Anticipation Quote by Howard Jacobson
“In anticipation of a meal - supposing we are with the ideal companion at the best table in the perfect restaurant - we might indeed postpone sadness. And maybe even halfway through, we will remain in tolerably high spirits, with dessert still to come. But as we near the end of eating, we begin to feel anticipatory twinges of anticlimax.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Finkler Question, 2010
Anticipating a perfect dining experience can delay sadness, but the end brings anticlimax.
In simple terms: Great expectations can lead to disappointment.
Key Takeaway
Manage expectations realistically.
Themes
food
anticipation
emotion
Mood
thoughtful
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- restaurant dates
- celebrations
- personal rituals
Key Concepts
psychology of expectation
pleasure principle
temporal contrast
Questions to Reflect On
- How do expectations shape satisfaction?
- Can we find joy without idealizing?
A Different Perspective
Over‑idealizing experiences may reduce enjoyment.
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
![“[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only time will tell. For example...] The Talmud relates a story about two people who wanted to travel by boat. One broke his foot and was unable to make the trip, while his friend got on…” quote by Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68d/zelig-pliskin-22951_anticipation_it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and_34545.jpg)
