---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's now expected of me that I will defy…"
description: "\"It's now expected of me that I will defy expectation, so I really generally seem to be free to write what I want.\" — Jonathan Lethem"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/jonathan-lethem-1403_expectation_it-s-now-expected-of-me-that-i-will-defy_2867419.png"
---

#  It's now expected of me that I will defy expectation, so I…

![“It's now expected of me that I will defy expectation, so I really generally seem to be free to write what I want.” quote by Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/jonathan-lethem-1403_expectation_it-s-now-expected-of-me-that-i-will-defy_2867419.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/jonathan-lethem-1403_expectation_it-s-now-expected-of-me-that-i-will-defy_2867419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/jonathan-lethem-1403_expectation_it-s-now-expected-of-me-that-i-will-defy_2867419.png)

> “It's now expected of me that I will defy expectation, so I really generally seem to be free to write what I want.”

[Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Defying expectations grants creative freedom to write authentically.

**In simple terms:** Ignoring expectations frees my writing.

Key Takeaway

Write without fearing others’ expectations.

Themes

creativity freedom authenticity

Mood

defiant reflective

Type

creative philosophical

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- blogging
- screenwriting
- personal essays

Key Concepts

self‑expression nonconformity literary independence

Questions to Reflect On

- What expectations limit your work?
- How can you maintain authenticity under pressure?

A Different Perspective

Audience expectations can still influence reception.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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> [“It felt civilised and modern. It felt refined and tantalising, all at once, like a polite collective pre-orgasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/it-felt-civilised-and-modern-it-felt-refined-and-tantalising-all-at/)

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> [Treat the people the way you expect them to treat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishchal-ningleku/treat-the-people-the-way-you-expect-them-to-treat-you/)

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## More by Jonathan Lethem

> [It was often this way, life consisted of a series of false beginnings, bluff declarations of arrival to destinations not even glimpsed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/it-was-often-this-way-life-consisted-of-a-series-of-false-beginnings/)

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[Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/)

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[Explore all 241 Jonathan Lethem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/)

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> [Keeping up with everybody's expectation is soooo hard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/keeping-up-with-everybody-s-expectation-is-soooo-hard/)

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[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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Mak\_786

> [We part more easily with what we possess, than with our expectations of what we wish for; because expectation always goes beyond enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/we-part-more-easily-with-what-we-possess-than-with-our-expectations/)

[Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/)

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Browse all 759 Expectation quotes

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