--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more I expect, the more unhappy I am…" description: "\"The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The more I accept, the more serene I am.\" — Michael J. Fox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/michael-j-fox-1653_accept_the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am_1722512.jpg" --- # The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The… ![“The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The more I accept, the more serene I am.” quote by Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/michael-j-fox-1653_accept_the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am_1722512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/michael-j-fox-1653_accept_the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am_1722512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/michael-j-fox-1653_accept_the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am_1722512.jpg) > “The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The more I accept, the more serene I am.” [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expectations raise pressure and disappointment; acceptance brings calm and contentment. **In simple terms:** High expectations cause unhappiness; acceptance brings peace. Key Takeaway Lower expectations, increase acceptance. Themes expectations acceptance mental health mindset Mood reflective calm Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace - goal setting - stress management Key Concepts psychology cognitive bias emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What expectations are causing you stress? - How can you practice acceptance without losing ambition? A Different Perspective Acceptance may lead to complacency if not balanced with growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Serene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serene/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) ## Related quotes > [But I would make it unambiguously clear that we are going to withdraw, and if Iraq falls into civil war and if all these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-odom/but-i-would-make-it-unambiguously-clear-that-we-are-going-to-withdraw/) [William Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-odom/) > [I never said I'm unhappy about going to the ACC. I'm unhappy the Big East broke up. That's a completely different thing than saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/i-never-said-i-m-unhappy-about-going-to-the-acc-i-m-unhappy-the-big/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [What finally convinced me to go ahead was simply that I was so unhappy not going ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/what-finally-convinced-me-to-go-ahead-was-simply-that-i-was-so/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [If you're always battling against getting older, you're always going to be unhappy, because it's going to happen anyhow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/if-you-re-always-battling-against-getting-older-you-re-always-going/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [And if I ever have any children of my own, no matter how unhappy I may be, I am not going to let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/and-if-i-ever-have-any-children-of-my-own-no-matter-how-unhappy-i-may/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [If you get frustrated and unhappy with yourself, then there is going to be a problem. You have to laugh at yourself and laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/if-you-get-frustrated-and-unhappy-with-yourself-then-there-is-going/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [People are either going to accept me for who I am or they're not. I don't know what people think I'm hiding. I've heard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/people-are-either-going-to-accept-me-for-who-i-am-or-they-re-not-i/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [I'm never going to search for anyone's acceptance. I'm just going to be me, and people are eventually going to have to accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-abstract/i-m-never-going-to-search-for-anyone-s-acceptance-i-m-just-going-to/) [Kevin Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-abstract/) > [It takes a lot of guts to come out to your friends and family. For most gay people, coming out is the most traumatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/it-takes-a-lot-of-guts-to-come-out-to-your-friends-and-family-for/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [Someone in this world will accept you for who you are, all you're going to have to do is accept that you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-in-this-world-will-accept-you-for-who-you-are-all-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I felt like people weren't going to accept me as a pop artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-kiyoko/i-felt-like-people-weren-t-going-to-accept-me-as-a-pop-artist/) [Hayley Kiyoko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-kiyoko/) > [I made my excuses and left, thinking, really, after a certain age, people are just going to do what they're going to do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/i-made-my-excuses-and-left-thinking-really-after-a-certain-age-people/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [I'm from Brooklyn, New York. I'm a hip-hop artist. That's just that. You're going to have to accept me or just not be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astro/i-m-from-brooklyn-new-york-i-m-a-hip-hop-artist-that-s-just-that-you/) [Astro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astro/) > [Once you accept anything as tacked down, then you begin to build a structure, to accept limits. Then you have to make a choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-coyote/once-you-accept-anything-as-tacked-down-then-you-begin-to-build-a/) [Peter Coyote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-coyote/) > [That hasn't been easy, because in order to run a clean and transparent race, I announced in January I was not going to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/that-hasn-t-been-easy-because-in-order-to-run-a-clean-and-transparent/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) ## More by Michael J. Fox > [If you allow for the possibilities of something better, you move toward it instinctively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/if-you-allow-for-the-possibilities-of-something-better-you-move/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [After all that I'd been through, after all that I'd learned and all that I'd been given, I was going to do what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/after-all-that-i-d-been-through-after-all-that-i-d-learned-and-all/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [If you asked my kids to describe me, they'd go through a whole list of words before even thinking about Parkinson's. And honestly, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/if-you-asked-my-kids-to-describe-me-they-d-go-through-a-whole-list-of/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [Zoos are becoming facsimiles - or perhaps caricatures - of how animals once were in their natural habitat. If the right policies toward nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/zoos-are-becoming-facsimiles-or-perhaps-caricatures-of-how-animals/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [“I saw, during the midterm campaign of 2006, how difficult it was for opponents of stem cell research to run against hope. And so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-saw-during-the-midterm-campaign-of-2006-how-difficult-it-was-for/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I urge you to be challenged and inspired by what you do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-urge-you-to-be-challenged-and-inspired-by-what-you-do-not-know/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/one-s-dignity-may-be-assaulted-vandalized-and-cruelly-mocked-but/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [“It seems to me that the quality of a moment in time is not always a reflection of the moment in and of itself—what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/it-seems-to-me-that-the-quality-of-a-moment-in-time-is-not-always-a/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [When I was younger, I was always described as happy-go-lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/when-i-was-younger-i-was-always-described-as-happy-go-lucky/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [With Parkinson's, it's like you're in the middle of the street and you're stuck there in cement shoes and you know a bus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/with-parkinson-s-it-s-like-you-re-in-the-middle-of-the-street-and-you/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [“They have hopes and dreams that may echo or overlap your own. And there's no reason why you can't make room for them. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/they-have-hopes-and-dreams-that-may-echo-or-overlap-your-own-and/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I have no choice about whether or not I have Parkinson's. I have nothing but choices about how I react to it. In those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-have-no-choice-about-whether-or-not-i-have-parkinson-s-i-have/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [So what I say about Tracy is this: Tracy's big challenge is not having a Parkinson's patient for a husband. It's having me for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/so-what-i-say-about-tracy-is-this-tracy-s-big-challenge-is-not-having/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I'm kind of private and I keep things inside a lot, but it's been so wonderful to realize that people care about you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-m-kind-of-private-and-i-keep-things-inside-a-lot-but-it-s-been-so/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I had all the usual ambition growing up. I wanted to be a writer, a musician, a hockey player. I wanted to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-had-all-the-usual-ambition-growing-up-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-a/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) [Explore all 219 Michael J. Fox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) Chan Heng Chee > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The more I accept, the more serene I am.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael J. Fox" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am-going-to-be-the-more-i-accept/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accept" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am-going-to-be-the-more-i-accept/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/michael-j-fox-1653_accept_the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am_1722512.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/michael-j-fox-1653_accept_the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am_1722512.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/michael-j-fox-1653_accept_the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am_1722512.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The more I accept, the more serene I am.” — Michael J. Fox", "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": "Michael J. Fox", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The more I expect, the more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am-going-to-be-the-more-i-accept/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/the-more-i-expect-the-more-unhappy-i-am-going-to-be-the-more-i-accept/#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 } } ] } ```