--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is high time that I learn to be more…" description: "\"“It is high time that I learn to be more careful about hope, a reckless emotion for travellers. The sensible approach would be to expect the worst, the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/martha-gellhorn-8061_disappointment_it-is-high-time-that-i-learn-to-be-more_1382283.jpg" --- # It is high time that I learn to be more careful about… ![“It is high time that I learn to be more careful about hope, a reckless emotion for travellers. The sensible approach would be to expect the worst, the very worst; that way you avoid grievous disappointment and who knows, with a tiny bit of luck, you might even have a moderately pleasant surprise…” quote by Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/martha-gellhorn-8061_disappointment_it-is-high-time-that-i-learn-to-be-more_1382283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/martha-gellhorn-8061_disappointment_it-is-high-time-that-i-learn-to-be-more_1382283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/martha-gellhorn-8061_disappointment_it-is-high-time-that-i-learn-to-be-more_1382283.jpg) > ““It is high time that I learn to be more careful about hope, a reckless emotion for travellers. The sensible approach would be to expect the worst, the very worst; that way you avoid grievous disappointment and who knows, with a tiny bit of luck, you might even have a moderately pleasant surprise, like the difference between hell and purgatory.”” [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hope is portrayed as a risky, unpredictable feeling; managing expectations by anticipating the worst can protect against deep disappointment while still allowing for modest positive outcomes. **In simple terms:** Hope is risky; expect the worst to avoid pain. Key Takeaway Balance caution with openness to small joys. Themes caution hope expectation disappointment resilience Mood reflective cautious hopeful Type advice philosophical literary When to use this quote - travel planning - personal relationships - career decisions - health crises - financial investments Key Concepts psychology risk management optimism Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge when to lower expectations? - What small positives can you seek despite expecting the worst? A Different Perspective Overly pessimistic outlook may lead to missed opportunities or chronic negativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Careful Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful-hope-4793232/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Emotion Travellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-travellers-4793233/) [Expect The Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-the-worst/) [Expect Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-worst/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope Reckless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-reckless-4793235/) [Reckless Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reckless-emotion-4793234/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“It was his job to expect the worst of humanity, including myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/it-was-his-job-to-expect-the-worst-of-humanity-including-myself/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“We also know about the self-fulfilling prophecy, which tells us that if you expect the worst out of people, that’s what you will get.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-also-know-about-the-self-fulfilling-prophecy-which-tells-us-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With total strangers, it had always been my policy to expect the worst. Usually they-and those that you knew best, for that matter-did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/with-total-strangers-it-had-always-been-my-policy-to-expect-the-worst/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“Don't expect the worst because, by expecting the worst, you're inviting it to come true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-winters/don-t-expect-the-worst-because-by-expecting-the-worst-you-re-inviting/) [Pepper Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-winters/) > [“Hope for the best and expect the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ross-symposium/hope-for-the-best-and-expect-the-worst/) [Jerry Ross Symposium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ross-symposium/) > [Expect the worst And that's what You'll get Only it will be Much worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-donleavy-2/expect-the-worst-and-that-s-what-you-ll-get-only-it-will-be-much-worse/) [J. P. Donleavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-donleavy-2/) > [Hope for the best, expect the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/hope-for-the-best-expect-the-worst/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [I always expect the worst so I wont ever be disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-expect-the-worst-so-i-wont-ever-be-disappointed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Expect the worst, and hope to be pleasantly surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-r-mcdowell/expect-the-worst-and-hope-to-be-pleasantly-surprised/) [Mary R McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-r-mcdowell/) > [Hope for the best, expect the worst and you will be less shocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hope-for-the-best-expect-the-worst-and-you-will-be-less-shocked/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I guess when you expect the worst it’s always a pleasant surprise if everything ends up going smoothly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/i-guess-when-you-expect-the-worst-it-s-always-a-pleasant-surprise-if/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [I believe passionately in preemptive pessimism, especially before a book comes out. I expect the worst both from reviewers and sales, and then, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/i-believe-passionately-in-preemptive-pessimism-especially-before-a/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [Keep a light, hopeful heart. But expect the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/keep-a-light-hopeful-heart-but-expect-the-worst/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The art of defending is always to expect the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/the-art-of-defending-is-always-to-expect-the-worst/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) ## More by Martha Gellhorn > [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [All politicians are bores and liars and fakes. I talk to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/all-politicians-are-bores-and-liars-and-fakes-i-talk-to-people/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [“This was not the velvet embracing desert sky at El Geneina; this was infinite space. The idea of no boundaries, no end, is terrifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/this-was-not-the-velvet-embracing-desert-sky-at-el-geneina-this-was/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [I do not see myself as a footnote to someone else's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/i-do-not-see-myself-as-a-footnote-to-someone-else-s-life/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [the English don't go in for imagination: imagination is considered to be improper if not downright alarmist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/the-english-don-t-go-in-for-imagination-imagination-is-considered-to/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [My definition of what makes a journey wholly or partially horrible is boredom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/my-definition-of-what-makes-a-journey-wholly-or-partially-horrible-is/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Joseph McCarthy, the Junior Republican Senator from Wisconsin, ruled America like devil king for four years. His purges were an American mirror image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/joseph-mccarthy-the-junior-republican-senator-from-wisconsin-ruled/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Public opinion, though slow as lava, in the end forces governments towards more sanity, more justice. My heroes and heroines are all private citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/public-opinion-though-slow-as-lava-in-the-end-forces-governments/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [I daresay I was the worst bed partner in five continents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/i-daresay-i-was-the-worst-bed-partner-in-five-continents/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Once you get a tyranny, you don't easily get rid of it. Much better to remember about eternal vigilance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/once-you-get-a-tyranny-you-don-t-easily-get-rid-of-it-much-better-to/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [In the last camp they all ate grass, until the authorities forbade them to pull it up. They were accustomed to having the fruits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/in-the-last-camp-they-all-ate-grass-until-the-authorities-forbade/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which-obliges-the-citizen-to-make/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Americans did not acquire their fear neurosis as the result of a traumatic experience - war devasting their country, pestilence sweeping the land, famine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/americans-did-not-acquire-their-fear-neurosis-as-the-result-of-a/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [From the earliest wars of men to our last heart-breaking worldwide effort, all we could do was kill ourselves. Now we are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/from-the-earliest-wars-of-men-to-our-last-heart-breaking-worldwide/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Why do people talk of the horrors of old age? It's great. I feel like a fine old car with the parts gradually wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/why-do-people-talk-of-the-horrors-of-old-age-it-s-great-i-feel-like-a/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) [Explore all 84 Martha Gellhorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) ## More Disappointment quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [“My earthly body has been a terrible disappointment to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/my-earthly-body-has-been-a-terrible-disappointment-to-me/) [Frédéric Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The fear of not being good enough, the fear of disappointing other people and the fear of failure can really hurt one's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-not-being-good-enough-the-fear-of-disappointing-other/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [In trying not to disappoint others; we disappoint ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/in-trying-not-to-disappoint-others-we-disappoint-ourselves/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Though there may be people in your life that support you and encourage you we have to realize that people are only human, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/though-there-may-be-people-in-your-life-that-support-you-and/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [There are still many more days of failure ahead, whole seasons of failure, things will go terribly wrong, you will have huge disappointments ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-still-many-more-days-of-failure-ahead-whole-seasons-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sometimes said that because of our past we, as a people, expect too much and set our sights too high. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/it-is-sometimes-said-that-because-of-our-past-we-as-a-people-expect/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I'm talking to anyone who has been dumped - have not gotten the job you really wanted or have received those horrible rejection letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/i-m-talking-to-anyone-who-has-been-dumped-have-not-gotten-the-job-you/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Stop blaming others, whatever happens to you is nobody's fault if you get hurt because of disappointment is not the end of your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/stop-blaming-others-whatever-happens-to-you-is-nobody-s-fault-if-you/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [When disappointments knock you down, get back up and go again because out of our greatest rejection comes our greatest direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-disappointments-knock-you-down-get-back-up-and-go-again-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,467 Disappointment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is high time that I learn to be more careful about hope, a reckless emotion for travellers. 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