--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hume emphasized that the expectation of…" description: "\"“Hume emphasized that the expectation of one thing following another does not lie in the things themselves, but in our mind. And expectation, as we hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/jostein-gaarder-676_cause-and-effect_hume-emphasized-that-the-expectation-of_2347878.png" --- # Hume emphasized that the expectation of one thing… ![“Hume emphasized that the expectation of one thing following another does not lie in the things themselves, but in our mind. And expectation, as we have seen, is associated with habit. Going back to the child again, it would not have stared in amazement if when one billiard ball struck the other…” quote by Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/jostein-gaarder-676_cause-and-effect_hume-emphasized-that-the-expectation-of_2347878.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/jostein-gaarder-676_cause-and-effect_hume-emphasized-that-the-expectation-of_2347878.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/jostein-gaarder-676_cause-and-effect_hume-emphasized-that-the-expectation-of_2347878.png) > ““Hume emphasized that the expectation of one thing following another does not lie in the things themselves, but in our mind. And expectation, as we have seen, is associated with habit. Going back to the child again, it would not have stared in amazement if when one billiard ball struck the other, both had remained perfectly motionless. When we speak of the 'laws of nature' or of 'cause and effect,' we are actually speaking of what we expect, rather than what is 'reasonable.' The laws of nature are neither reasonable nor unreasonable, they simply are. The expectation that the white billiard ball will move when it is struck by the black billiard ball is therefore not innate. We are not born with a set of expectations as to what the world is like or how things in the world behave. The world is like it is, and it's something we get to know”” [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our expectations about cause and effect are mental constructs, not inherent properties of reality; they arise from habit and learning. **In simple terms:** Expectations are learned, not natural. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions about how the world works. Themes philosophy cognition science learning Mood inquisitive analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - critical thinking - scientific research Key Concepts epistemology habit formation causality Questions to Reflect On - How do your habits shape what you consider natural? - Can you observe a situation where expectation failed? A Different Perspective Expectations can be misleading without evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause and effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-and-effect/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“The expectation of one thing following another does not lie in the things themselves, but in our mind. 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