--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Look, the key for me is to keep…" description: "\"Look, the key for me is to keep expectations low.\" — George W. Bush" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/george-w-bush-64_expectations_look-the-key-for-me-is-to-keep-expectati_354802.jpg" --- # Look, the key for me is to keep expectations low. ![“Look, the key for me is to keep expectations low.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/george-w-bush-64_expectations_look-the-key-for-me-is-to-keep-expectati_354802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/george-w-bush-64_expectations_look-the-key-for-me-is-to-keep-expectati_354802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/george-w-bush-64_expectations_look-the-key-for-me-is-to-keep-expectati_354802.jpg) > “Look, the key for me is to keep expectations low.” [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Keeping expectations modest helps avoid disappointment and maintain satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Low expectations reduce disappointment. Key Takeaway Set realistic expectations. Themes expectations contentment mindset Mood pragmatic balanced Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career planning - daily life Key Concepts optimism resilience goal-setting Questions to Reflect On - When is it beneficial to aim higher? - How to balance optimism with realism? A Different Perspective May limit ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Expectations Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations-low-456308/) [Key Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-expectations-3270525/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-key-630870/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) ## Related quotes > [I keep my expectations low, so nobody disappoints me." "Yeah, well, I have high expectations." I look toward Miranda. "I guess my friends do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/i-keep-my-expectations-low-so-nobody-disappoints-me-yeah-well-i-have/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [If you reamian happy and pleasent about everything, you wont need to look for the key to life, cause youll be using it where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-nana-3/if-you-reamian-happy-and-pleasent-about-everything-you-wont-need-to/) [My Nana 3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/my-nana-3/) > [If I answer questions every time you ask one, expectations would be high. And as you know, I like to keep expectations low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-i-answer-questions-every-time-you-ask-one-expectations-would-be/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I think I have high expectations when it comes to guys and relationships.. But would you rather have high expectations or low standards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santana/i-think-i-have-high-expectations-when-it-comes-to-guys-and/) [Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santana/) > [I like to keep my expectations low and my aspirations high in my career and my life. That way I'm pleasantly surprised more often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-like-to-keep-my-expectations-low-and-my-aspirations-high-in-my/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [Compassionate conservative soft bigotry of low expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/compassionate-conservative-soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There were times I was underestimated a lot. It gave me a unique benefit. The expectations were so low I could blow their head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-welteroth/there-were-times-i-was-underestimated-a-lot-it-gave-me-a-unique/) [Elaine Welteroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-welteroth/) > [Keep your expectations low and your hopes high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/keep-your-expectations-low-and-your-hopes-high/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I said once that if they gave me enough money to read the phone book, I'd do it. I live in a total state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-said-once-that-if-they-gave-me-enough-money-to-read-the-phone-book/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [The expectations were low for 'Castle;' people thought we'd be one season and done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamala-jones/the-expectations-were-low-for-castle-people-thought-we-d-be-one/) [Tamala Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamala-jones/) > [“I’ve always set my expectations low and then been pleasantly surprised when a video did well. I’ve found that this is the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-higa/i-ve-always-set-my-expectations-low-and-then-been-pleasantly/) [Ryan Higa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-higa/) > [If expectations are low, you can only impress people. But if expectations are there for you to be the leading guy, and you've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/if-expectations-are-low-you-can-only-impress-people-but-if/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [Life delivers far less disappointment when your expectations are low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-meltzer/life-delivers-far-less-disappointment-when-your-expectations-are-low/) [Brad Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-meltzer/) > [Our thoughts about an event can have a dramatic effect on how we go through the event itself. When our expectations are low, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/our-thoughts-about-an-event-can-have-a-dramatic-effect-on-how-we-go/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [He that would relish success to a purpose should keep his passions cool, and his expectations low; and then it is possible that his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-collier/he-that-would-relish-success-to-a-purpose-should-keep-his-passions/) [Jeremy Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-collier/) ## More by George W. Bush > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More Expectations quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I say this all the time: I've always been really good at managing my expectations so that I'm not let down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-say-this-all-the-time-i-ve-always-been-really-good-at-managing-my/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Keeping up with everybody's expectation is soooo hard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/keeping-up-with-everybody-s-expectation-is-soooo-hard/) [Naomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“Does your reality match your expectations? If not it's time to change either your expectations or your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/does-your-reality-match-your-expectations-if-not-it-s-time-to-change/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [It's a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-boyle/it-s-a-good-place-when-all-you-have-is-hope-and-not-expectations/) [Danny Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-boyle/) > [When we give from a place of love, rather than from a place of expectation, more usually comes back to us than we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/when-we-give-from-a-place-of-love-rather-than-from-a-place-of/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an 'Idol', but we're going to teach them how much hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bice/everybody-out-there-watches-the-show-and-has-expectations-of-wanting/) [Bo Bice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bice/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) [Browse all 4,210 Expectations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Look, the key for me is to keep expectations low.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George W. 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