--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided that I would defy expectations…" description: "\"I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put on me by society, race, socioeconomic status, or my father.\" — Michael Tubbs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/michael-tubbs-16073_defy_i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations_2843004.jpg" --- # I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put… ![“I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put on me by society, race, socioeconomic status, or my father.” quote by Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/michael-tubbs-16073_defy_i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations_2843004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/michael-tubbs-16073_defy_i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations_2843004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/michael-tubbs-16073_defy_i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations_2843004.jpg) > “I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put on me by society, race, socioeconomic status, or my father.” [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He resolves to challenge societal expectations tied to race, class, and family, aiming to define his own path. **In simple terms:** Defy limiting expectations. Key Takeaway Act against imposed limits. Themes determination social justice self‑empowerment Mood determined optimistic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - school projects - activism - career choices - public speaking Key Concepts systemic bias personal agency community leadership Questions to Reflect On - Which expectations will you confront? - How can you inspire others to defy norms? A Different Perspective Risk of ignoring structural barriers that persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [“I live to defy y'all's expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ryan/i-live-to-defy-y-all-s-expectations/) [Sara Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ryan/) > [We'll do what life always does defy expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/we-ll-do-what-life-always-does-defy-expectations/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [What I try to do is defy expectations in terms of boundaries, whether it is high or low art, pop culture, or fine-art culture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/what-i-try-to-do-is-defy-expectations-in-terms-of-boundaries-whether/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [“It is in all of us to defy expectations, to go into the world and to be brave, and to want, to need, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-chevrette/it-is-in-all-of-us-to-defy-expectations-to-go-into-the-world-and-to/) Mae Chevrette > [I like showing people I can do something they wouldn't have pegged me as being able to do. I've always wanted to defy expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leong/i-like-showing-people-i-can-do-something-they-wouldn-t-have-pegged-me/) [Melissa Leong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leong/) > [Often too many expectations are put on by society as to what we're supposed to look like and it's fed to people at an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-clare/often-too-many-expectations-are-put-on-by-society-as-to-what-we-re/) [Dustin Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-clare/) > [“Sylvia possessed a deeply conditioned respect for authority. She wanted desperately to live up to the expectations of a society that viewed her as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-winder/sylvia-possessed-a-deeply-conditioned-respect-for-authority-she/) [Elizabeth Winder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-winder/) > [Given the expectations of society at large, men are generally correct in their assumption that it is important for a woman to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/given-the-expectations-of-society-at-large-men-are-generally-correct/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I’ve never lived my life by the expectations society puts on you. When something doesn’t feel right or isn’t going the way it should,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-robinson/i-ve-never-lived-my-life-by-the-expectations-society-puts-on-you-when/) Fatima Robinson > [“We're in our own world, and we're in the world that has been given us outside, and the problem is to achieve3 a harmonious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/we-re-in-our-own-world-and-we-re-in-the-world-that-has-been-given-us/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I think that sometimes when they see me in a movie they expect me to be something nasty. I mean, I play a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-think-that-sometimes-when-they-see-me-in-a-movie-they-expect-me-to/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I love doing action. Since I'm not 21, there's some, 'Let me get to the gym so I can do it.' But I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-bassett/i-love-doing-action-since-i-m-not-21-there-s-some-let-me-get-to-the/) [Angela Bassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-bassett/) > [I hate to lull the audience into letting them think that something is something. It's always fun to defy expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-hate-to-lull-the-audience-into-letting-them-think-that-something-is/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [I'm an actor. I can do whatever I want. As an actor, not everything has to be the most obvious choice. And sometimes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/i-m-an-actor-i-can-do-whatever-i-want-as-an-actor-not-everything-has/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [I remember watching the Tony Awards as a young girl, thinking I would never get that far but, in my heart, wanting so badly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-louderman/i-remember-watching-the-tony-awards-as-a-young-girl-thinking-i-would/) [Taylor Louderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-louderman/) ## More by Michael Tubbs > [California can't be a great state until all parts of the state are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/california-can-t-be-a-great-state-until-all-parts-of-the-state-are/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [My mom was on welfare for the first five, six years of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/my-mom-was-on-welfare-for-the-first-five-six-years-of-my-life/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [I'm tired of talking about where we've been. I'm more interested in talking about where we're going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-m-tired-of-talking-about-where-we-ve-been-i-m-more-interested-in/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [The first time I saw my father, he was chained. Gone was the mirage of the invincible man, the man who would protect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/the-first-time-i-saw-my-father-he-was-chained-gone-was-the-mirage-of/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [As the documentary 'True Son' illustrates, my campaign for city council started really small - with eight mostly political neophytes in my living room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/as-the-documentary-true-son-illustrates-my-campaign-for-city-council/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [I firmly believe that talent and intelligence are universal, but resources and opportunities are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-firmly-believe-that-talent-and-intelligence-are-universal-but/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [Diversity matters. You want your city departments to look like the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/diversity-matters-you-want-your-city-departments-to-look-like-the-city/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [In our economic structure, the people who work the hardest oftentimes make the least. I know migrant farm workers who do back-breaking labor every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/in-our-economic-structure-the-people-who-work-the-hardest-oftentimes/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [Work does have some value and some dignity, but I don't think working 14 hours and not being able to pay your bills, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/work-does-have-some-value-and-some-dignity-but-i-don-t-think-working/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [Growing up in Stockton wasn't all doom and gloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/growing-up-in-stockton-wasn-t-all-doom-and-gloom/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [There had to be something more important than me being comfortable, me being OK, and me being that one person that made it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/there-had-to-be-something-more-important-than-me-being-comfortable-me/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [President Obama is an inspiration of mine, and interning with his administration in the White House opened my eyes to the possibilities of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/president-obama-is-an-inspiration-of-mine-and-interning-with-his/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [The power to remove an individual from office is reserved for the greatest betrayals of public trust, not just because you disagree with someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/the-power-to-remove-an-individual-from-office-is-reserved-for-the/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [During the fall of my junior year, I interned in Intergovernmental Affairs in The White House with a focus on outreach to local elected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/during-the-fall-of-my-junior-year-i-interned-in-intergovernmental/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [It's important to invest in our kids who are going to go to college or community college or a trade school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/it-s-important-to-invest-in-our-kids-who-are-going-to-go-to-college/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) [Explore all 41 Michael Tubbs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) ## More Defy quotes > [By God, I cannot flatter, I do defy The tongues of soothers! but a braver place In my heart's love hath no man than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/by-god-i-cannot-flatter-i-do-defy-the-tongues-of-soothers-but-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Disturb reality, defy gravity, be authentic and above all... be happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-gonzalez/disturb-reality-defy-gravity-be-authentic-and-above-all-be-happy/) [Joaquin Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-gonzalez/) > [Thus Arm in Arm with thee I dare defy my century into the lists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/thus-arm-in-arm-with-thee-i-dare-defy-my-century-into-the-lists/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [“Some things defy language itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/some-things-defy-language-itself/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [Whether it's mending a failing company, fighting corruption, tackling disease, or rebuilding a marriage, the hardest problems defy just-add-water remedies. Indeed, slapping on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/whether-it-s-mending-a-failing-company-fighting-corruption-tackling/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [Feed by measure, and defy the physician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/feed-by-measure-and-defy-the-physician/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [It is dangerous for a woman to defy the gods; To taunt them with the tongue's thin tip, Or strut in the weakness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spencer/it-is-dangerous-for-a-woman-to-defy-the-gods-to-taunt-them-with-the/) [Anne Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spencer/) > [“If we are able to convey ‘meaning’ to things and to actions, we may dominate part of the obscure world of ignorance. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/if-we-are-able-to-convey-meaning-to-things-and-to-actions-we-may/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [All energy flows according to the whims of the great Magnet. What a fool I was to defy him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/all-energy-flows-according-to-the-whims-of-the-great-magnet-what-a/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“I live to defy y'all's expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ryan/i-live-to-defy-y-all-s-expectations/) [Sara Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ryan/) > [I defy anyone in the world to trade with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/i-defy-anyone-in-the-world-to-trade-with-me/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [“I defy you, stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-defy-you-stars/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Unless you can start some worldwide crime wave, I haven’t the strength to defy him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-fallon/unless-you-can-start-some-worldwide-crime-wave-i-haven-t-the-strength/) [Jennifer Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-fallon/) > [I defy gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-defy-gravity/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) Browse all 105 Defy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put on me by society, race, socioeconomic status, or my father.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Tubbs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations-be-it-those-put-on-me-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations-be-it-those-put-on-me-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/michael-tubbs-16073_defy_i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations_2843004.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/michael-tubbs-16073_defy_i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations_2843004.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/michael-tubbs-16073_defy_i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations_2843004.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put on me by society, race, socioeconomic status, or…” — Michael Tubbs", "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 Tubbs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I decided that I would defy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations-be-it-those-put-on-me-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations-be-it-those-put-on-me-by/#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 } } ] } ```