--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Experience is what you get when you…" description: "\"“Experience is what you get when you didn’t know what you wanted.”\" — Jill Shalvis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/jill-shalvis-838_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2049756.png" --- # Experience is what you get when you didn’t know what you… ![“Experience is what you get when you didn’t know what you wanted.” quote by Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/jill-shalvis-838_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2049756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/jill-shalvis-838_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2049756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/jill-shalvis-838_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2049756.png) > ““Experience is what you get when you didn’t know what you wanted.”” [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experience often arrives when we are unaware of our desires, teaching us through unexpected outcomes. **In simple terms:** Unexpected experiences teach us. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty to discover true wants. Themes growth uncertainty self‑discovery Mood reflective hopeful Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - career change - personal development - creative projects - relationship building Key Concepts Serendipity learning through experience Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected experience changed you? - How can you stay open to the unknown? A Different Perspective May cause confusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [“Why go out looking perfect and put together? It means you didn’t experience anything. You didn’t take any risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/why-go-out-looking-perfect-and-put-together-it-means-you-didn-t/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [This is also something I've learned from experience. Didn't they perhaps give us the vote because we went too far?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/this-is-also-something-i-ve-learned-from-experience-didn-t-they/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I was the last person to experience everything. I didn't really waste time worrying about fitting in or going to parties, because I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-barden/i-was-the-last-person-to-experience-everything-i-didn-t-really-waste/) [Jessica Barden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-barden/) > [I didn't have a traditional college experience. I didn't have a social aspect to it. I was always involved in working and going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-didn-t-have-a-traditional-college-experience-i-didn-t-have-a-social/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [“Experience didn't necessarily point one toward true north.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-doran/experience-didn-t-necessarily-point-one-toward-true-north/) T.M. Doran > [With 'Dazed and Confused,' I got the high school experience I didn't get to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/with-dazed-and-confused-i-got-the-high-school-experience-i-didn-t-get/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [I went to private school and then chose to go to public school because I didn't like the private school experience; I didn't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-went-to-private-school-and-then-chose-to-go-to-public-school/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [If I was continuously and completely doing films, exploring the medium and had the opportunity to do different characters, I probably would have known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamita-shetty/if-i-was-continuously-and-completely-doing-films-exploring-the-medium/) [Shamita Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamita-shetty/) > [Looking back now at my first World Cup experience, I didn't know what was going on. I was a newbie and I had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/looking-back-now-at-my-first-world-cup-experience-i-didn-t-know-what/) [Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/) > [Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the reason why we were able to actually get it made was that we were so extremely naive - we had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renny-harlin/i-think-the-reason-why-we-were-able-to-actually-get-it-made-was-that/) [Renny Harlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renny-harlin/) > [“You needed experience in order to get a job, so, in effect, you needed experience in order to gain experience. Those who didn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaa-alghamdi/you-needed-experience-in-order-to-get-a-job-so-in-effect-you-needed/) [Alaa Alghamdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaa-alghamdi/) > [Motherhood is something that everyone should experience and I didn't want to be left behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandira-bedi/motherhood-is-something-that-everyone-should-experience-and-i-didn-t/) [Mandira Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandira-bedi/) > ['Brisco' was the first show I created, and of course, at the time I had no idea what a special experience it was because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/brisco-was-the-first-show-i-created-and-of-course-at-the-time-i-had/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) ## More by Jill Shalvis > [“But dammit, she was tired. Tired of doing what was expected, tired of feeling like she was missing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/but-dammit-she-was-tired-tired-of-doing-what-was-expected-tired-of/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“And not that I don't love those words, but what were you wrong about?" "Walking away from you." She stepped into him. "I'm done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/and-not-that-i-don-t-love-those-words-but-what-were-you-wrong-about/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“This put her in the possession of two guns. I Love Lucy does Criminal Minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/this-put-her-in-the-possession-of-two-guns-i-love-lucy-does-criminal/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“What is it with us?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/what-is-it-with-us/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“The kiss had been shockingly... wow. Which had led to one thing or another, and some more wow, along with a good dash of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/the-kiss-had-been-shockingly-wow-which-had-led-to-one-thing-or/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“I've given up men. It's true. At first, I was just going to give up attorneys, but that seemed immature - and far too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/i-ve-given-up-men-it-s-true-at-first-i-was-just-going-to-give-up/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Where did that flashlight come from?" Chloe asked. "My purse." Chloe looked at Tara. "She carries a flashlight in her purse." "For emergencies," Maddie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/where-did-that-flashlight-come-from-chloe-asked-my-purse-chloe-looked/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Logan, why aren't you wearing protection?" The radio crackled, and then came Logan's voice. "I have 'protection' in my bag," he said. "But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/logan-why-aren-t-you-wearing-protection-the-radio-crackled-and-then/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“So what do you think I should do for myself then?" "Whatever feels right." She stared at him for the longest beat, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/so-what-do-you-think-i-should-do-for-myself-then-whatever-feels-right/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“With a smug smirk, he kissed her again, then slid into her. Pleasure flooded her, so intense it arched her back and had her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/with-a-smug-smirk-he-kissed-her-again-then-slid-into-her-pleasure/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“I think you have a case of being a little girl. Maybe you should prescribe yourself a heavy dose of man-the-fuck-up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/i-think-you-have-a-case-of-being-a-little-girl-maybe-you-should/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“She was like a drug. The most addicting kind, and he had a problem—he was pretty sure that she was developing feelings for him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/she-was-like-a-drug-the-most-addicting-kind-and-he-had-a-problem-he/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“Let me in.' 'Come to the door.' You always demanding like that? No wonder she isn't answering. Try asking sometime. Not all women will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/let-me-in-come-to-the-door-you-always-demanding-like-that-no-wonder/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Forever this time," he said as Sawyer strode toward them. Tara sighed blissfully. "You know what this means, right?" "I'm done guessing," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/forever-this-time-he-said-as-sawyer-strode-toward-them-tara-sighed/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Remember, you’re unique. And so is everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/remember-you-re-unique-and-so-is-everyone-else/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) [Explore all 356 Jill Shalvis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Experience is what you get when you didn’t know what you wanted.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jill Shalvis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-know-what-you-wanted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-know-what-you-wanted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/jill-shalvis-838_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2049756.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/jill-shalvis-838_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2049756.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/jill-shalvis-838_experience_experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn_2049756.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Experience is what you get when you didn’t know what you wanted.” — Jill Shalvis", "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": "Jill Shalvis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Experience is what you get when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-know-what-you-wanted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-know-what-you-wanted/#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 } } ] } ```