--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you expect greatness, greatness…" description: "\"If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you.\" — Justin Verlander" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/justin-verlander-17970_greatness_if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-should_2260778.png" --- # If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you. ![“If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you.” quote by Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/justin-verlander-17970_greatness_if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-should_2260778.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/justin-verlander-17970_greatness_if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-should_2260778.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/justin-verlander-17970_greatness_if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-should_2260778.png) > “If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you.” [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expecting excellence sets a mindset that makes achievement feel inevitable. **In simple terms:** Expect greatness, then it won't shock you. Key Takeaway Cultivate high expectations. Themes mindset achievement confidence Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - sports performance - personal goals Key Concepts self‑fulfilling prophecy expectation management Questions to Reflect On - Do you set expectations that motivate or pressure you? - How do you handle unmet expectations? A Different Perspective May lead to disappointment if expectations are unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [Be transparent about why the termination is happening. If you did things right, it shouldn't be a surprise to the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/be-transparent-about-why-the-termination-is-happening-if-you-did/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [It shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the Internet has evolved into a force strong enough to reflect the greatest hopes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-caruso/it-shouldn-t-be-too-much-of-a-surprise-that-the-internet-has-evolved/) [Denise Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-caruso/) > [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Without the existance of people to acknowledge or dispute your greatness, your greatness is irrelevant. You are because they are. Without them, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayleigh-cape/without-the-existance-of-people-to-acknowledge-or-dispute-your/) [Jayleigh Cape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayleigh-cape/) > [“When I was a boy, I would read those postcards and know exactly why my father was doing what he was doing: he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-clarke/when-i-was-a-boy-i-would-read-those-postcards-and-know-exactly-why-my/) [Brock Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-clarke/) > [Of what is great one must either be silent or speak with greatness. With greatness--that means cynically and with innocence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/of-what-is-great-one-must-either-be-silent-or-speak-with-greatness/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I expect greatness out of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-lawler/i-expect-greatness-out-of-myself/) [Robbie Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-lawler/) > [I love being in a spot where not only do I expect my own greatness - I'm also part of an organization that expects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-herro/i-love-being-in-a-spot-where-not-only-do-i-expect-my-own-greatness-i/) [Tyler Herro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-herro/) > [Future's not everybody. The people who are taking my style are like my babies. I've got a tribe of kids that want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayvadius-cash/future-s-not-everybody-the-people-who-are-taking-my-style-are-like-my/) [Nayvadius Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayvadius-cash/) > [You can't expect greatness to stumble upon you, you must seek. All great aspects in life begin as a seed..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-can-t-expect-greatness-to-stumble-upon-you-you-must-seek-all/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [I feel I expect greatness from myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-barrett/i-feel-i-expect-greatness-from-myself/) [RJ Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-barrett/) > [We expect nothing but greatness from ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/we-expect-nothing-but-greatness-from-ourselves/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [All the great players you ask always expect greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mccaffrey/all-the-great-players-you-ask-always-expect-greatness/) [Christian McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mccaffrey/) > [I need an artist to be a dog. You know what I'm saying? I need an artist to think for themselves. I need an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-the-butcher/i-need-an-artist-to-be-a-dog-you-know-what-i-m-saying-i-need-an/) [Benny the Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-the-butcher/) > [“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Your fate awaits you. Accept it in body and spirit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/some-are-born-great-some-achieve-greatness-and-some-have-greatness/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Justin Verlander > [I don't think anybody's goal is to be mediocre. I think everybody should want to be the best. I've always felt that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-don-t-think-anybody-s-goal-is-to-be-mediocre-i-think-everybody/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I really like the iPad. I think that's pretty cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-really-like-the-ipad-i-think-that-s-pretty-cool/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [When an artist wants to paint a painting, they have all those things in their head that they want to portray on a canvas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/when-an-artist-wants-to-paint-a-painting-they-have-all-those-things/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I like to challenge hitters with a 'Here it is, hit it,' mentality. It's definitely a big part of my game, especially when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-like-to-challenge-hitters-with-a-here-it-is-hit-it-mentality-it-s/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [For me, seeing the progression of video games and consoles - whether it be PlayStation, Xbox, or whatever - I think just seeing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/for-me-seeing-the-progression-of-video-games-and-consoles-whether-it/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [Im a power guy. Good fastball. A knuckle curve, which I can throw for strikes. A change up which sinks down and away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/im-a-power-guy-good-fastball-a-knuckle-curve-which-i-can-throw-for/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I am always going to be working on location, even if I have a 20-year career. Talk to me in 15 years and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-am-always-going-to-be-working-on-location-even-if-i-have-a-20-year/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [All I know is that if I continue to pitch well, good things will keep happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/all-i-know-is-that-if-i-continue-to-pitch-well-good-things-will-keep/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I'm trying to win that spot and I'm fighting hard for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-m-trying-to-win-that-spot-and-i-m-fighting-hard-for-it/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [If I could, I'd give all 260,000 of you tickets...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/if-i-could-i-d-give-all-260-000-of-you-tickets/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [Actually, I'm a very good golfer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/actually-i-m-a-very-good-golfer/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [It's great for another young guy, another good pitcher to match up against. But like I've said many times, it doesn't really matter who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/it-s-great-for-another-young-guy-another-good-pitcher-to-match-up/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [To hit 100 miles per hour, thats something. I couldnt believe it when I first saw it, but its something I can do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/to-hit-100-miles-per-hour-thats-something-i-couldnt-believe-it-when-i/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [The Detroit fans treated me great. I was glad to see they knew my name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/the-detroit-fans-treated-me-great-i-was-glad-to-see-they-knew-my-name/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I think video games are a huge part of our society now. Having kids play baseball video games helps them understand and love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-think-video-games-are-a-huge-part-of-our-society-now-having-kids/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) [Explore all 36 Justin Verlander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) ## More Greatness quotes > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Every man who is high up likes to think that he has done it all himself, and the wife smiles and lets it go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-who-is-high-up-likes-to-think-that-he-has-done-it-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nothing-brings-out-the-lower-traits-of-human-nature-like-office/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. Greatness is being accepted by the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/greatness-is-not-guarding-yourself-from-people-greatness-is-being/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Great men don't 'move to the center' - great men move the center!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/great-men-don-t-move-to-the-center-great-men-move-the-center/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) Whitney Gaskell [Browse all 7,631 Greatness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Justin Verlander" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-shouldn-t-surprise-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Greatness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-shouldn-t-surprise-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/justin-verlander-17970_greatness_if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-should_2260778.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/justin-verlander-17970_greatness_if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-should_2260778.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/justin-verlander-17970_greatness_if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-should_2260778.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you.” — Justin Verlander", "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": "Justin Verlander", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-shouldn-t-surprise-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/if-you-expect-greatness-greatness-shouldn-t-surprise-you/#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 } } ] } ```