-i/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Although the primitive in art may be both interesting and impressive, as portrayed in American fiction it is conspicuous for dullness alone. Drab persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/although-the-primitive-in-art-may-be-both-interesting-and-impressive/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Do you know there is always a barrier between me and any man or woman who does not like dogs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/do-you-know-there-is-always-a-barrier-between-me-and-any-man-or-woman/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [You look as if you lived on duty and it hadn't;t agreed with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/you-look-as-if-you-lived-on-duty-and-it-hadn-t-t-agreed-with-you/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [there are times when life surprises one, and anything may happen, even what one had hoped for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/there-are-times-when-life-surprises-one-and-anything-may-happen-even/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Life may take away happiness. But it can't take away having had it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/life-may-take-away-happiness-but-it-can-t-take-away-having-had-it/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [So long as one is able to pose one has still much to learn about suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/so-long-as-one-is-able-to-pose-one-has-still-much-to-learn-about/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [...I had grown up in a world that was dominated by immature age. Not by vigorous immaturity, but by immaturity that was old and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-had-grown-up-in-a-world-that-was-dominated-by-immature-age-not-by/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [I hated the things they believe in, the things they so innocently and charmingly pretended. I hated the sanctimonious piety that let people hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-hated-the-things-they-believe-in-the-things-they-so-innocently-and/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) [Explore all 200 Ellen Glasgow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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