--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to keep my expectations low and my…" description: "\"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 than desperately disa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/jason-o-mara-16859_aspirations_i-like-to-keep-my-expectations-low-and-m_161951.jpg" --- # I like to keep my expectations low and my aspirations high… ![“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 than desperately disappointed.” quote by Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/jason-o-mara-16859_aspirations_i-like-to-keep-my-expectations-low-and-m_161951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/jason-o-mara-16859_aspirations_i-like-to-keep-my-expectations-low-and-m_161951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/jason-o-mara-16859_aspirations_i-like-to-keep-my-expectations-low-and-m_161951.jpg) > “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 than desperately disappointed.” [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintaining modest expectations while aiming high creates pleasant surprises and reduces disappointment. **In simple terms:** Keep hopes high but expectations low for better outcomes. Key Takeaway Set ambitious goals, stay humble about results. Themes mindset goal‑setting resilience optimism Mood hopeful pragmatic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - relationship building - financial planning Key Concepts expectation management aspirational thinking psychology of surprise Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure low expectations don’t become low effort? - What habits keep you motivated despite modest expectations? A Different Perspective Over‑optimism can lead to complacency; low expectations may limit effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspirations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspirations/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [GREAT SECRET Whenever I’m learning something difficult, I keep expectations low, and aspirations high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/great-secret-whenever-i-m-learning-something-difficult-i-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“If high aspirations = high fear, overcoming high fear = achieving high aspirations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/if-high-aspirations-high-fear-overcoming-high-fear-achieving-high/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [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 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/) > [I like expectations, with expectations, you have people coming at you from a place of doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ferrara/i-like-expectations-with-expectations-you-have-people-coming-at-you/) [Jerry Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ferrara/) > [I don't like expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-don-t-like-expectations/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [The Heavens are as deep as our aspirations are high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-heavens-are-as-deep-as-our-aspirations-are-high/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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 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/) > [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/) > [Look, the key for me is to keep expectations low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/look-the-key-for-me-is-to-keep-expectations-low/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by Jason O'Mara > [A sense of humor saves your life, and being able to make friends wherever you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/a-sense-of-humor-saves-your-life-and-being-able-to-make-friends/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I definitely read a lot of Marvel stuff when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-definitely-read-a-lot-of-marvel-stuff-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [As actors, we have that in common that we go for slightly out-of-the-box or genre stuff. They're great when they work, but they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/as-actors-we-have-that-in-common-that-we-go-for-slightly-out-of-the/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [The really good doctors out there are real-life heroes. Playing one on TV is a cheaper alternative and certainly satisfies what is left of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/the-really-good-doctors-out-there-are-real-life-heroes-playing-one-on/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [My wife makes the best chocolate chip pancakes, and my son and I are only too happy to stay home and eat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/my-wife-makes-the-best-chocolate-chip-pancakes-and-my-son-and-i-are/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [That's the challenging thing with TV; it's not the action scenes per se, and it's not the location scenes and the heavy dialog scenes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/that-s-the-challenging-thing-with-tv-it-s-not-the-action-scenes-per/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [The Australian Outback can be quite unforgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/the-australian-outback-can-be-quite-unforgiving/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I've been doing stuff for ABC for a long time, since 2004. I've had several deals with them. Like, 'Life on Mars,' that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-ve-been-doing-stuff-for-abc-for-a-long-time-since-2004-i-ve-had/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I'm attracted to things that are different than the average run-of-the-mill stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-different-than-the-average-run-of/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I like to take a shot with things. I like to take risks. I'm attracted to things that are different than the average run-of-the-mill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-like-to-take-a-shot-with-things-i-like-to-take-risks-i-m-attracted/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [Every guy needs a pair of beaten up Converse Chuck Taylors. The coolest sneakers in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/every-guy-needs-a-pair-of-beaten-up-converse-chuck-taylors-the/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I called my family, saying, 'Guess what? I got a new show. It's about a cop who travels in time.' And they said, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-called-my-family-saying-guess-what-i-got-a-new-show-it-s-about-a/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I just watched the entire season of 'Louie' in one flight. What an amazing show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-just-watched-the-entire-season-of-louie-in-one-flight-what-an/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I've spent three hours hanging upside down while fighting off dinosaur attacks. That was a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-ve-spent-three-hours-hanging-upside-down-while-fighting-off/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [It's always most interesting when Batman starts out as that lone Dark Knight and then is forced to have to interact with someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/it-s-always-most-interesting-when-batman-starts-out-as-that-lone-dark/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) [Explore all 38 Jason O'Mara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) ## More Aspirations quotes > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I'm not walking around saying I am the best in the world but I'll always have aspirations to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsdale/i-m-not-walking-around-saying-i-am-the-best-in-the-world-but-i-ll/) [Aaron Ramsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsdale/) > [For 20 years, I've been running an institute in Chennai where serious dancers from Kerala come with aspirations of becoming professional dancers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shobana/for-20-years-i-ve-been-running-an-institute-in-chennai-where-serious/) [Shobana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shobana/) > [“All beings begin their lives with hope and aspirations. Among these aspirations is the desire that there will be a straight path to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn/all-beings-begin-their-lives-with-hope-and-aspirations-among-these/) [Timothy Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn/) > [I've definitely become smuttier. When I first started out, I had these aspirations: 'I'm not going to do jokes about anything crude because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-ve-definitely-become-smuttier-when-i-first-started-out-i-had-these/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) > [I want to make sure that I fulfill the aspirations of the Gabonese people: to have access to a better life, job opportunities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bongo-ondimba/i-want-to-make-sure-that-i-fulfill-the-aspirations-of-the-gabonese/) [Ali Bongo Ondimba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bongo-ondimba/) > [“The vision of life is not a "discovery"; it's a "work" and whatever position you occupy demands work. Your life may not be built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-vision-of-life-is-not-a-discovery-it-s-a-work-and-whatever/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [A family needs to work as a team, supporting each other's individual aims and aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/a-family-needs-to-work-as-a-team-supporting-each-other-s-individual/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [The powers, aspirations, and mission of man are such as to raise the study of his origin and nature, inevitably and by the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/the-powers-aspirations-and-mission-of-man-are-such-as-to-raise-the/) [Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/) > [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [When I joined films, I was clueless about the industry and had no aspirations to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-swami/when-i-joined-films-i-was-clueless-about-the-industry-and-had-no/) [Arvind Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-swami/) > [Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/every-little-kid-that-steps-on-the-court-or-the-field-has-aspirations/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-most-absurd-and-reckless-aspirations-have-sometimes-led-to/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Sometimes fulfilling your dreams and aspirations means being a part of helping others fulfill theirs. In the end, we rise or fall together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-fulfilling-your-dreams-and-aspirations-means-being-a-part/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your aspirations to shreds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-chemical-romance/your-aspirations-to-shreds/) [My Chemical Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/my-chemical-romance/) [Browse all 511 Aspirations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspirations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to keep my expectations low and my aspirations high in my career and my life. 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