--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems wisest to assume the worst from…" description: "\"It seems wisest to assume the worst from the beginning...and let anything better come as a surprise.\" — Jules Verne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jules-verne-795_assuming_it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from_1212746.jpg" --- # It seems wisest to assume the worst from the… ![“It seems wisest to assume the worst from the beginning...and let anything better come as a surprise.” quote by Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jules-verne-795_assuming_it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from_1212746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jules-verne-795_assuming_it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from_1212746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jules-verne-795_assuming_it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from_1212746.jpg) > “It seems wisest to assume the worst from the beginning...and let anything better come as a surprise.” [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assuming the worst prepares for disappointment; unexpected good becomes a surprise. **In simple terms:** Expect the worst, welcome surprise. Key Takeaway Stay open to positive outcomes. Themes optimism expectation surprise Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - risk assessment - personal growth - team projects Key Concepts cognitive bias resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance caution and hope? - When has surprise benefited you? A Different Perspective Over‑cautiousness can limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assume The Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assume-the-worst/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [I think a lot of fans immediately go, 'ugggh' when they hear that someone is doing a prequel or a remake, they sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-think-a-lot-of-fans-immediately-go-ugggh-when-they-hear-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [But you don’t have to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.” “You don’t have to assume the worst about everyone, either. The world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-you-don-t-have-to-give-everyone-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-you-don/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“my personal life philosophy is always to assume the worst, then you’re never disappointed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-day/my-personal-life-philosophy-is-always-to-assume-the-worst-then-you-re/) [Felicia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-day/) > [Assume the worst about people and you get the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/assume-the-worst-about-people-and-you-get-the-worst/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [Better to assume the worst and be wrong than assume the best and be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/better-to-assume-the-worst-and-be-wrong-than-assume-the-best-and-be/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I had to assume the worst about people because I knew firsthand what horrible things they were capable of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cutler/i-had-to-assume-the-worst-about-people-because-i-knew-firsthand-what/) [Jessica Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cutler/) > [We all assume the worst the best we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iron-wine/we-all-assume-the-worst-the-best-we-can/) [Iron & Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iron-wine/) > [Well, I can't say for sure, but as a Christian, I assume the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-flanders/well-i-can-t-say-for-sure-but-as-a-christian-i-assume-the-worst/) [Ned Flanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-flanders/) > [“No,' I said, shooting him a look. 'But you don't have to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.' You don't have to assume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-i-said-shooting-him-a-look-but-you-don-t-have-to-give-everyone-the/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“Do you always assume the worst of people? Or is it yourself you think so poorly of? 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But don't let this poisoned outlook affect your job performance. Let it all roll off your back. Ignore it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/assume-the-worst-about-everybody-but-don-t-let-this-poisoned-outlook/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Most things in life come as a surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/most-things-in-life-come-as-a-surprise/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) ## More by Jules Verne > [Look with all your eyes, look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/look-with-all-your-eyes-look/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“As I remarked before, the Asiatic elephant is smaller than the African, which is frequently twelve feet high, and its tusks are in proportion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/as-i-remarked-before-the-asiatic-elephant-is-smaller-than-the-african/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [As long as a man's heart beats, as long as a man's flesh quivers, I do not allow that a being gifted with thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/as-long-as-a-man-s-heart-beats-as-long-as-a-man-s-flesh-quivers-i-do/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Now, when an American has an idea, he directly seeks a second American to share it. If there be three, they elect a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/now-when-an-american-has-an-idea-he-directly-seeks-a-second-american/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Well, my friend, this earth will one day be that cold corpse; it will become uninhabitable and uninhabited like the moon, which has long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/well-my-friend-this-earth-will-one-day-be-that-cold-corpse-it-will/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot - travel all the same!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/ah-young-people-travel-if-you-can-and-if-you-cannot-travel-all-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [It is always a vulgar and often an unhealthy pastime, and it is a vice which does not go alone; the man who gambles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-is-always-a-vulgar-and-often-an-unhealthy-pastime-and-it-is-a-vice/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“My uncle” is the natives’ usual name for the tiger, they believing that the soul of each of their ancestors is lodged for eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/my-uncle-is-the-natives-usual-name-for-the-tiger-they-believing-that/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“Kâlagani evidently knew this thinly-peopled region perfectly, and guided us across it most admirably. 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"But silence, do you hear me? silence upon the whole subject; and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-is-certain-exclaimed-my-uncle-in-a-tone-of-triumph-but-silence-do/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Man, a mere inhabitant of the earth, cannot overstep its boundaries! But though he is confined to its crust, he may penetrate into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/man-a-mere-inhabitant-of-the-earth-cannot-overstep-its-boundaries-but/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [On the surface of the ocean, men wage war and destroy each other; but down here, just a few feet beneath the surface, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/on-the-surface-of-the-ocean-men-wage-war-and-destroy-each-other-but/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [In presence of Nature's grand convulsions man is powerless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/in-presence-of-nature-s-grand-convulsions-man-is-powerless/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) [Explore all 331 Jules Verne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It seems wisest to assume the worst from the beginning...and let anything better come as a surprise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jules Verne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from-the-beginning-and-let/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from-the-beginning-and-let/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jules-verne-795_assuming_it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from_1212746.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jules-verne-795_assuming_it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from_1212746.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/jules-verne-795_assuming_it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from_1212746.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It seems wisest to assume the worst from the beginning...and let anything better come as a surprise.” — Jules Verne", "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": "Jules Verne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It seems wisest to assume the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from-the-beginning-and-let/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-seems-wisest-to-assume-the-worst-from-the-beginning-and-let/#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 } } ] } ```