--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Living with very limited expectations is…" description: "\"Living with very limited expectations is a much more immediate way of living. You really do just make the best of everything you have. I guess kids hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/natascha-mcelhone-17155_ability_living-with-very-limited-expectations-is_1013190.jpg" --- # Living with very limited expectations is a much more… ![“Living with very limited expectations is a much more immediate way of living. You really do just make the best of everything you have. I guess kids have that ability; they wait in joyful anticipation of something rather than that sense of entitlement.” quote by Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/natascha-mcelhone-17155_ability_living-with-very-limited-expectations-is_1013190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/natascha-mcelhone-17155_ability_living-with-very-limited-expectations-is_1013190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/natascha-mcelhone-17155_ability_living-with-very-limited-expectations-is_1013190.jpg) > “Living with very limited expectations is a much more immediate way of living. You really do just make the best of everything you have. I guess kids have that ability; they wait in joyful anticipation of something rather than that sense of entitlement.” [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adopting modest expectations lets you appreciate what you have and find joy in everyday moments, avoiding entitlement. **In simple terms:** Low expectations bring more appreciation. Key Takeaway Embrace modest expectations. Themes contentment mindfulness gratitude Mood reflective optimistic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - daily routines - resource constraints - personal growth Key Concepts Expectation management psychology of happiness Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance realistic goals with gratitude? - What expectations limit your happiness? A Different Perspective May lead to underachievement if goals are too low. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Entitlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entitlement/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joyful/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sense of entitlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-entitlement/) [Way of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-living/) ## Related quotes > [I was surrounded by too many people who felt that they had a strong sense of entitlement. That I owed them something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/i-was-surrounded-by-too-many-people-who-felt-that-they-had-a-strong/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [One recipe for happiness is to have to sense of entitlement.' To this she added a star and noted at the bottom of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/one-recipe-for-happiness-is-to-have-to-sense-of-entitlement-to-this/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [The school made it very clear that women were entitled to positions of authority. That sense of entitlement allowed us to feel that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-vester/the-school-made-it-very-clear-that-women-were-entitled-to-positions/) [Linda Vester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-vester/) > [“We white folks cling to such an abiding sense of entitlement that when things go amiss, we cannot let go of this tortuously sunny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/we-white-folks-cling-to-such-an-abiding-sense-of-entitlement-that/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [...the divided world of Aspen, where locals with a sense of entitlement were pitted against developers with a sense of condominiums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/the-divided-world-of-aspen-where-locals-with-a-sense-of-entitlement/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“It's been well-documented that there is a growing sense of entitlement among young people. I have certainly seen that in my classrooms. So many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/it-s-been-well-documented-that-there-is-a-growing-sense-of/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People who take more than their share usually feel an inflated sense of entitlement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-phillips/people-who-take-more-than-their-share-usually-feel-an-inflated-sense/) [Jeanne Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-phillips/) > [I've never had a sense of entitlement. I saw how hard my father worked for his money, and it was always made very clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivanka-trump/i-ve-never-had-a-sense-of-entitlement-i-saw-how-hard-my-father-worked/) [Ivanka Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivanka-trump/) > [There is a mindset that has to be changed - the sense of entitlement of the man. That happens when you are bringing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharmila-tagore/there-is-a-mindset-that-has-to-be-changed-the-sense-of-entitlement-of/) [Sharmila Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharmila-tagore/) > [“If you want to have a community of people who have both high-quality, long-term relationships and a high sense of personal responsibility, you can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/if-you-want-to-have-a-community-of-people-who-have-both-high-quality/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My father and mother had no sense of entitlement for their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/my-father-and-mother-had-no-sense-of-entitlement-for-their-children/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [“Paul Harvey, a University of New Hampshire professor and GYPSY expert, has researched this, finding that Gen Y has "unrealistic expectations and a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waitbutwhy-blog/paul-harvey-a-university-of-new-hampshire-professor-and-gypsy-expert/) Waitbutwhy Blog > [ I'm interested in avoiding two types of behaviour \[in my children\]: one is the sense of guilt and the other is a sense of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elkann/i-m-interested-in-avoiding-two-types-of-behaviour-in-my-children-one/) [John Elkann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elkann/) > [I had a Viking sense of entitlement to whatever provisions I could plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/i-had-a-viking-sense-of-entitlement-to-whatever-provisions-i-could/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Actors devote a lot of our time and energy to the work that we do, but there shouldn't come a sense of entitlement from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-reinhart/actors-devote-a-lot-of-our-time-and-energy-to-the-work-that-we-do-but/) [Lili Reinhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-reinhart/) ## More by Natascha McElhone > [I have wanted to act since I was three and that is what I hunger for. I want to play roles that are as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-have-wanted-to-act-since-i-was-three-and-that-is-what-i-hunger-for/) [Natascha Mcelhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [If someone approaches me in the street, I'm on the defensive. Some actors are like flowers basking in the sun, they love the attention,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/if-someone-approaches-me-in-the-street-i-m-on-the-defensive-some/) [Natascha Mcelhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [Scribbling things down is my therapy. I filter later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/scribbling-things-down-is-my-therapy-i-filter-later/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [I always think I love work, and I knew early on that I wanted to be an actress. Then I meet people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-always-think-i-love-work-and-i-knew-early-on-that-i-wanted-to-be-an/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [I first met my husband when I was 15. He was very cool, in a band, all that kind of thing, but he took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-first-met-my-husband-when-i-was-15-he-was-very-cool-in-a-band-all/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [I was brought up by a Marxist rationalist stepfather, so I don't believe in the supernatural or religion or horoscopes, and the absolute nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-was-brought-up-by-a-marxist-rationalist-stepfather-so-i-don-t/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [I think the difference between finding happiness, or moments of happiness, is how you choose to interpret things. That's a rather shocking responsibility. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-think-the-difference-between-finding-happiness-or-moments-of/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [Growing up, I wasn't allowed dolls, and my brothers weren't allowed guns. I inherited my brothers' clothes. I was never dressed in pink, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/growing-up-i-wasn-t-allowed-dolls-and-my-brothers-weren-t-allowed/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [Mum left school at 15, and after a few years of modelling and dating jazz musicians, was married by 21 to my father, Mike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/mum-left-school-at-15-and-after-a-few-years-of-modelling-and-dating/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [When I first met him, I was dating his flatmate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/when-i-first-met-him-i-was-dating-his-flatmate/) [Natascha Mcelhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [I play Nitin Sawhney's 'Letting Go' repeatedly, nonstop. I find it transformative. I'm so glad iPods were invented so I didn't have to drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-play-nitin-sawhney-s-letting-go-repeatedly-nonstop-i-find-it/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [When you've taken time off to have a baby and you've become all nesty, you're desperate to get back out there, as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/when-you-ve-taken-time-off-to-have-a-baby-and-you-ve-become-all-nesty/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [I feel awful for women who are trying to raise kids on their own, with zero income and no fathers present - that's single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-feel-awful-for-women-who-are-trying-to-raise-kids-on-their-own-with/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [Imagine you fall in love. It feels fabulous. Then every day you have to complete a questionnaire about it. 'What kind of love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/imagine-you-fall-in-love-it-feels-fabulous-then-every-day-you-have-to/) [Natascha Mcelhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [You don't know who anyone really is in LA. The bullshit out there is so thick. You wouldn't believe the things that people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/you-don-t-know-who-anyone-really-is-in-la-the-bullshit-out-there-is/) [Natascha Mcelhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) [Explore all 38 Natascha McElhone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Living with very limited expectations is a much more immediate way of living. 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